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Over the last 50 years, Higher Education has experienced significant development, which has been associated with challenges that have yet to be solved. In this sense, university dropout is a global phenomenon that worries universities all over the world. Many research studies describe the possible causes of this phenomenon, but the most interesting are those that, due to their predictive potential, have the possibility of preventing it. The aim of this article is to study how important students perceive the different reasons for dropout in relation to the idea of abandoning the degree. For this purpose, the Spanish version of the "Questionnaire of Motives for Higher Education Dropout" (QMA_es; Almeida et al., 2019) was applied to a sample of 927 first- and second-year university students. These data have been processed using educational data mining (EDM) techniques, obtaining a decision tree that correctly classifies the sample in 81.1%. The results show that variables related to student satisfaction (satisfaction with academic choice, satisfaction with performance, and satisfaction with the financial situation) and to the academic and social environments play a predominant role in the approach to dropout, above other institutional, financial, and wellbeing variables.

Visualization and argumentation are central processes in the learning of geometry, giving rise to specific lines of research in mathematics education. However, it is worth asking whether they should be developed independently or if it is possible and in what way an articulation between them can be promoted. The objective of this paper is to search for this articulation within the most recent advances in empirical research on the teaching and learning of geometry in Spain. The analysis is approached through the tasks used in research employing two theoretical frameworks which have been developed in Spain, the Onto-Semiotic Approach and Configurational Reasoning. Two main types of task were found in the selected studies: visual tasks and conjecture-and-proof tasks. The results show that in visual tasks the articulation between visualization and argumentation is only necessary in some tasks, in which argumentation aims to justify or to describe the external representation provided as a solution. However, in conjecture-and-proof tasks the articulation between visualization and argumentation must always be present to resolve the task. Analyzing this articulation helps to detect and gain a better understanding of the difficulties that students encounter in solving these types of task. In visual tasks, argumentation helps to understand difficulties associated with the use of visualization. In conjecture-and-proof tasks, visualization determines the argumentation followed, in such a way that many of the difficulties originate more from the visualization than from the process of argumentation.

This study addresses the issue of preference for natural versus synthetic products in different contexts, specifically food, medicines, and cosmetics. Participants were 52 students aged 14-15 years from two schools. We analysed the choices and justifications offered by 28 students from one of the schools before and after receiving an instructional module (nine 60-minute lessons over three weeks) focused on decision-making about natural and processed foods. The goal of instruction was not to guide them towards a particular preference (natural or processed foods) but rather to enable them to make well-reasoned and more scientifically-informed decisions. Transfer of learning to the contexts of medicines and cosmetics was also examined. The responses of students in this experimental group were compared with those of 24 comparison students from the other school who did not receive the instruction. Results suggested that the teaching received by the comparison group (based solely on the standard science curriculum in Spain) does not encourage students to abandon assumptions regarding the inherent superiority of natural products, or to justify their preferences in ways that may be considered "on-target" with respect to the secondary-level science curriculum. By contrast, a shift towards more scientifically informed choices and reasoning was observed following participation in the instructional module. However, there was limited evidence of transfer of learning from the food context to the other two contexts considered. Only in the medicines context did the experimental group show minor improvements at post-test, suggesting that students perceive greater similarity between food and medicines than between food and cosmetics.

The historical dominance of women working in occupational therapy, coupled with the underrepresentation of males in the field globally, creates a need to investigate the experiences of male students in occupational therapy programs. In the context of the Philippines, where women make up 74.72% of the occupational therapy workforce, this study aims to address the following scaffolding problem by exploring the experiences and motivations of male students in Philippine occupational therapy programs. This study seeks to shed light on the factors influencing their educational journey and contribute to a better understanding of gender dynamics within the field. A qualitative design was used. Nine male occupational therapy students from various universities across the Philippines completed a survey questionnaire developed by the authors and attended a focus group discussion. Qualitative data was recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Upon analysis, five themes emerged: (1) Means and Not the End, (2) Rapport and Communication, (3) Society and Stereotyping, (4) Introspection of Male Students, and (5) Furtherance of Gender Inclusivity. The findings suggest that there are roles and expectations specific to male occupational therapy students within the Philippines, which may differ to some extent from those of their female counterparts. The participants experienced particular challenges and opportunities due to their gender. These results may be used to understand the existing gender disparity still present in different occupational therapy workforces.

A questionnaire was recently developed for the use with the Spanish-speaking, and evidence have been provided about the construct internal validity by means of structural equation modelling. In this paper, two research questions were considered: (i) What new evidence does application of the Rasch model provide regarding the validity of this construct?; (ii) What cutoffs should be applied to the constructed scales in order to differentiate between acceptable and insufficient levels of the construct being measured? Participants were 1,272 Spanish at both high-school and college level. The instrument is a pencil and paper questionnaire written in Spanish, comprising 20 items (5-point Likert-type scale) distributed evenly across four scales: beyond exact replicas, purpose of models, multiple models, and changing models. Students' responses were coded on an ordinal scale from zero to four. We then conducted a Rasch analysis using both a multidimensional approach and a consecutive unidimensional approach for each dimension. Data provided new evidence regarding the internal validity of the four scales of the questionnaire. The Rasch analysis also allowed us to establish cutoffs for the constructed scales. The evidence provided by this, and the previous study suggest that the questionnaire may be useful as a diagnostic tool when applied to groups or populations of students. In addition, the identified cutoffs could, hypothetically, serve to differentiate between students with an adequate versus an insufficient understanding of the nature of models. [Note: The page range (344-359) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range for this article is 344-361.]

