40 results on '"Royo, P."'
Search Results
2. Helping Pregraduate Students Reach Deep Understanding of the Second Law of Thermodynamics
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Atarés, Lorena, Canet, M. Jose, Trujillo, Macarena, Benlloch-Dualde, José Vte, Paricio Royo, Javier, and Fernandez-March, Amparo
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Pregraduate students often have low success expectations toward their thermodynamics courses, which are often considered too abstract and remarkably difficult to understand. For this reason, they may not even try to reach any level of comprehension while settling for reproducing mathematical calculations and memorizing definitions to pass the exams. Traditional lectures on thermodynamics, focusing on mathematical deductions while neglecting the qualitative characterization of the concepts behind the equations, do not help in this respect. Aiming at a change in the teaching practice and focused on the second law of thermodynamics, the main goals of this work are to characterize the way of reasoning of the expert; to present a review on the most important learning difficulties encountered by students and categorize them into three groups: the disregard of qualitative understanding, the inherent conceptual difficulties, and those related to the students' previous knowledge; and to propose some suitable teaching practices to assist instructors in this difficult but rewarding task.
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- 2021
3. High-Temperature Heat Pump Simulator (HeatPack) for Application in Computer Laboratory Sessions for Engineering Students
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Mota-Babiloni, Adrián, Mateu-Royo, Carlos, Navarro-Esbrí, Joaquín, and Barragán-Cervera, Ángel
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A significant amount of energy in the form of heat is lost in industrial processes once it is used in specific processes. Among different technologies, high-temperature heat pumps (HTHP) are a valuable method of recovering low-temperature waste heat in the industry in a very efficient way that can be activated using clean electricity. As a recently investigated technology, they are not yet spread in industrial processes, where traditional technologies are preferred. Therefore, this work shows an HTHP computer program (named HeatPack) to be used as a simulator by the university or technical students of courses included in applied thermodynamics engineering. This interactive and user-friendly platform allows the modification of different operating and design parameters and the working fluid. As outputs, the program provides the rest of the operating parameters and the energy performance of the cycle (quantified by the coefficient of performance, COP). The proposed HTHP and a gas boiler are compared by the program and the energetic, carbon footprint, and economic savings are displayed. Students, as the main target of users of the program, can observe how this technology can provide benefits. For instance, emission reductions in comparison with fossil fuel-based boilers, under which situation the energy performance of the HTHP is higher, and which alternative low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants can provide more advantages. In addition to the educational use, this software can be used to design and study the integration of HTHPs in existing industrial needs to evaluate the feasibility.
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- 2021
4. A Multimodal Analysis of Physical Factors That Influence Adolescents' Motor Competence
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Royo, Emilio, Orejudo Hernández, Santos, Latorre Peña, Julio, and Rodríguez Ledo, César
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This study analyzed the factorial structure of motor competence tests designed to evaluate motor development among adolescents, focusing on the two main dimensions of coordination and motor control. To this end, we randomly sampled 1,026 adolescents (45.3% males; 45.7% females, age 13.75 years, SD = 1.28). Participants completed the Multidimensional Sportcomp Motor Battery, which features ten motor competence tests. Results indicate that two factors grouped seven of the ten sub-tests related to upper body strength and skill related-fitness. The factorial structure remained stable across age and sex groups, with the exception of manual grip (grip strength) and 7 Meters with Feet Together (jumping) which may relate to a sex-specific evolutionary pattern for upper body force. The Flexibility, Equilibrium and Lateral Jumps tests were not grouped by this factor analysis on any established dimension. These results underscore the multidimensionality of physical factors that influence motor competence among adolescents.
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- 2023
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5. Binaural Sound to Enhance Listening Comprehension in Language Tests
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Magal-Royo, Teresa and Garcia Laborda, Jesus
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The use of new digital formats in language learning and testing improves both the learning and acquisition skills development process of language tests. The process of listening comprehension is considered one of the most complex in the field of Computer Aided Learning Language (CALL) because it relates to multimodal learning channels and brain sound perception in an unfamiliar communication environment (the foreign language) for the learner. This article stresses the possibilities of using binaural sound in the design and implementation of tests as well as the cognitive issues that might be involved in the process of learning and assessment of a foreign language.
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- 2020
6. Middle School Teachers' Perceptions and Use of Classroom Management Strategies and Associations with Student Behavior
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Zoromski, Allison, Evans, Steven W., Owens, Julie Sarno, Holdaway, Alex, and Royo Romero, Angela S.
