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This study analyses the extent to which university faculty use the technological resources that make up their Learning Ecologies to promote their professional development as educators. The interest of this research lies on the growing impact of Learning Ecologies as a framework to examine the multiple learning opportunities provided by a complex digital landscape. Global data referred to the use of technological resources grouped in three dimensions (information access, search and management resources, creation and content editing resources, and interaction and communication resources) has been identified. In addition, the influence of different variables such as gender, age, years of teaching experience and the field of knowledge were also examined. The study was conducted using a survey-based quantitative methodology. The sample consisted of 1,652 faculty belonging to 50 Spanish universities. To respond to the objectives of the study, descriptive and inferential analyses (ANOVA) were carried out. On the one hand, a moderate use of technological resources for professional development was noted while on the other hand, significant differences were observed on all variables analyzed. The results suggest a need to promote, both at the individual and institutional levels, more enriched Learning Ecologies, in such a way that each professor can harness the learning opportunities afforded by the networked society.

In this article, we present the results of a study about the perceptions of students studying for a degree in primary education about their music-teaching knowledge and their training needs in that area. The study was carried out in three public universities in Galicia (Spain). Using a quantitative methodological approach, a questionnaire was used to collect data from 302 participants. The results indicate some gaps in their practical, theoretical, and teaching knowledge related to musical expression which would have to be addressed through continued training during their professional practice. These gaps could also be considered in the design of teaching plans for teachers' initial training. Considering that music is part of the primary education curriculum, and most people's daily lives, careful thought is needed about the elements making up future teachers' training. The measures which are adopted as a result will determine the use that will be made of music, both academically and as an interdisciplinary teaching resource.

Teaching in virtual environments demands mastery of several teaching competencies. Although the most accepted ones are pedagogical, in order to successfully teach online it becomes necessary to acquire and develop some other competencies, sometimes referred to as peripheral roles (Denis et al., 2004). The aim of this study is to analyse perceptions on the level of proficiency that online teachers have regarding these peripheral roles (social, evaluator, manager, technologist, advisor/counsellor, personal, and researcher), and their professional development needs required to improve their online teaching competencies. A questionnaire was specifically created and validated by experts, and data was gathered from 166 university teachers. The findings show that teachers highlight the importance of the peripheral roles for quality teaching, and thus, professional development programmes should be based on a balance between central and peripheral roles to better train online teachers and increase the quality of their teaching.

The practicum is an essential component of teacher training plans and a key element the process of learning to teach. Various documents, guides and protocols have defined the aims of this training phase and the functions of those involved: supervisors, tutors and students. To identify the tasks student teachers perform during the practicum, a quantitative study was designed using a questionnaire completed by 248 students in their final year of teacher training. The results show that the student teachers did not have the chance to tackle the broad range of teaching tasks, limiting their view of teaching and reducing their training potential. It is necessary to clearly establish the obligations of institutions who collaborate in the practicum, defining participants' roles and ensuring that this experience encourages appropriate learning.

The educational landscape has changed in recent years, requiring reflection about new pedagogical methods and theories. There are three important perspectives as drivers of pedagogical reflection: lifelong and life-wide learning, the idea of learning as a social construct in which internal elements and changing external factors converge, and the recognition of technology as a resource that can promote ubiquitous and expanded learning. Learning ecology has been proposed as a conceptual and empirical framework, but its still emergent nature along with its multidimensionality and complexity require further exploration. The Delphi study we present as part of a broader research project aims to identify the components of learning ecologies. Three panel rounds with international experts were carried out, after which two important dimensions emerged in the structure of learning ecologies. The first is related to intrinsic "learning dispositions," which is made up of three categories: the subject's ideas about learning, their motivations and expectations. The second dimension, called "learning processes," comprises four components: relationships, resources, actions and context. The identification of the components of learning ecologies and their influence on formal, non-formal and informal training processes will provide guidance for educational policies and help to better organize training programmes.