Teacher shortages are a phenomenon of growing international concern. The causes of this phenomenon are the focus of the research project What About Teacher Shortage (WATS up), which uses an international comparative perspective to analyse teacher shortages in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. Because the nature of teacher shortages' development is complex and influenced by several interacting factors, this theoretical article accounts for the complexity of the phenomenon and introduces a theoretical and methodological model for empirical research. The theoretical starting point is a policy problem approach; more precisely, one that adapts Bacchi's model on focusing 'what the problem is represented to be' (WPR). Due to variations between the studied countries, a multiple case design is chosen as the methodological approach. This allows an individual analysis as well as a comparison of the countries. A methodological model comprising 8 parameters and 23 indicators summarizes the interacting factors influencing teacher shortages.

Introduction. Sexuality and equality education are considered areas of relevant pedagogical research and intervention within current educational contexts in view of the violence and inequalities derived from the patriarchal system. Aims. This paper presents the main results of a research study that seeks to analyze the competence in sexuality and equality of university students during teacher training in Spain (Castilla la Mancha University). Method. For this, the study used a quantitative methodology and administered a nine-dimension questionnaire to 371 students. Results. The study revealed the weak acquisition of competence in sexuality and equality and the persistence of stereotyped images of sexualities. Furthermore, these findings show that future teachers have a weak equality-based professional practice due to an educational approach that lacks a gender perspective. Conclusions. The main conclusions highlight the evident formative needs in sexuality and equality and the absence of transforming feminist knowledge. All this can affect the development of quality education in sexuality and equality in students' future educational practices.

Role-playing games (RPGs) are considered a useful way of addressing socioscientific issues (SSIs) in the science classroom insofar as they allow learners to engage with an issue and possibly change their opinions on it. This study analyses changes in preservice primary teachers (PPTs) personal positions on nuclear energy following participation in an RPG that simulated a televised debate about the proposal to close nuclear power plants in Spain. The 78 PPTs had to state their position on this issue both before and after the RPG, choosing from among the following three options:(1) immediate closure of nuclear plants, (2) gradual phasing out of nuclear plants or (3) continuing indefinitely with nuclear plants. The majority of students were initially against the future use of nuclear energy, but almost half changed their position following the RPG. Students' initial personal position and the extent to which this disagreed with the position they had to defend in role were factors related to opinion change, both in terms of its direction (towards a position more in favour of or more against nuclear power) and its magnitude (abrupt: from one extreme position to the other; or moderate: from the intermediate to an extreme position, or vice-versa). The analysis also showed that students' personal position after the RPG tended to be closer to that of the role they had portrayed. These aspects should be borne in mind when designing RPGs to address SSIs in the science classroom.

The repercussions of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have generated effects on the working modality of teachers, in whom it is convenient to study variables associated with well-being. The objective with this research was to determine whether social support at work and workload predict satisfaction with life in a sample of Peruvian teachers. The methodology was a predictive and cross-sectional study, carried out on 584 Peruvian teachers of both genders selected in a non-probabilistic way; to whom the social support scale at work, the workload scale and the life satisfaction scale were applied. The survey was carried out virtually, and descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural equation modelling (SEM) were conducted to examine the hypothetical model. In the analysis of the proposed model, an adequate fit was obtained, X[superscript 2] (116) = 435.5, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.963, RMSEA = 0.069, SRMR = 0.059. Thus, H[subscript 1] and H[subscript 2] were confirmed on the positive effect of social support at work, [beta] = 0.27, p < 0.001, and the negative effect of workload, [beta] = -0.28, p < 0.001 in satisfaction with life. Likewise, the t values of the beta regression coefficients of the predictor variables were highly significant (p < 0.01). It was concluded that social support at work and an adequate workload predict a better level of satisfaction with life in a sample of Peruvian teachers.

This paper is devoted to the design, description and validation of the Android application TEAtreves, which focuses on structured arithmetic problem-solving for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The application contains multiple adaptations to make it suitable for users with ASD. Validation was carried out with five students with ASD, obtaining positive results which confirm the strength of TEAtreves app for users with ASD. Results and future lines of work are discussed.

Policy discussions related to higher education in sub-Saharan Africa often include concerns related to quality. Rather than being an abstract characteristic, quality of higher education is the result of a series of actions and practices, and yet there is limited research on the practices associated with quality in higher education in Africa. This article explores the practice of self-study in West African higher education institutions. After conducting 21 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders from four public and private institutions in the West African region, which were selected on the basis of their respective strength in quality culture, the study suggests that protecting one's institutional image can have a significant impact on the uses of self-study. Research participants, regardless of weak or strong quality cultures, were very sensitive about, and even protective of, institutional self-image. The pursuit of a strong institutional image resulted in substantive changes within stronger cultures, or cosmetic changes, among weaker cultures. Having weighed the evidence collected in the study, we argue that the link between self-study and academic activities, including teaching and learning, is weak at best. This study serves as a reminder that self-study is an instrument and therefore its uses are subject to revision and improvement.

