Development of pre-service mathematics teachers’ professional knowledge and identity in working with information and communication technology

This paper describes the work undertaken in a course in communication and information technology in a pre-service program for secondary school mathematics teachers. This course aimed to help pre-service teachers develop a positive attitude regarding ICT and use it confidently. It focused on the exploration of educational software and of the Internet’s potential as a means of research and production of web sites. We discuss how the pre-service mathematics teachers evaluate their work concerning their commitment, difficulties they found, learning they identified, and personal relationship. We also analyse the effects of the course on the development of their professional knowledge and identity

Investigating mathematical investigations

There are good reasons why we may involve the students in doing mathematics investigations. Recent curricula encourage this sort of activity but we notice that its application in the classroom is not a simple matter. We discuss the issues that arise when students are presented with investigative tasks, with special interest in the dynamics of the classroom and in the role of the teacher. Our aim is to derive suggestions for classroom practice as well as for further research and teacher development

Using ICT to support reflection in pre-service mathematics teacher education

This paper analyses a virtual supervision setting (e-mail and forum) during the practicum in a pre-service secondary school mathematics teacher education program. It is a study of the authors’ own professional practice using a qualitative-interpretative approach and case studies of student teachers. The results show that the setting was significant for pre-service teachers who had a more reflective attitude, but was seen as a burden by the others. The forum enabled fruitful reflections and discussions and e-mail was mostly used for organizational matters. In the future, attention must be paid to the role of the educational supervisor in fostering participation in the forum and use of e-mail.Este artigo analisa um dispositivo de supervisão virtual (e-mail e fórum) durante o estágio num curso de formação inicial de professores de Matemática do ensino secundário. É um estudo dos autores sobre a sua própria prática profissional usando uma abordagem qualitativa e interpretativa e estudos de casos de futuros professores. Os resultados mostram que o dispositivo foi significativo para os futuros professores que tinham uma atitude mais reflexiva mas foi visto como um “peso” pelos outros futuros professores. O fórum permitiu reflexões frutuosas e discussões e o e-mail foi principalmente usado para matérias organizacionais. No futuro, deve ser dada atenção ao papel do supervisor educacional em promover a participação no fórum e o uso do e-mail

Ground Vibrations Induced by High-Speed Trains in Regions with Sudden Foundation Stiffness Change

In this paper analytical transient solutions of dynamic response of one-dimensional systems with sudden change of foundation stiffness are derived. In more details, cantilever dynamic response, expressed in terms of vertical displacement, is extended to account for elastic foundation and then two cantilever solutions, corresponding to beams clamped on left and right hand side, with different value of Winkler constant are connected together by continuity conditions. The internal forces, as the unknowns, can be introduced by the same values in both clamped beam solutions and solved. Assumption about time variation of internal forces at the section of discontinuity must be adopted and originally analytical solution will have to include numerical procedure

Bonus Rex ou Rex Inutilis

Tese de doutoramento em História (História Medieval), apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa através da Faculdade de Letras, 200

Monacato feminino e domínio rural: o património do Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Almoster no sécul XIV

Trabalho de síntese, para prova de aptidão pedagógica e capacidade científica, apresentado à Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, 1994Não disponibilizado pelo auto

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF TRACK VIBRATIONS DUE TO VERTICAL STIFFNESS VARIATION IN HIGH-SPEED RAILWAYS

High speed trains, when crossing regions with abrupt changes in vertical stiffness of the track and/or subsoil, may generate excessive ground and track vibrations. There is an urgent need for specific analyses of this problem so as to allow reliable esimates of vibration amplitude. Full understanding of these phenomena will lead to new construction solutions and mitigation of undesirable features. In this paper analytical transient solutions of dynamic response of one-dimensional systems with sudden change of foundation stiffness are derived. Results are expressed in terms of vertical displacement. Sensitivity analysis of the response amplitude is also performed. The analytical expressions presented herein, to the authors’ knowledge, have not been published yet. Although related to one-dimensional cases, they can give useful insight into the problem. Nevertheless, in order to obtain realistic response, vehicle- rail interaction cannot be omitted. Results and conclusions are confirmed using general purpose commercial software ANSYS. In conclusion, this work contributes to a better understanding of the additional vibration phenomenon due to vertical stiffness variation, permitting better control of the train velocity and optimization of the track design