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Disruptive student behavior in middle school is associated with negative outcomes, including poor grades, low achievement scores, dropout, lost teaching time, teacher burnout, and societal expenditures. Classroom Behavior Management (CBM) strategies are effective at reducing disruptive behavior, decreasing teacher stress, and increasing achievement with elementary students, but less is known regarding these strategies for middle school students. The purpose of the current study was to assess (a) the rates of disruptive and on-task student behaviors in middle school classrooms, overall and by academic context that included individual seatwork, group/partner work, small-group instruction, and whole-group instruction; (b) the rates of observed (appropriate and inappropriate commands, labeled and unlabeled praise, opportunities to respond; appropriate response to rule violations) and self-reported (appropriate commands, reprimands for inappropriate behavior, strategic ignoring, if/then contingencies, and send to principal's office) CBM strategies; and (c) relationships between observed teacher strategy use and rates of disruptive and on-task behaviors. The results indicated that there was wide variability in teachers' use of CBM strategies, their perceptions of the effectiveness of CBM strategies, and the frequency of disruptive student behavior. In addition, overall, teachers demonstrated low rates of appropriate responses to disruptive behavior. Notably, appropriate responses to disruptive behavior had the strongest association with total rates of disruptive and on-task behaviors. The implications of these findings for teacher training are discussed.
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- 2021
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7. Standardization of Design Interfaces Applied to Language Test On-Line through Ubiquitous Devices
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Magal-Royo, Teresa and García Laborda, Jesús
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Normalization of design rules and guidelines in English language tests to help future instructors and assessment developers in the field of examination of English as a foreign language have not been defined sufficiently until present days. In fact, there are several experiences and investigations related to the user's experiences in the handling of computer exams for learning a foreign language that have been evaluated in, for and through different experimental interactive digital environments. These interactive scenarios oriented to the user experience, UX in the ubiquitous devices, have allowed to learn technological, functional and design aspects that will be necessary in the future to establish the standards in design and vision for language tests in its online environment. The lack of effective and realistic regulations has become a functional requirement for the progress of research on digital environments adapted to the needs of competence assessment and more specifically, to the learning environment of foreign language (FL). Proliferation of on-line tests of language certification of ls with a structural corpus depends on where there are not really functional and formal guidelines that allow evaluating their quality and adequacy from the experience of the user and according to the level of learning competences acquired in a foreign language. This article describes aspects of design that should be taken into account when defining an online test of languages in a ubiquitous device that will mark verifiable guidelines of a general nature and affect the evaluation task in the formation of languages that need to be checked and evaluated periodically.
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- 2018
8. Pre-Service Music Teacher Perceptions of Peer Feedback
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Legette, Roy M. and Royo, Johanna
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The purpose of this case study was to examine pre-service music teachers' perceptions of peer feedback from two different vantage points (giving and receiving). Music education majors (N = 4) enrolled in a choral music teaching methods course were asked to develop a series of lessons over a semester, teach them to their peers, and provide oral and written feedback. Each student also participated in five post-lesson interviews. Participants expressed appreciation for receiving and giving feedback and perceived feedback from peers as more empathetic than feedback received from the instructor. All participants reported that peer feedback was helpful and most felt that time together helped them feel more comfortable and supported. Implications for teaching and research are discussed.
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- 2021
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9. Critical Thinking and Inclusive Practice: A Qualitative Study of Spanish Primary School Teachers' Perceptions
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Latorre-Cosculluela, Cecilia, Sierra-Sánchez, Verónica, Vázquez-Toledo, Sandra, and Royo-Ardid, Julia
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As one of the most necessary skills of the 21st century for problem solving, critical thinking should be taught and included in the curriculum of those schools in which inclusivity towards all their students is a priority. From this perspective, this study presents the educational implications for the teaching and evaluation of this skill. In addition, teachers' perceptions regarding the teaching methods used, evaluation techniques and limitations that they encounter at the moment of enhancing the critical thinking of their students are analysed. A descriptive-comprehensive research with a qualitative approach was adopted, with data collected from interviews with 10 primary education teachers in the Spanish educational system. The analysis suggests that, although there is some knowledge on the part of teachers about critical thinking skills, most of them are not able to respond to this learning need. They highlight the technique of joint discussion and interactions between teams as among the effective tools for fostering critical thinking skills. Notably, these teachers have referred to the existence of certain relationships between critical thinking and equitable and quality education.
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- 2021
10. Independence, Accountability and Responsibilities of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education: European and Latin American Countries Compared
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Juanatey, Ana García, Jordana, Jacint, Durán, Ixchel Pérez, and Royo, David Sancho
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This contribution examines recent transformation in the institutionalization of a new mode of governance in the field of Higher Education. We identify three characteristics of the institutional design of public Quality Assurance Agencies (QAAs) that operate at the national level in the field of higher education. In order to do so, we examine three "de jure" dimensions to explore the capabilities of regulatory agencies, based on their legal frameworks: (1) the agency's capacity to act independently from political principals, specifically, its relationship with the executive; (2) the agency's accountability towards society and stakeholders ; and, (3) the scope of policy and regulatory responsibilities the agency is granted. In addition, we also explore the role of representativeness and expertise in QAAs decision-making bodies, something particularly relevant in quality assurance. Our empirical analysis is based on formal agencies' constitutive norms and regulations for more than 40 countries in Europe and Latin America. The analysis introduced allows us to compare the characteristics of these agencies in different higher education policy regimes across Latin America and Europe, and to discuss their variations.