Background: Numerous investigations have highlighted the importance of examining teachers' responses to the curricular reforms in science teaching proposed by the educational authorities. Science teachers' responses are shaped by their perceptions of the new measures' intentions and their level of involvement. Purpose: This study analyses the evolution of the teachers´ beliefs and opinions to externally driven curriculum reform in Spain focused on developing key competences. Sample: Four secondary science teachers participated in a training programme in which a context-based approach to teaching scientific competences was implemented. Design and methods: The data analysis applied a scheme that differentiates the personal, internal and external focus of teachers' work. It also introduced the qualifier concept, whether their responses were seen as facilitating (F) or obstacles (O) the development of competence-based science education. The data was obtained from different settings: two individual interviews with each teacher and a focus group carried out with the four teachers Results: The teachers' perceptions cover many aspects (20), which have all been categorized into the 27 factors included in the scheme used. The teachers' perceptions were mainly on the personal focus at all training programme settings. However, their responses also reflected factors related to the internal and external focuses, though to a lesser extent. Conclusion: The study´s findings show the influence of reflection on the teachers' observations and impressions, helping them elicit many factors according to Ryder´s proposal. As for the qualifiers expressed by the teachers, the evaluations depended on the teacher profile and the settings used. These considerations highlight the influence of training and experiential knowledge on professional development.

Previous studies reported that a substantial number of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter challenges in mathematics as they advance through their education. The present study evaluates the mathematical competence of 17 students diagnosed with ASD who were recruited from first through fourth grades in 12 different mainstream schools. The results were compared with those from other 17 students without ASD, matched one-to-one by sex and school (grade and classroom). In general, the students with ASD in this study exhibited greater difficulties in mathematics than their peers without ASD. These difficulties were particularly noticeable in fourth graders, although they could be observed earlier in informal skills. Many students with ASD in the sample struggled with informal calculation and concepts, as well as with all formal categories considered, particularly calculation and concepts. These findings may be relevant for early teaching interventions and for the development of future mathematical learning supports for students with ASD.

This study examined the associations between excessive alcohol intake during adolescence and neurocognitive functioning in young adulthood and whether these relations varied by sex. Participants were working-class Chilean adolescents (N = 692; M[subscript age] 16.0 years; 54.5% female) who provided frequency of past 30-day bingeing and past-year intoxication. Neurocognitive measures were completed in young adulthood (M[subscript age] 21.2 years). Illicit substance users were excluded a priori and other substance use was controlled. When males and females were considered simultaneously, no main effects of intoxication or bingeing were found. However, several sex-specific effects emerged for intoxication, such that more frequent intoxication was associated with poorer visual memory, attention, processing speed, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility in females, while frequent intoxication related to better attention and processing speed in males. In general, effect sizes were small. No relations emerged for verbal memory, working memory, or spatial learning. Possible factors that contribute to divergent sex effects are discussed.

LGBT students continue to be vastly invisible in the international higher education literature and often face hostile learning environments, both in the classroom and in the larger university environment. This study follows a narrative inquiry approach to explore and document the experiences of "tongzhi"--the most widely embraced identity label among individuals romantically and sexually attracted to people of their same gender in contemporary Chinese societies--students in Mainland China. We interviewed six male university students who identify as "tongzhi" in order to understand their educational experience, the learning environments they experience in the classroom, and their interactions with the academic staff. Despite very different individual narratives, the findings reveal a resilient student population and a strategic approach to managing complex relationships and navigating self-disclosure. We offer recommendations for future research and for practitioners invested in promoting inclusive learning environments for all students.

Primary education students with autism spectrum disorder may present difficulties when solving arithmetical problems. Therefore, this exploratory and descriptive single case study aims to verify the suitability of a methodology based on modified conceptual models so that a student with autism spectrum disorder understands and correctly solves direct (multiplication) and inverse (division) Cartesian product problems. The study was carried out within an inclusive educational environment and consisted of baseline, training, follow-up, generalization and maintenance. The results show a functional relationship between independent and dependent variables, the student learned to solve this type of problems, generalized his learning by successfully solving two-step problems (an addition and a multiplication) and maintained what he had learned 5 weeks after the last training session. The student employed pictorial representations, the odometer strategy and counting strategies to solve the problems raised in the follow-up, generalization and maintenance sessions. Limitations and future lines of work are also discussed.

This research integrates context-based learning and modelling. It presents a teaching-learning sequence (TLS) about the dissolution of gases in liquids using carbonated drinks as the context. The impact of the TLS is analysed in a longitudinal short-term study involving two groups of learners aged 13-14 years old (n=53). The results led us to infer five models explaining how carbon dioxide is distributed in a carbonated soft drink, categorized and ordered by increasing complexity as follows: "Gas apart"; "Bubbles"; "Bubbles and something else"; "Dissolved gas"; and "Oversaturation." Some of these models reflected preconceived ideas based on students' personal experience, while others emerged from the teaching. Three clusters of students were identified based on the frequency with which their responses were included in the models "Dissolved gas or Oversaturation." Overall, the TLS shows potential as a framework for enhancing students' knowledge. This is reflected in the fact that more advanced models of dissolution became increasingly identifiable in their responses as they worked through the activities, while less sophisticated ones were observed less frequently. Overall, nearly two-thirds of them demonstrated that they had acquired an understanding of the concept of dissolved gas. Some of the activities used seem to be particularly helpful in this respect.

The lockdown caused by the pandemic resulted in the closure of schools and universities. Professors had to adapt their subjects to be taught remotely to continue their classes, and students had to cope with various personal situations such as isolation, and returning to their countries. Ensuring that the quality of teaching was maintained would usually have required months of planning and design. In contrast, these changes had to be made in a few days, which is why this situation could be considered as Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT). The objective of this article is to evaluate the teaching of our faculty during this period using the CIPP model (Context, Input, Procedure and Product), which is especially focused on educational projects among others. The university was able to maintain teaching during this period despite the difficulties of the transition. In addition, evaluation surveys show that the satisfaction of professors and students was also maintained. This was possible thanks to the order and clarity transmitted from university authorities and the commitment of the professors, despite their increased workload. This knowledge is important to ensure a better response by universities in future emergencies.