Um dispositivo de interacção virtual de suporte à reflexão na formação inicial de professores

Este artigo analisa um dispositivo de supervisão virtual, centrado num fórum de discussão, no estágio pedagógico de um curso de formação inicial de professores de Matemática. Este fórum teve como objectivos a reflexão sobre os problemas emergentes da prática profissional, a problematização dessa mesma prática e a partilha de experiências. O estudo segue uma metodologia qualitativa e interpretativa, baseada em estudos de caso de estagiários, e constitui uma investigação sobre a prática profissional dos respectivos autores. Os resultados mostram que os dois formandos que encaram o estágio sobretudo como um momento de aprendizagem e que manifestam à partida uma atitude mais reflexiva se envolvem de forma muito produtiva nas discussões no fórum. Já uma outra formanda, cujo envolvimento no estágio foi reduzido, teve pouca participação nesta vertente do dispositivo de formação. As regras de funcionamento deste tipo de dispositivo virtual e o papel do orientador pedagógico no estabelecimento de uma cultura de reflexão e discussão constituem pontos a requerer atenção futura.This paper analyses a virtual supervision setting, based on a discussion forum, at the pedagogical practicum of a preservice mathematics teacher education program. The aims of this forum were to reflect about emerging problems of professional practice, problematization of such practice and exchange of experiences. The study follows a qualitative and interpretative methodology, based on case studies of student teachers and constitutes an investigation of the authors about their professional practice. The results show that the two young teacher candidates regard the practicum mainly as a learning moment and that show from the very beginning a more reflective attitude engage in quite productive discussions at the forum. The other teacher candidate, who had a lesser involvement in the practicum, had little participation in this component of the teacher education setting. The working rules of this virtual setting and the role of the educational supervisor in establishing a culture of reflection and discussion deserve future attention

Explorando o papel da interacção virtual na formação inicial de professores

Este artigo analisa o funcionamento de uma componente de supervisão virtual, integrando um fórum de discussão e comunicação por e-mail, no estágio pedagógico de uma Licenciatura em Ensino da Matemática. Trata-se de uma investigação sobre a prática profissional dos respectivos autores que segue uma abordagem qualitativa e interpretativa e é baseada em estudos de caso de estagiários. Os resultados mostram que o dispositivo se revelou de utilidade assinalável para os estagiários com uma atitude mais reflexiva, sendo pouco valorizado pelos restantes. O fórum constituiu um elemento propiciador de reflexões e discussões mas o e-mail só pontualmente serviu para proporcionar apoio clínico aos formandos. O papel do orientador pedagógico no estabelecimento de uma cultura de participação activa no fórum e de utilização fluente do e-mail constitui o ponto mais importante a requerer atenção futura

Using ICT to support reflection in pre-service mathematics teacher education

This paper analyses a virtual supervision setting (e-mail and forum), during the practicum, in a pre-service secondary school mathematics teacher education program. It is a research about the authors’ own professional practice using a qualitative-interpretative approach and case studies of student teachers. The results show that the setting was significant for pre-service teachers who had a more reflective attitude but was seen as a burden by the others. The forum enabled fruitful reflections and discussions and the e-mail was mostly used for organization matters. Future attention must be paid to the role of the educational supervisor in establishing a culture of participation in the forum and of fluent use of the e-mail.This paper analyses a virtual supervision setting (e-mail and forum), during the practicum, in a pre-service secondary school mathematics teacher education program. It is a research about the authors’ own professional practice using a qualitative-interpretative approach and case studies of student teachers. The results show that the setting was significant for pre-service teachers who had a more reflective attitude but was seen as a burden by the others. The forum enabled fruitful reflections and discussions and the e-mail was mostly used for organization matters. Future attention must be paid to the role of the educational supervisor in establishing a culture of participation in the forum and of fluent use of the e-mail