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- 2021
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11. Using Tablet PC's for the Final Test of Baccalaureate
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Laborda, Jesús García and Royo, Teresa Magal
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Online testing is becoming a popular way to deliver language tests, partly because of its reduced cost, partly because of the high quality of test data collection. In language tests, interface validation has received a limited attention in professional literature (García, Magal, da Rocha, & Fernández, 2010). This paper will show the validation process of the OPENPAU application, which aims at language testing exam delivery through an attitudinal study. The real importance of this project is that it offers reliable solutions at a low cost for the needs of a nationally delivered online test that can serve to assess all the traditional language skills (namely speaking, listening, reading and writing) in an efficient, simple and cost-effective manner. Our paper presents the design, development, and evaluation of a tablet PC software application for assessing both productive and receptive skills in foreign languages for its prospective use in the Final Test of Baccalaureate. The software development has been carried out within the OPENPAU project (FFI2011-22442), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. [For the complete volume, "New Perspectives on Teaching and Working with Languages in the Digital Era," see ED565799.]
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- 2016
12. Looking towards the Future of Language Assessment: Usability of Tablet PCs in Language Testing
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal Royo, Teresa, and Bakieva, Margarita
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This research addresses the change in how the Spanish University Entrance Examination can be delivered in the future. There is a wide acknowledgement that computer tests are very demanding for the delivering institutions which makes computer language testing difficult to implement. However, the use of tablet PCs can facilitate the delivery at even lower cost than the regular computer based language testing. 183 students in their last year of high school took a computer based language test which included reading, writing, listening and speaking. The research aspects were 1) whether they feel at ease with the tablet PC exam; 2) if they felt that visual aspects were accessible and 3) whether the interface organization was clear. The paper first has a brief description of the OPENPAU® platform, after it addresses the field study based on questionnaires and observations with students during the test delivery,finally the results indicate that this means of language test delivery could be adequate not only for the Spanish University Entrance Examination but for most standardized tests.
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- 2016
13. Teaching Engineering with Autonomous Learning Activities
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Otero, Beatriz, Rodríguez, Eva, and Royo, Pablo
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This paper proposes several activities that encourage self-learning in engineering courses. For each activity, the context and the pedagogical issues addressed are described emphasizing strengths and weaknesses. Specifically, this work describes and implements five activities, which are: questionnaires, conceptual maps, videos, jigsaw and projects. These activities are applied in seven different knowledge fields and are conducted individually or in group depending on the nature of the subject and of the activity. Furthermore, this paper shows how the same activity can be applied in subjects of different years and how the implementation level changes, depending on the course in which it is conducted. The activities proposed have been introduced in engineering courses, but they can also be applied in any other knowledge field. Finally, the paper proposes four rubrics to assess three of the proposed activities (videos, jigsaw and project), being two of them for the project activity.
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- 2015
14. Structural Analysis of a Tablet PC Based Language Test
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Magal Royo, Teresa, Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Gimenez Lopez, Jose Luis, and Otero de Juan, Nuria
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Ubiquitous language learning and testing has become a new challenging trend. Budget constraints in Europe and the rest of the world have made this way of delivery very attractive for materials designers as well as language testing organizations. Ubiquitous testing has a very especial interest in low and medium stakes language testing in which mobile devices are supposed to serve both for delivering tests as well as for pre-test training. However, although the number of publications in language teaching increases rapidly, language testing through mobiles devices has had a limited interest in research. Purpose of Study: This research under the OPENPAU project intends to address the two main issues mentioned before emphasizing the design aspects. To do so, this paper presents the principles under which the mobile applications were designed, the mobile tool and the interface design. Sources of Evidence: To do this study we used the description of the ergonomics, and we also considered the students' needs and how those needs were incorporated in the interface design of the platform. Analysis and results: The study indicates that interface design is linked to issues of needs, technical constraints, purpose and budget. Overall, the paper evidences the tablet PC's have a tremendous potential to implement high-stakes tests in Spain at the moment dues to their versatility and limited cost. [Paper presented at WCES 2014.]
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- 2015
15. Facilitating Language Tests Delivery through Tablet PCs
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal Royo, Teresa, Rodriguez Lazaro, Nieves, and Marugan, L. Fuentes
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Modern trends in educational technology have evidenced the increasing importance of mobile devices in language learning. The need of sophisticated devices that can facilitate lifelong learning wherever the students might be. Facilitating learning, however, implies that students have to be assessed through the same delivery models that are used in their learning mode. Mobile devices are commonly used to learn languages through mobile phones, iPads and Tablet PC's. However, testing methods remain the same as in the last 40 years. In most cases, computer based test tasks resemble too much to those used in pen and paper. This paper shows a pilot study done at the Universidad de Alcala (Madrid-Spain) with tablet PC's indicating its strong aspects as well as its weaknesses. The study concludes that more research is necessary to implement such convenient method of test delivery. [Paper presented at the 7th World Conference on Educational Sciences, (WCES-2015), 05-07 February 2015, Novotel Athens Convention Center, Athens, Greece.]