Hate speech against vulnerable groups is acknowledged as a serious problem for integration and respect for the social diversity existing within the territory of the European Union. The growth of this type of discourse has been supported by the expansion of social media, which have been proven to act as a mechanism for the propagation of crimes against targets such as migrants and refugees, one of the main affected groups. That is why we have conducted the first European study of the social acceptance of migrants and refugees by studying the presence of hate speech. The research is based on the perspective of the theories of intergroup contact and mediated intergroup contact. The methodology includes large-scale longitudinal analysis (2015-2020) of online hate speech on Twitter (N=847,978) and its contrast with existing official indicators. The results suggest that personal intergroup contact is positively correlated with the support of the local population towards migrants and refugees but mediated intergroup contact is not correlated with hate speech on Twitter. We found evidence that those regions where the support for foreigners was higher, there was a lower level of hate speech on Twitter. This is an advance in the study of hate speech by territories and can help in the formulation of action strategies.

The recent increase in the number of mathematics museums has given rise to a need for tools with which to design and assess mathematics educational proposals in this non-formal context. This study proposes the use of the van Hiele model, a benchmark in mathematics instruction, for the design of interactive museum models focusing on mathematics content in general. By way of example, the model is characterised for application to the Pythagorean theorem. An interactive module designed around the aforementioned characterisation for teaching the theorem at the Museo Didáctico e Interactivo de Ciencias [interactive science instruction museum, MUDIC] may serve as a reference for future interactive modules and workshops in museums dealing with any manner of mathematics content.

The importance of students being acquainted with algebraic ideas before secondary education has been revealed in the research literature. It is therefore essential that prospective elementary teachers (PTs) be prepared to instill an early algebra perspective in their teaching. However, PTs often show difficulties in algebra content knowledge, which need to be diagnosed aiming to assist them in developing the required knowledge to teach according to that perspective. This study aims to understand what aspects of functional thinking Spanish and Portuguese elementary PTs exhibit at the beginning of their teacher education program. The findings show that although PTs from both countries use different strategies to generalize functional relationships, the occurrence of successful strategies is low. Also, most participants provide local approaches in their interpretation of relationships between variables and reveal difficulties in understanding and connecting different representations of functions. These difficulties show that PTs lack important knowledge about functional thinking. By providing a framework concerning the functional thinking required for PTs to teach within an early algebra perspective, we shed light on a necessary step for teacher education programs to diagnose PTs' functional thinking and to assist them in developing the needed mathematical knowledge to teach accordingly.

Students with autism spectrum disorder frequently face challenges when learning mathematical concepts. For example, they may have difficulties solving mathematical word problems, in particular Cartesian product problems. This research is a case study with a multiple probe design in which the participants were three Spanish students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A conceptual model-based problem-solving approach adapted to the characteristics of the participants was used to teach them how to solve Cartesian product word problems introduced sequentially in the instruction (first multiplication, then division, and finally both operations). The results show a functional relationship between the intervention and the students' performance. The three participants generalized their learning to two-operation Cartesian product problems (an addition and a multiplication). Moreover, two of them retained what they learned 6 weeks after completing the instruction. The implications for teaching this and other mathematical content to students with autism are discussed.

Secondary education curricula highlight competence-based learning; although meaningful school-intervention habits have not yet been observed. The initiatives implemented have focused primarily on promoting the combined development of no more than three key competences. This article presents an international study under the Erasmus+ and H2020 programmes, for analysing the impact of the STEAM project-based learning approach with KIKS format (Kids Inspire Kids for STEAM) on the interwoven development of key competences. The sample included 267 high school students divided into 53 teams from 29 educational centres in Finland, England, Hungary, and Spain. Each team carried out several projects for no less than two academic years, by means of the following two approaches: STEAM project-based learning and KIKS. Data were collected from observations and interviews with students, teachers, and KIKS trainers. Analyses revealed that the combination of these two approaches facilitate the development of all eight key competences. The project-based learning focus essentially fostered the enhancement of the mathematical competence and in science, technology, and engineering, while KIKS format promoted literacy and multilingual competences. The remaining competences were encouraged by the combination of both approaches. It is noteworthy that prolonged participation in the programme, as it was implemented, was crucial to achieving the obtained outcomes.

The aim of this work is to study the knowledge that 11 to 12-year-old pupils have about the different meanings of fractions. For this purpose, an investigation about the ability that 11 to 12-year-old pupils have with fraction problems through problem posing is performed. In particular, we analyze if they pose different types of problems depending on the provided help and if they are able to solve the problems they pose. To do so, after making a classification about types of fractions problems, an instrument is designed to see if students are able to invent and solve problems with different conditions (no reference at all, reference to an image, reference to a graphic representation, and reference to an operation). The analysis of results shows that most of the students properly solve what they invent, and points out that they tend to pose part-whole and part-set problems, even when the given reference suggests another type of problem.

Implementing the inquiry approach in the science classroom represents a challenge for pre-service secondary science teachers due to the perceptions they build around inquiry and determine their future teaching practice. In this work, we analyse the perceptions of 46 students of the science specialties of the Master's Degree in Secondary Education Teaching, using the design of a questionnaire adapted from the PRIMAS project. The results obtained show some initial perceptions of the participants with a very homogeneous profile for the variables analysed, finding them favourable to the inquiry as a teaching approach, although showing some concrete difficulties. We also found some statistically significant differences regarding gender and previous academic and teaching experience. However, the prior research background associated with the science and technological degrees completed by the participants seemed not to affect their perception about inquiry. We finally raise some implications of the results obtained and give some orientation that might be useful for the initial training of secondary science teachers.