Copyright of RIED: Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia is the property of Revista Iberoamericana de Educacion a Distancia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of RIED: Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia is the property of Revista Iberoamericana de Educacion a Distancia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Teachers' attitudes towards technology are crucial to foster its use in schools and to improve its educational affordances and this is still a topic for research. This article relates the attitudes school teachers have towards information and communication technologies (ICT) with the different levels of technology integration in schools. A multiple case-study research methodology was applied, and in which the school was the unit of sampling used. Thirty-five schools from eight Spanish regions were selected, and 1222 questionnaires were collected, representing 78.9% of the sample. Three combined variables were utilised to classify schools in four different levels of technology integration. Results suggest level 4 school teachers exhibit better attitudes towards ICT, which results in creating a positive circle which improves the learning process. This becomes relevant for teacher education and professional development, as effective ICT integration in the classroom can perform as a catalyst for educational innovation.

This article outlines a methodological approach to the creation, production and dissemination of online collaborative audio-visual projects, using new social learning technologies and open-source video tools, which can be applied to any e-learning environment in higher education. The methodology was developed and used to design a course in the audio-visual communication degree at the Open University of Catalonia. It combines three pedagogical strategies in an e-learning environment: project-based learning, computer-supported collaborative learning and participatory culture as a new form of literacy. Here, we present the objectives, the different stages of development and an evaluation of the methodology.

Copyright of Psychology, Society & Education is the property of Psychology, Society & Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to identify parents' perceptions about how much and how often their primary school–aged children used mobile phones and what kinds of activities they used them for. The study used a quantitative methodology with a survey-based design. A total of 1,135 subjects participated. The results indicated that there were three main uses for mobile phones: social interaction, school- and information-related tasks, and leisure. Overall, the level of mobile phone use was low or moderate, with the consumption of video content and videogames standing out. Statistically significant differences, via MANOVA tests, were found between the types of uses and variables such as gender, school year, hours spent using the mobile phone each day and impact on school performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of American Journal of Distance Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Educación XX1 is the property of Editorial UNED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The aim of this research was to identify those factors which motivate the use of social networks by 4th year students in Secondary Education between the ages of 15 and 18. Method: 1,144 students from 29 public and private schools took part. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling technique. Results: Versatility was confirmed to be the variable which most influences the motivation of students in their use of social networks. The positive relationship between versatility in the use of social networks and educational uses was also significant. Conclusions: The characteristics of social networks are analysed according to their versatility and how this aspect makes them attractive to students. The positive effects of social networks are discussed in terms of educational uses and their contribution to school learning. There is also a warning about the risks associated with misuse of social networks, and finally, the characteristics and conditions for the development of good educational practice through social networks are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the roles and competencies of faculty performing in virtual environments is crucial to higher education institutions in order to build a common frame for teaching and training initiatives. One of the goals of this study is to identify and systematize faculty's roles through a review of the most representative surveys. There has also been an effort to identify competencies associated to every role, with an emphasis on those of the pedagogical scope, by means of a focus group. Furthermore, a cross-sectional survey with 166 faculty participants has been conducted in order to identify faculty's level of proficiency on the pedagogical competencies and the interest in training programs. Teacher perceptions on both these aspects constitutes a relevant reference for the design of faculty training programs. Results reveal that content drafting is the aspect in which the subjects declare the highest level of proficiency as opposed to assessment. Faculty also appear to be willing to improve their training, being aware of the changes and requirements entailed by e-learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the processes and elements articulating effective Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) constitutes a focal research stream in education. Following these streams, satisfaction and perceived impact on learning have already been stablished as determining aspects of any type of learning and, particularly, of CSCL. The goal of this study was to identify factors affecting students' satisfaction and perception of impact on learning in CSCL. The Partial Least Squares technique was used, applying a questionnaire to 701 students in a virtual university. The proposed model exhibited high predictive performance, confirming the 13 hypotheses established. The variables confirmation, perceived usefulness, and perceived enjoyment positively and significantly influenced students' satisfaction with CSCL. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness positively and significantly influenced attitude, and attitude, together with perceived enjoyment, were determining factors in perceived impact on learning. These are factors that should be considered when designing CSCL to be implemented both at the institutional and class level, and teachers and students should be aware of these interdependencies for CSCL to be successful. • We identified factors influencing satisfaction and perceived learning in CSCL students. • Confirmation and perceived usefulness positively influence students' satisfaction with CSCL. • Satisfaction significantly influences the perception of the impact of learning in CSCL. • Perceived usefulness and ease of use influence attitudes towards CSCL. • Attitude and perceived enjoyment are variables that predict perceived impact on learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]