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- 2015
16. Designing a VOIP Based Language Test
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal Royo, Teresa, Otero de Juan, Nuria, and Gimenez Lopez, Jose L.
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Assessing speaking is one of the most difficult tasks in computer based language testing. Many countries all over the world face the need to implement standardized language tests where speaking tasks are commonly included. However, a number of problems make them rather impractical such as the costs, the personnel involved, the length of time for interviews and many other factors. Additionally, reliability as compared to face-to-face tests is continually challenged by issues such as comfort with the interface, navigability and, among others and more important, the lack of visual interaction and the high anxiety created by interacting with a interlocutor with more than a limited interactional activity. This paper addresses a new approach to language testing by the use of VOIP devices. It also addresses its benefits and the way to implement it within the Spanish framework of nationally organized standardized tests. [Paper presented at the 7th World Conference on Educational Sciences, (WCES-2015), 05-07 February 2015, Novotel Athens Convention Center, Athens, Greece.]
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- 2015
17. An Overview of the Needs of Technology in Language Testing in Spain
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal Royo, Teresa, and Barcena Madera, Elena
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Over the few years, computer based language testing has become prevailing worldwide. The number of institutions the use computers as the main means of delivery has increased dramatically. Many students face each day tests for well-known high-stakes decisions which imply the knowledge and ability to use technology to provide evidence of language mastery. However, this situation is not the same everywhere. While countries like the United States or the United Kingdom are spearheads of this tendency, others like Spain, lag way behind. This paper addresses the needs of use of computer based language testing in the new Spanish educational system. To do so, this paper introduces the current situation in Spain, then proceeds to do a SWOT analysis emphasizing the lacks and opportunities for language based assessments and concludes by stating the positive issues involving them. [Paper presented at the 5th World Conference on Learning, Teaching and Educational Leadership, WCLTA 2014.]
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- 2015
18. Multimodal Interaction on English Testing Academic Assessment
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Magal-Royo, T., Gimenez-Lopez, J. L., and Garcia Laborda, Jesus
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Multimodal interaction methods applied to learning environments of the English language will be a line for future research from the use of adapted mobile phones or PDAs. Today's mobile devices allow access and data entry in a synchronized manner through different channels. At the academic level we made the first analysis of English language learning on a multimodal experimental platform. The research will evaluate the impact of college students use for future online applications aimed at improving language skills through self-learning. [Paper presented at WCES 2012.]
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- 2012
19. Multimodal Application for Foreign Language Teaching
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Magal-Royo, Teresa, Gimenez-Lopez, Jose Luis, Pairy, Blas, Garcia-Laborda, Jesus, and Gonzalez-Del Rio, Jimena
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The current development of educational applications for language learning has experienced a qualitative change in the criteria of interaction between users and devices due to the technological advances of input and output data through keyboard, mouse, stylus, tactile screen, etc. The multiple interactions generated in a natural way by humans during ordinary communication can be transferred in a sequential way to devices like PDAs, PC Tablet, etc. depending on the users needs to carry out specific tasks that allow humans to adapt to their nearest learning context. This paper shows the possibility of establishing multimodal architectures within the applications for specific language learning areas with ubiquitous devices, evidencing the technical and formal aspects necessary for their accomplishment that are currently being developed at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain). (Contains 1 figure.) [This work was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia as part of the program: "Projects for new lines in multidisciplinary research--PAID-05-10."]
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- 2011
20. Motivating PAU Language Testing Candidates through Mobile Technology
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Gimenez Lopez, Jose Luis, Garcia Laborda, Jesus, and Magal Royo, M. Teresa
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Mobile learning permits combining the most motivating elements of online learning. When becoming a supplement to face-to-face education, it is likely to become a most motivating achievement in e-learning. Up to now, little interest and work has been posed in proposing mobile learning as a supporting element for language testing. In this paper, we introduce the concept of motivation for language testing through mobile telephone technology. The purpose of this study was to explore the acceptance of objective tasks by PAU [Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad] candidates in an academic context. 24 students in a blended enrolled in the last high school year took a test through a mobile telephone simulator and responded to a questionnaire. Results indicate that students were genuinely interested and motivated towards independent autonomous training through mobile technology. The implications are both attractive for the different stakeholders and the educational software designers. (Contains 2 figures.) [Support for this project was provided by the Ministry of Education of Spain.]
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- 2011
21. A First Approach to the Analysis of Student Motivation in the Trial Version of the Computer Based University Entrance Examination
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal Royo, Teresa, and Bakieva, Margarita
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This paper investigates whether students would be reluctant to do the oral tasks of the Computer Based University Entrance Examination (P.A.U.) in Spain. So far in the Spanish history of education never a foreign language high stakes task has been included in any of the versions of the P.A.U. 60 students took the oral task of the P.A.U. which consisted in speaking freely for two minutes as a response to an audiovisual prompt. Students not only responded adequately to the question but also stated that they were more motivated to speak in front of a computer than in a human-to-human interaction. Possible explanations are also provided in the paper. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.) [This paper was published in: The Proceedings of the CALL Conference (14th, Antwerp, Belgium, August 18-20, 2010). University of Antwerp. p84-87.]