Tracing graduates has become an imperative for higher education institutions much more during the pandemic. This tracer determined the employment and employability status of the 2019 BSE graduates and identified the competencies they adequately acquired and deemed vital for work. It used descriptive design, and data were collected from the 103 graduates through a Google form with open and closed-ended questions administered between November and December 2020. Results revealed that most of the graduates had been employed in teaching and teaching-related jobs but mostly in contractual arrangements within the first and second six months after graduation. Many had their first jobs with meager salaries from the private sector. Communication, pedagogy, information communication technology, time management, and flexibility were the top competencies they adequately acquired and were beneficial in work. The study concluded that these graduates had acquired 21st-century skills in their respective degree programs. These results have corresponding implications for future research in confirming the most employable skills in secondary teaching. As recommended, classroom instruction might emphasize the development of these skills. Eventually, these become the competitive advantage and employability capitals of future graduates. Administering the licensure examination and the release of its results can be done within the first three months after graduation to lessen the cost of waiting.

Modern society has plunged us into a maelstrom of telematics information with little control. Teachers from any field must be trained in order to pass on the confidence and values to withstand this media pressure to their students. To this end, one of the areas of knowledge on which greater emphasis should be placed is that related to emotional intelligence. The study reported on here focused on this type of knowledge among professional music studies teachers in conservatories, asking what the perception of this group on the aforementioned area of knowledge is and to what extent it has been received during their initial training. For this investigation we used a quantitative methodological approach, and via descriptive analysis, a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and inferential analysis, we found significant differences regarding the two scales considered: level of agreement and emotional intelligence training received. Furthermore, regarding the descriptive variables, significant differences were also found through the application of the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis test.

This study aims to examine the benefits of using technology-driven pedagogy to enhance students' awareness in a legal education class. The study utilizes qualitative research methods, particularly case studies, which involve in-depth investigations of single individuals, groups, events, or communities. Data were gathered through class observations, personal interviews, and focus group discussions. The findings from this study reveal that the use of technology-driven pedagogy enhances students' learning in legal education, creates a more engaging learning environment, and emphasizes the significance of a good internet infrastructure and support for effective classroom learning.

Although memory sites and formal schooling both serve as battlegrounds for postconflict disputes over memory, there is a dearth of research that examines the connection between the two. This article draws on the case of Colombia to explore the use of memory sites, such as museums and memorials, as pedagogical tools in education for peace building. Through observations of school visits to the Centro de Memoria, Paz y Reconciliación (Center for Memory, Peace, and Reconciliation) and interviews with students, I highlight the potential that memory sites have for establishing a sense of closeness in students' understanding of conflict. I conceptualize closeness across three axes: familiarity, temporality, and spatiality. In bringing students closer to the history of the armed conflict, memory sites hold the potential to transmit a sense of responsibility toward peace building. This research adds to our understanding of the construction, transmission, and contestation of collective memories of violence.

Academics in Western universities, especially those in the United States, are frequently called on to serve as quality gatekeepers in other higher education systems. International opportunities for service to the profession can take many forms, ranging from program reviews to expert consultations, and they constitute a great opportunity to learn about a different higher education system and gain perspective about deeply held assumptions. These opportunities are fraught when not approached with intellectual humility and can result in negative outcomes, amplified by power asymmetry and the disproportional weight of the perspective of Western academics. Cultural sensitivity can be learned and, regardless of our area of specialization, we all can become better-quality gatekeepers and have a more positive impact in the world.

Objective: This research seeks to identify strategies that promote the sustainability of pre-professional practices in agricultural careers in Ecuador through the perceptions of actors from the academy, public sector, and business. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses online surveys, fuzzy cognitive maps, and scenario analysis. The survey collects information on the characterization of pre-professional practices and perceptions on the development of practices related to management, administration, and contribution to the academic training of the agricultural graduate. The information was obtained from 194 surveys. Results: The findings highlight three strategic variables--(i) plans, programs, and projects (ii) experience achieved in pre-professional practices, and (iii) management and administration of pre-professional practices. In the simulation of scenarios, the institutional framework of the pre-professional practices is reflected in the administrative management that includes the monitoring of practices and curricular updating. While the management of pre-professional practices responds to the agricultural problem with adequate monitoring and curricular plan. Practical implication: In Ecuador, pre-professional practices are part of the regulations imposed by the state towards higher education institutions. The research seeks strategies to connect the needs of the rural productive sector through pre-professional practices. Theoretical implication: The research contributes to the link between pre-professional practices and the rural productive sector in the academic training of agricultural graduates. Originality/value: Few empirical studies have examined the development of pre-professional practices in Ecuador as a strategy to link agricultural careers with the rural productive sector, where the student can identify job opportunities.

This article sketches the emergence, institutionalisation and emergent issues and challenges in the scholarly field of history of education in Latin America. It argues that these processes have been closely linked with nation-building and the decisive role of national politics. The impact of national politics is herein called a 'beneficial tyranny'. This was certainly true for the first major works written in the late nineteenth century and the major waves of historiography until the slow institutionalisation of the major site of research in history of education: the study of education at universities in the 1960s as well as the institutionalisation of the field of history of education with the establishment of academic societies and specific journals in the 1990s. Yet this interpretation does not explain more recent developments in the field. By looking at recent publications in all major journals of the region for the years 2020 and 2021, new historiographical trends clearly emerge.

Introduction: The assessment of well-being is crucial for measuring the effects of psychosocial interventions in people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate a measure of integrative well-being, the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI) to use it specifically for this population. Methods: The Pemberton Happiness Index was first tailored to individuals with intellectual disabilities (PHI-Intellectual Disabilities). Then a sample of 130 adults with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities completed this adapted version alongside other well-being and affective measures. Results: The psychometric properties of this new PHI-Intellectual Disabilities were shown to be very good (i.e., internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity). Conclusion: The study provides initial evidence of the reliability and validity of a brief measure of well-being that can be used for both applied and research purposes specifically for adults with mild-moderate intellectual disabilities.

This article is aimed at educators concerned with curricular initiatives that foster STE(A)M projects in secondary education to promote mathematics competencies. Research has recently reported that these projects superficially address mathematics content, hampering the development of competencies the consensus deems necessary to prepare citizens for daily life. This study shows that learning goals may be achieved when teachers receive personalised training and sustained assistance in their project experiences. We examine how two Spanish teachers, with advisors' support, progress in exploiting mathematics competencies within the implementation of a single project each over a period of 3 years. Their evolution was not the result of minor recommendations but of continuous interactions with the advisors. These interactions intended to maintain a balance between teacher confidence and project enhancements, which required commitment and constancy. Four of the five competencies considered in the Spanish curriculum emerged powerfully after sustained refinement. The frequently mobilised competencies were intra-mathematics, representations, as well as collaborative work and positive identity, followed by modelling. The last of which was difficult to address, but when it was, the other three emerged more naturally. Computational thinking was poorly represented mainly because of the advisors' background and its recent incorporation into the reference curriculum. The teachers' progress was influenced by the advisor's academic background, pedagogical expertise, ability to transfer research outcomes into teaching, and experience supporting others.

The present study aims to understand the relationship between the big five factors of personality and academic motivation. In addition, the following variables are taken into consideration; sex, age and type of educational studies. A quantitative methodology is used, in base to a not experimental, correlational study. The sample is composed of 514 students of the Faculty of Education of Leon's University, between the three education degrees. To gather the information, participants were asked to complete the Learning and Motivation Strategies Questionnaire (CEAM) and the Personality Questionnaire Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The results show the significant relationship between personality facets and motivation variables. It should be noted that female results were higher in the values of intrinsic motivation, motivation towards teamwork, neuroticism, and kindness, and the male results were higher in self-efficacy. Additionally, it was observed that intrinsic motivation decreases progressively from the first to the fourth year of the degree, the need for recognition decreases in the two last study years, and the openness to experiences is higher in the last year of the degree. Finally, Social Education students are those that show a higher intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, total motivation, openness to experiences, and neuroticism, while Primary Education students' results were higher in the need for recognition.

The existence of ethical and deontological codes is a reality integrated in highly competitive sectors, such as the medical sector or the legal profession. Most studies on ethics and deontology focus on the way in which they are communicated and their effectiveness. However, no special interest has been paid to the existence, application and content of ethics and deontology in the university sector and its relationship with the transmission of ethical and deontological principles to students. Professionals, employees and managers who will play their role in society, perform their work in companies or develop strategic plans, are trained at universities, which must play an important role in the ethical and deontological training of future social actors. Therefore, it is necessary to respond to whether public universities have codes of ethics and whether the fact of having these codes implies a greater commitment to the inclusion of ethical values in their training programs. To this end, Spanish public universities are analyzed and the results, which are grouped by areas of knowledge, are presented. The results achieved provide useful insight for university managers concerned with implementing ethical and responsible policies.

Generalisation is a skill that enables learners to acquire knowledge in general, and mathematical knowledge in particular. It is a core aspect of algebraic thinking and, in particular, of functional thinking, as a type of algebraic thinking. Introducing primary school children to functional thinking fosters their ability to generalise, explain and reason with mathematical relationships. It also helps them overcome difficulties in understanding functions when they are exposed to the idea more formally in secondary education. Although more and more special education students are enrolled in mainstream schools, little is known about algebraic thinking in that community, especially in the case of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Students with ASD often exhibit deficits that interfere directly with mathematical learning. The study discussed here, which was conducted in the context of algebraic reasoning, was aimed primarily at identifying and describing the strategies and representations observed in 26 ASD primary education students when performing a task that involved a linear function, and describing the generalisations they performed. The 26 participants were enrolled in 19 mainstream Spanish schools. The tools used, a questionnaire and semi-structured interview, were designed to explore their ability to generalise in a problem involving the function f(x) = 2x + 2. The strategies identified included: (a) bald answering; (b) modelling with manipulatives; (c) drawing; (d) counting and (e) operating. The strategy most frequently observed was operating, represented verbally or symbolically, followed by drawing. Only three students generalised but did not reach the highest level of functional thinking, namely, 'functions as objects'. The results are compared with findings for mainstream students of similar ages. Conjectures around the possible relationships between some findings and the type of thinking characteristic of autism spectrum disorder are put forward. The results carry implications for research with and teaching of students with ASD.

Both Canada and the United States enrol a significant number of international students. However, in March 2020, both countries closed their borders and increased restrictions to international travel due to COVID-19, which had a direct impact on international students' ability to travel between their home countries and study destinations. This article examines the impact of COVID-19 on international student enrolments by asking two related questions: first, how did government policy address international students' difficult reality in the wake of COVID-19? And, did international student enrolments change as a result? With regard to policy, we find a stark divergence: Canada's federal policies quickly adapted to support international students and ensure they remained eligible for post-graduate work permits, preserving the appeal of Canada as a study destination. Meanwhile, in the US, federal policies for student visas required international students to maintain physical presence, reflecting a more hostile stance towards immigration, characteristic of the Trump administration. Despite these differences, with regard to enrolments, we find largely similar patterns, with COVID resulting in only a small decline in international student enrolments nationwide. A more worrying trend for both countries is that selective institutions seem to have been less impacted than access-oriented institutions.