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- 2010
22. Challenges for the Development of the Learning Process of Emotional, Social and Civic Competence in Spanish Education from a Psycho Pedagogical Perspective
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Cano, Jacobo, Mas, Francisco Royo, and Igado, Manuel Fandos
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The phenomenon of violence, in its different forms and varieties; the peak of aggravated nationalists and extremists; poverty; the different movements of migration; the role of religion, the perception of the deterioration of politics; the need for an impulse of associated movement; the need to adapt to the roles that should confront the educational institutions and the social changes that are reflected in the different unions between people, are some of the aspects that offer us a necessary framework to approach an emotional, social education and to educate the future citizens, which will able the construction of a supportive, fair, peaceful society, and where, especially, freedom and equal opportunities are respected as fundamental rights. The role and the objectives of the development of emotions and the social and civic competence are analysed, in a European context, stressing the need of a multidisciplinary and collaborative work from the psycho pedagogical field. It is necessary to indicate that the fields of orientation are diverse, on a personal, academic, professional, family or social level with the perspective of the need to implement diverse programmes of intervention, in a preventative way and for the integral education of the individual students, aimed at all of the educational community--opening up to the formal, informal and not formal spheres--related to the emotional, social and civic competence.
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- 2010
23. Active Methodology in the Audiovisual Communication Degree
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Gimenez-Lopez, J. L., Royo, T. Magal, Laborda, Jesus Garcia, and Dunai, Larisa
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The paper describes the adaptation methods of the active methodologies of the new European higher education area in the new Audiovisual Communication degree under the perspective of subjects related to the area of the interactive communication in Europe. The proposed active methodologies have been experimentally implemented into the new academic curricular development of the subjects, leading to a docent adjustment for the professors who currently teach lectures and who have been evaluated for the first time.
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- 2010
24. Writing Processing in a Trial Version of the Computer Based University Entrance Examination: A Way to Motivate Curriculum Change in Spain
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal Royo, Teresa, and Enriquez Carrasco, Emilia
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This paper presents the results of writing processing among 260 high school senior students, their degree of satisfaction using the new trial version of the Computer Based University Entrance Examination in Spain and their degree of motivation towards written online test tasks. Currently, this is one of the closing studies to verify whether Spanish students would be sufficiently prepared to move from the traditional pen-and-paper test to an online version. In order, to analyze their responses, we compared the different productions done and recorded by a testing system of their responses to an essay task. The final goal was to understand whether they the current significant changes in the test may prevent or motivate them towards a computer based high stakes test. As opposed to general CALL, high stakes compulsory test may have a negative effect. This study, on the contrary, supports the implementation of such test. [This paper was published in: Aerts, A.; Colpaert, J.; Oberhofer, M (eds). (2010) Motivation and beyond, Proceedings CALL 2010, Antwerp, University of Antwerp, ISBN 9789057282973, p. 80-83.]
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- 2010
25. Brand Fan Pages Experience and Strength as Antecedents to Engagement and Intensity of Use to Achieve HEIS' Brand Loyalty
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Garza Salgado, Esperanza and Royo Vela, Marcelo
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The growing competitive environment in which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are immersed has caused them to be constantly focused on implementing new strategies that allow them to consolidate student loyalty. Among the strategies are those related to the use of social media, virtual brand communities and Brand Fan Pages (BFPs). This research aims to show the HEIs some new ways to increase brand loyalty through their BFP. Both qualitative techniques, 2 focus group sessions with students from public and private universities, and quantitative techniques, 200 interviews with young university students aged 18-23, were used to develop this research. Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis was utilized to determine the relationship between variables. The main findings of the analysis indicate that it is possible for a higher education institution to increase student loyalty by generating positive experiences on their Brand Fan Page and generating greater platform use intensity.
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- 2019
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26. On the Perceptions of Students and Professors in the Implementation of an Inter-University Engineering PBL Experience
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Moliner, Lidón, Cabedo, Luis, Royo, Marta, Gámez-Pérez, Jose, Lopez-Crespo, Pablo, Segarra, Mercè, and Guraya, Teresa
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The new educational paradigm has led to a change in the teaching methodologies toward those more focused on the student, among these, project-based learning (PBL) is postulated as one of the most promising. This work is focused on the description of the experience of using PBL methodology in Materials Science courses, conducted by four different Spanish universities on different engineering degrees. The other main objective is to analyse and evaluate how the PBL was perceived by the students and the lecturers that took part in the PBL process. This investigation was an embedded, sequential mixed-methods study, which began by administering a survey to one hundred and four students and then a focus group with six students and six lecturers in four different engineering degrees of four Universities. Results generally show a good degree of acceptance of this approach by all parties involved.
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- 2019
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27. Spanish Students and Teachers' Preferences towards Computer-Based and Paper-and-Pencil Tests at Universities
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De-Siqueira, Jose Macario, Peris-Fajarnes, Guillermo, Gimenez, Fernando, and Magal-Royo, Teresa
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This study was conducted to identify and analyze some significant features that influence students and teachers about computer-based tests (CBT) and paper-and-pencil tests (P&P) at the context of the PAULEX Project. In order to do that, a large experiment has been developed at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Polytechnic University of Valencia), Spain, in which several students and professors have answered a validated questionnaire about their usage of technology, feelings and experiences. They also compared their preferences after doing two similar basic tests, CBT and P&P.
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- 2009
28. Methods of Adapting Digital Content for the Learning Process via Mobile Devices
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Lopez, J. L. Gimenez, Royo, T. Magal, and Laborda, Jesus Garcia
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This article analyses different methods of adapting digital content for its delivery via mobile devices taking into account two aspects which are a fundamental part of the learning process; on the one hand, functionality of the contents, and on the other, the actual controlled navigation requirements that the learner needs in order to acquire high level knowledge. Currently the existing development processes consist of adapting content ad-hoc considering the device's special technical features and the programming language which has been used. Designers and programmers pay special attention to the increasing need of implementing and going about the creation process in a systematic way. This obviously leads to a growing need to establish reference marks that will allow us to compare these different methods of creation. The development and adaptation of digital content and navigability and the impact on the user is a point of departure for future research. Its function would be to determine effectively whether this learning process is viable or not.
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- 2009
29. Training Senior Teachers in Compulsory Computer Based Language Tests
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Laborda, Jesus Garcia and Royo, Teresa Magal
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The IBT TOEFL has become the principal example of online high stakes language testing since 2005. Most instructors who do the preparation for IBT TOEFL face two main realities: first, students are eager and highly motivated to take the test because of the prospective implications; and, second, specific studies would be necessary to see if instructors may be familiarized with the use of computers in teaching and/or language testing for other high stakes tests. Now, many standardized tests are going online as well such as IELTS, BULATS and others (Garcia Laborda, 2007). National Boards of Education are also considering this possibility for the national university entrance examination (PAU) (Garcia Laborda & Magal Royo, 2007; Garcia Laborda, 2006). However, in this case, teachers may not be willing or well prepared to face the challenge due to factors such as ICT familiarity. To date, many papers have explored the role of teacher training in their adaptation to the inclusion or implementation of ICT in the foreign language classroom (Zepp, 2005; Tan et al., 2003; Rehbein et al., 2003). However, it is necessary to consider the differences between the use of ICT for language testing (as opposed to general teaching) and the profile of senior high school foreign language teachers who may not be as flexible as their younger colleagues. This paper describes the trainees' final attitudes of a six-month course held in Valencia (Spain). 26 teachers from private schools who teach many of the students who take the test every year participated in an in-service teacher training course in Valencia. Instructional methods principally included training in ICT strategy and use through face-to-face instruction and also autonomous learning, group work, synchronous and asynchronous communication, and computer based test design. The teachers' responses to long discussions in a control session and to a questionnaire, along with the observations of a 20-hour course and the results of the familiarization with different tools show that for this type of training it is not only necessary to familiarize teachers with the testing tool but also with the process of creating online tests and with the testing process itself (Chapelle & Douglas, 2006; Stoynoff & Chapelle, 2005). Results from the platform use and the final questionnaire indicated that the majority of trainees reacted positively to the training and were eager to let the research team work with their students. However, they still felt they would not be able to use ICT for testing in their classes. Questionnaire is appended.
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- 2009
30. Does it Pay to Invest in Computer Based Testing Technology? Realities to Implement an Internet Based University Entrance Examination (iB PAU)
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus and Magal Royo, Teresa
- Abstract
The University entrance examination (PAU) is the most important high-stakes exam in the General educational system in Spain. It has 6 sections of which the Foreign Language one is very relevant to the final score. The English section has had almost not significant changes in the last 20 years despite all the research in language learning and language testing in that time. Recent Spanish research projects suggest that there is a possibility to computerize the English (and the rest) sections of the University Entrance National Examination. Computer assisted language testing (CALT) seems an interesting possibility to improve its format, face validity and make it more reliable for all the different stake holders (students, teachers, institutions and so). Because of technical and administrative issues, students need to move to the universities (and, in not few cases, that mean very long distances) to take the exam. Thus, the key matter is whether it is possible to implement CALT in schools instead of universities to make it more accessible and less stressing for most students, and also to include a new test format to strengthen the exam validity. In order to study the deficiencies, a survey was completed by 100 teachers and then some of them participated in three focus groups. The study concluded that it is possible to implement CALT in high schools but requires an institutional and personal effort for both teachers and students. The survey also pointed that the computer version could include tasks that, at the moment, are not done due to the high price of their inclusion (such as an oral section).
- Published
- 2008
31. Virtual Classroom for Business Planning Formulation.
- Author
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Osorio, J., Rubio-Royo, E., and Ocon, A.