Projects have become an essential instrument for the success of universities. In a context of globalization and increasing complexity, they must sharpen their resourcefulness to face these challenges and adapt to this changing environment. To reach these objectives, they undertake a series of activities of a unique, concrete and temporary nature, not always technical but managerial ones. If universities work with people on projects in the production, transmission and dissemination of knowledge, then they link with society to solve its problems. For this reason, teaching and research staff (TRS) should promote a range of professional project management (PM) competences in different areas for the proper management of the projects in which they take part. Through a Delphi technique, a panel of twenty-four accredited teaching experts who are carrying out significant research and holding directive roles, measured the importance of acquiring and/or improving professional PM competences by their TRS. Consensus and stability reached after two rounds of consultation confirmed there are a series of crucial competences for the practice of relevant teaching and pioneer research. Results obtained are the basis for a gap plan that allows the TRS to participate in and/or lead university projects with greater self-confidence and personal motivation.

This research aims to portray the way young adult people interact with news and how their consumption is affected by advertising and personal data sharing. "Digital News Report Spain 2018", a questionnaire on the consumption of digital media undertaken by a national panel of 2,023 Internet users, is used as a main source. Among the users mentioned, there were 293 young people from 25 to 34 years old who belong to the Millennial generation. Data from this report was completed with a qualitative study in which two focus groups were held, featuring people of that age frame residing in Navarre. The paper concludes that young adult people are generally interested in news, which they access mainly via mobile devices. Their interest grows when the content affects them directly, but also if they empathize with the topic. On the other hand, their familiar background and social routines shape the way they receive information. Young adult people still make use of traditional media, although they consider it ideologically biased. Advertising is something annoying, although they generally have little knowledge and even less intention to use ad-blockers. Finally, their review of the personalized services is negative, but they tend to give away personal data to media if this facilitates their news access.

This paper discusses the phenomenon of teacher awards with particular reference to one bestowed in Spain. This phenomenon is analysed in line with the consequences of free market ideology in education and the ideology of influencers and followers. Drawing on qualitative research based in participant and non-participant observation, in-depth interviews and document analysis, the results show that education practice was determined by the award requirements, and complying with its criteria became the overriding objective. The need for recognition was highlighted but critical views were also brought to light in relation to the notions of microcelebrities, performativity, individualism and competitiveness. The paper contributes to critical reflections on the already existing controversies regarding awards in education and specifically those presented to individuals. School teachers' perceptions of and reasons for participating in these initiatives and the repercussions in their classrooms are examined.

The relationship between being a parent and personal well-being has been the topic of interest and debate in recent decades. However, most of the studies in this field are from high-income countries in North America and Europe. This is an important limitation since parenthood is a phenomenon highly dependent on sociocultural context. The purpose of this article was to identify and examine the main findings related to the well-being of mothers and fathers in Latin America through a systematic review of the scientific literature. This review shows that, in general, mothers and fathers expressed feelings of well-being. However, parenthood significantly affected their daily lives and simultaneously represented a source of frustration and displeasure. Gender stereotypes, the type of family and work-family conflicts were variables relevant to these factors. Our results show the importance of developing policies and strategies that favour gender equity and provide support for vulnerable families in Latin America countries.

With the purpose of promoting academic inclusion, it is essential for educators to understand the nature underlying poor reading comprehension in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, we examined the time course of anaphor resolution during text comprehension in children and adolescents with ASD and a group of children with Typical Development (TD) matched in chronological age (age range: 9-16) and non-verbal IQ. Their eye movements were monitored as they read short paragraphs in which two factors were manipulated: (1) the semantic typicality of an antecedent (e.g. shark vs. salmon) with regards to a category noun that serves as anaphor (e.g. fish) and (2) the distance between the antecedent and anaphor (e.g. near vs. far). Both, children with ASD and TD showed more and longer first fixations in the near anaphors than in the far anaphors but not in the post-anaphor region which suggests that the effect of distance on anaphor resolution was immediate. The reverse effect of distance indicated that the far condition was too demanding for students of these ages to occur online. Typical antecedents received fewer and shorter revisits than atypical antecedents but only for participants with TD. In contrast, ASD participants did not show such typicality facilitation. Finally, children with ASD made more but shorter fixations and revisits in general than their typical peers. Theoretical and applied implications of our results for the literacy training on ASD participants are discussed.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of unknown comorbid mental disorders in individuals with mild/moderate intellectual disability (ID) with/without autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to compare the severity of challenging behavior with respect to the comorbidity of ASD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 91 adults with mild or moderate ID with no previous psychiatric diagnosis (except ASD). The assessment tools were the PAS-ADD checklist, Mini-PAS-ADD, PAS-ADD clinical interview and the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP). Results: A previously undiagnosed mental disorder was found in 23.81% of the individuals with ID and ASD and in 10.20% of the individuals without. The most prevalent mental disorder was major depressive disorder. An association between psychiatric comorbidity and challenging behavior was found in people with ID and ASD. Conclusions: The prevalence of underdiagnosed mental disorders in individuals with ASD and ID is high and is associated with challenging behavior.