- Abstract
One of the most promising possibilities of the World Wide Web resides in its potential to support distance education. In 1996, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria developed the "INNOVA Project" in order to promote Web-based training and learning. As a result, the Virtual Classroom Interface (IVA) was created. Several software tools for developing Web-based training were analyzed, and WebCT (World Wide Web Course Tools, University of British Columbia) was chosen as the main development tool. IVA is a WebCT-based common interface that works as a rapid online course development tool. It provides an organized set of educational and administrative tools to make it easier for faculty to implement online courses. One supporting computer application developed on this platform is called SISTRAT. SISTRAT methodology aims at formally supporting the strategic planning process, aiding students in the business administration curriculum in simulating strategic analysis and guiding the students on a continuous basis through the different stages that conform to a strategic plan. The SISTRAT course is organized around one main homepage that is the entry point of the course. The SISTRAT course incorporates not only the general IVA features, but also a set of specific items pertaining to strategic planning. IVA educational tools included in the SISTRAT course include: course bulletin board; electronic mail; chat tool; student self-evaluation; glossary; page references; and progress tracking tool. (Contains 10 references.) (AEF)
- Published
- 1999
32. Common Problems of Mobile Applications for Foreign Language Testing
- Author
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal-Royo, Teresa, and Lopez, Jose Luis Gimenez
- Abstract
As the use of mobile learning educational applications has become more common anywhere in the world, new concerns have appeared in the classroom, human interaction in software engineering and ergonomics. new tests of foreign languages for a number of purposes have become more and more common recently. However, studies interrelating language tests and ergonomics have lagged behind to the point that there is a clear lack of balance between software for m-learning and the capacities of modern equipment. This paper is based on the experience acquired through the use of mobile phones emulators for language testing. The paper does not deal with the experimental phase itself but suggests the constraints found in such experimentation from a descriptive perspective. (Contains 3 figures.) [Funding for this research was provided by the Ministry of Science and Innovation. This paper was published in the proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2011)--11th International Conference Virtual University (vu'11), 21-23 September 2011, Piestany, Slovakia, p95-97 (ISBN-978-1-4577-1746-8).]
- Published
- 2011
33. Effects of Inbound Marketing Communications on HEIs' Brand Equity: The Mediating Role of the Student's Decision-Making Process. An Exploratory Research
- Author
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Royo-Vela, Marcelo and Hünermund, Ute
- Abstract
A context of increased competition between higher education institutions (HEIs) for attracting potential national and international students has led universities to implement marketing communication strategies. Those strategies which are used to some extent include, among others, interactive inbound marketing. The purpose of the present exploratory study is to identify how HEIs can develop to improve their image and awareness by using new interactive marketing communication tools mediated by the student's decision-making process. To conduct our investigation, we used both a qualitative (seven semi-structured interviews) and a quantitative survey (n = 121) methodology. Based on data analysis, we found that among the areas investigated, interactive marketing communication tools have a great impact on postgraduate students' decision-making process with a corresponding change of perception of the university and attitudes towards the brand. Therefore, even unknown universities with a limited budget can increase their brand awareness and brand image for prospective and current students by using such tools.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Mobile Phones for Spain's University Entrance Examination Language Test
- Author
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García Laborda, Jesús, Magal Royo, Teresa, Litzler, Mary Frances, and Giménez López, José Luis
- Abstract
Few tests were delivered using mobile phones a few years ago, but the flexibility and capability of these devices make them valuable tools even for high stakes testing. This paper addresses research done through the PAULEX (2007-2010) and OPENPAU (2012-2014) research projects at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and Universidad de Alcalá (Spain) to provide a powerful but low cost delivery system for the foreign language paper of the Spanish College Entrance Examination (henceforth PAU). The first project, PAULEX, intended to create a robust mobile platform for language testing while the second, OPENPAU, examined the specific applications of ubiquitous devices to create more dynamic forms of assessment. This paper focuses on the projects' design, testing theory, and technical evolution including visual ergonomics. The current results demonstrate the technical and didactic feasibility of mobile-based formal assessment that aligns student needs with the kind of inferences that the mobile based language test should provide academic authorities.
- Published
- 2014
35. Basic Needs and Wealth as Independent Determinants of Happiness: An Illustration from Thailand
- Author
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Guillen-Royo, Monica, Velazco, Jackeline, and Camfield, Laura
- Abstract
Thailand has been a global economic success story, transforming from one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia in the 1960s, to a modern and dynamic nation, and all within the lifetime of the current generation. However, growth has been accompanied by marked increases in economic inequality both at the regional and individual levels. In this context studying how relatively poor people appraise their situation ("subjective wellbeing") and how this relates to traditional "objective" measures of wellbeing such as wealth and basic needs is particularly relevant. This paper investigates the relationship between basic needs as defined by the Theory of Human needs (THN, Doyal and Gough 1991), material wealth and happiness. Specifically, we intend to answer the following research question: Are wealth and basic needs indicators always interchangeable when analyzing happiness determinants in low income settings? The paper focuses on seven communities in the South and North-east of Thailand with contrasting levels of access to markets and services. It challenges the common assumption that at low economic levels, wealth or income matter for people's happiness because they increase satisfaction of basic needs, arguing instead that wealth might contribute to happiness for personal or symbolic reasons, which are not related to the use of goods as basic needs satisfiers. Thus, it suggests that indicators of wealth and basic needs should not be used interchangeably when studying happiness determinants in low income settings.