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the construction of social imaginaries of fear by the Chilean press regarding student violence during the 1968 university reforming process. Using an approach inspired by the history of emotions, the primary purpose is to analyze the discourse of two relevant conservative newspapers with national circulation about students' mobilization. Design/methodology/approach: The research rests on the analysis of content in the discourse of the two more representative right-wing Chilean newspapers ("El Mercurio" and "El Diario Ilustrado"). Founded in the early years of the 20th century, both had national circulations and were a part of a tradition in the history of the Chilean 20th-century national press. Through the analysis of a selection of editorials and news regarding students' mobilization during 1968, with a focus on the experience of the most prominent institution (Universidad de Chile), this research highlights similarities and differences in the ways that both media endeavoured to elaborate social imaginaries of menace and fear regarding student movements. Findings: Through the study of the discourse of traditional newspapers, it is possible to identify critical issues concerning the university student movements' purposes to implement breaking (and occasionally violent) methods to carry out the reforms that they promoted, according to the right-wing press. Against this backdrop, the different importance of an anti-communist component is discernible, typical of the Cold War period, in the (political and emotional) arguments of the newspapers under analysis. Originality/value: This article proposes an interpretation that intertwines a local phenomenon (the reformist movement of the University of Chile) with a global one (the May student revolution of 1968). It also establishes a novel approach by linking, through its approach, yet traditional concepts of social and cultural analysis (the idea of social imaginaries) with a new emphasis on social science and humanities (emotional dimensions).

Official documents in several educational systems reflect the importance of integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and consider project-based learning (PBL) as a way of integrating such disciplines in the classroom. Although STEAM-PBL has been characterized and evaluated in different ways, its impact on school mathematics teaching remains unclear. Mathematics is recognized as the fundamental basis of other disciplines; however, many students still perceive it as a difficult subject and abandon it. To analyze STEAM-PBL classroom implementation from a school mathematics standpoint, we examined 41 classroom experiences from 11 Spanish secondary education teachers (five in-field mathematics teachers), who participated in a STEAM training program for more than 4 years. To frame this study, Thibaut et al.'s (J STEM Educ 3(1):02, 2018) and Schoenfeld's (Educ Res 43(8):404-412, 2014) characterizations of well-designed and implemented projects, respectively, were employed. The results showed that in-field mathematics teachers avoided transdisciplinary projects in which school mathematics is difficult to address, while out-of-field teachers tended to overlook the mathematics in interdisciplinary projects. Unlike out-of-field teachers, mathematics teachers often eluded design-based learning processes for deeply exploiting school mathematics. The latter teachers promoted high cognitive demands and positive perceptions about mathematics in projects where formative environments were generated through discussion and a meaningful feedback loop.

Although many laboratory experiments are available to illustrate spectrophotometric or fluorometric methods, few of them introduce the use of luminometry to students. Bioluminescence, a subtype of chemiluminescence, is produced when an enzyme-catalyzed chemical reaction gives rise to light emission. Despite the advantages of bioluminescent methods, including sensitivity and specificity, and their increasing use in experimental sciences and biomedical laboratories, their presence in courses is almost nonexistent. The luciferase-catalyzed enzymatic reaction has generated a myriad of practical applications, including those derived from the measurement of the ATP consumed in the reaction. In particular, the measurement of ATP levels in drinking or stored waters directly correlates with their bacteria content, facilitating the development of rapid methods for detecting bacterial contamination. This avoids the long waiting time associated with traditional microbiological methods, based on the growth of the microorganisms in a suitable culture medium. Over the past two years at the University of Malaga, we have implemented a new laboratory experiment for undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry students. In this experiment, students detected bacterial contamination in water by quantifying ATP with the luciferase-catalyzed reaction. The experiment was successfully implemented in two different formats, either as a full project developed by students throughout the entire duration of the academic course, or as a short protocol, carried out in a single laboratory session. Between them, a whole range of intermediate options could be arranged by educators to suit their course requirements and the learning objectives to be achieved by students.

This study examines the extent to which iron deficiency in infancy contributes to adverse neurocognitive and educational outcomes in young adulthood directly and indirectly, through its influence on verbal cognition and attention problems in childhood. Young adults (N = 1,000, M age = 21.3 years, 52% female; of Spanish or indigenous descent) from working-class families in Santiago, Chile, completed instruments assessing memory, processing speed, mental flexibility, and educational attainment. Iron status was assessed at ages 6, 12, and 18 months, and verbal intelligence, inattention, and sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) symptoms were assessed at age 10. Results indicated that young adults who had iron-deficiency in infancy had poor executive control at age 21. Severity of iron deficiency during infancy was associated with lower verbal IQ and more frequent inattention and SCT symptoms in childhood, and with lower educational attainment in young adulthood through its effect on inattention. No additional indirect effects were found. Interventions directed toward improving cognitive and attention deficits linked to early-life iron deficiency appear warranted and could alter the course to adult functioning. Further research on the impact of such interventions would be helpful.

The relationship between science and society has, for many years, been the subject of debate in different fields, and various proposals have been made regarding the kind of science education that citizens require. The present study considers an understanding of the nature of science (NOS) to be one of the key competences that citizens should acquire as part of their science education. Hence, our aim was to identify NOS aspects among the key scientific competences for citizenship identified by a panel of Spanish experts. The analysis is based on a review of the recent literature on the NOS, and especially on the results of a previous Delphi study in which 31 experts were asked to propose key aspects of scientific competence for citizenship. The present study involved three stages: identification of NOS themes in the experts' initial proposals, analysis of how their importance ratings of these themes changed over the course of the Delphi rounds, and analysis of variability among the experts according to their professional group. We identified 12 NOS themes that, in line with recent publications in this field, included those related to the practice of science. A stable consensus was only observed for one theme: "critical attitude." These results provide further evidence of the well-documented difficulty of defining and selecting NOS themes. However, the analysis also suggests that "critical attitude" is one of the key themes that should form part of science education for citizens.