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Wants, Needs and Satisfaction: A Comparative Study in Thailand and Bangladesh
- Author
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Camfield, Laura and Guillen-Royo, Monica
- Abstract
Within international development greater income is assumed to lead to greater need fulfilment, which increases subjective wellbeing. The Wellbeing in Developing Countries ESRC Research Group's dataset provides an opportunity to test these relationships using measures of income, expenditure, perceived and "objective" need satisfaction and subjective wellbeing collected in Bangladesh and Thailand. The paper demonstrates that firstly, location and socio-economic status are related to both what people say they need, and the extent to which they feel they have satisfied these needs; secondly, there is a close correlation between objective and subjective need satisfaction, indicating that people's perceptions of need satisfaction are accurate; and thirdly, there is a significant positive relationship between expenditure on basic need fulfilment and subjective and objective need satisfaction.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Ergonomics Factors in English as a Foreign Language Testing: The Case of PLEVALEX
- Author
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Garcia Laborda, Jesus, Magal-Royo, Teresa, de Siqueira Rocha, Jose Macario, and Alvarez, Miguel Fernandez
- Abstract
Although much has been said about ergonomics in interface and in computer tools and interface design, very few articles in major journals have addressed this topic in relation to language testing. This article describes an experiment carried out at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, in which 27 Media and Communication students provided support to design and experiment an internet based oral and written English as a foreign language test platform called PLEVALEX (Garcia Laborda, 2007b). These students then responded to a questionnaire about their feelings, acquired experience and ergonomics based on their results in both development stages. According to their opinions, language test interfaces are different from those of other e-learning platforms and websites. These differences have been previously mentioned by authors such as Fulcher (2003) or Garcia Laborda and Magal Royo (2007). This research concludes that the features described by Garcia Laborda and Magal Royo which are applied to the PLEVALEX platform, although tending to simplify interfaces, are to be met if students are to be tested in their knowledge of English as a foreign language as opposed to being tested on their skills and performance as computer users. The findings of this paper have valuable implications for the scientific community, given that more and more standardized high-stakes language tests are beginning to use internet and computer based versions (Garcia Laborda, 2007a). (Contains 3 figures and 6 tables.)
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Consumption and Subjective Wellbeing: Exploring Basic Needs, Social Comparison, Social Integration and Hedonism in Peru
- Author
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Guillen-Royo, Monica
- Abstract
Within material poverty contexts, consumption and subjective wellbeing are positively and strongly related. This is usually explained in terms of the increased possibilities to satisfy basic needs that additional spending provides. Other important aspects of consumption, such as its relative, symbolic and hedonic dimensions are not generally considered. The current study explores these aspects in seven poor Peruvian communities through expenditure and motives using regression analysis. Motives for consumption are included in the model drawing on psychologists' research into the importance of accounting for motives when assessing the impact of material goals on subjective wellbeing. Results reveal that in the Peruvian corridor, consumption has a meaning beyond mere basic needs satisfaction. Status concerns, the reference group, the pleasure of consuming, providing for the household basics and the expectation of escaping social marginalisation are aspects of consumption significantly predicting people's happiness.
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Archaeology for Dance: An Approach to Dance Education
- Author
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Lopez y. Royo, Alessandra
- Abstract
The paper proposes that existing methodologies for dance studies can be extended through consideration of recently developing methodologies from social archaeology. It is first argued that an archaeological perspective on dance is enriching for archaeology, whose recent interest in dance as a focus of investigation can be seen as an attempt to broaden the scope of archaeology as a discipline to encompass the totality of the human experience. The argument is then put forward that the process of archaeological investigation is a useful metaphor for the dance process in its broadest acceptation and provides a good model for dance analysis. The final section of the paper considers ways in which dance students' experience and understanding of dance can be enhanced through using an archaeological approach highlighting the usefulness of an archaeological perspective, and thus fleshing out a sense of its relevance. The methods of social archaeology are discussed in the more specific context of dance education and they are found to be of value in relation to practices of documentation and reconstruction of dance works, due to the fragmented nature of the dance evidence. No prescriptive conclusion is however posited. The scholarly community of dance practitioners and educators is invited to engage in a fruitful dialogue with archaeologists with a view to explore the disciplinary nexus in greater depth and take it further. (Contains 17 notes.)
- Published
- 2002
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Maneuvers and Transformations in Ethnobiographies of Puerto Rican Migrants.
- Author
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Diaz-Royo, Antonio T.
- Abstract
The mutually tactful exploration which led to both interviewee's and interviewer's self-disclosures is examined. Two instances--dealing with the theme of authority management and the concepts of race and color--are used to illustrate transformations of the culture-bound strategies of coping in the course of the migrants' life histories. (RM)
- Published
- 1983
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