Números Publicados > Volumen y Número

Title- SINTICE 2013: The fifteenth symposium in educational technology

Abstract- It is our great pleasure to serve as guest editors for this special issue of the IEEE RITA journal, which holds a fine selection of the most relevant papers presented at SINTICE 2013, the fifteenth international symposium in educational technology held in Madrid in September 2013. The three papers included in this special issue are representative of the high quality observed during all the conference.

Index Terms- SINTICE 2013

Title- Active learning communities: towards open learning at universities.

Abstract- Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) are a modality of e-learning that have created social disruption and a considerable debate about its effectiveness in terms of learning, sustainability, and the role played by universities. We present AbiertaUGR a MOOC experience carried out at the University of Granada oriented towards the use of stable and dynamic learning communities which allow the consolidation of the offer made by universities with social vocation oriented to lifelong learning.

Index Terms- MOOC, lifelong learning, AbiertaUGR, digital identity, social networks, learning communities.

Title- Extending Google Course Builder with Real-World Projects in a Masters’ Course

Abstract- The contribution of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, we present an experience of a Masters’ level course based on real-world projects with interaction with real developers from industry. This reality check created a special motivation for students as well as provided a useful experience for their future work. On the other hand, we describe the technical details of the three projects carried out by the students. These were extensions to Google’s MOOC platform Course Builder. They were about an improvement in the management of quizzes, an extension with learning analytics tools, and an integration with Mozilla Open Badges.

Index Terms- assessment, badges, learning analytics, learning by doing, MOOCs, real-world projects

Title- Learning technologies and semantic integration of learn- ing resources

Abstract- Virtual learning environments are developed nowadays as digital ecosystems based on existing resources, applications and web services. Even if they are not hosted in a centralized course management system, they usually are highly coupled. In this paper we show how semantic technologies can help decoupling them. We build an elearning web ecosystem enriched with educational information according to an educational information model and a domain-specific model, so we offer teachers and students with a common user interface. We implemented our proposal in the ASCETA project, integrating well-known open-source systems like wikis, blogs, microblogging services, content management systems and task management systems.

Index Terms- Entornos virtuales de aprendizaje, servicios web, web semántica

Title- Innovating in the Engineering processes. Engineering as a means of Innovation

Abstract- Innovation and Engineering are very close concepts. Innovation is one of the key competences of the engineers in the way they use their own creativity and knowledge base to face the problems they have to resolve for mankind improvement and social evolution.In this special section we have selected four papers from three research events (CINAIC 2013, TEEM 2013 and ISELEAR 2013) that empower the innovation and research cycles in Engineering from different perspectives.

Index Terms- Engineering, Innovation, Robotics, Quality, Assessment, Optical Mark Recognition, TEEM, CINAIC, ISELEAR

Title- Optical Mark Recognition in the Student Continuous Assessment.

Abstract- In order to improve the professor time management a study using Optical Mark Recognition has been carried out. A free software package (Auto Multiple Choice – AMC) and low cost software (GEXCAT) has been tested on the evaluation of several groups of UPM students. This study is the beginning of a UPM educational innovation project. As a result of the experience both software’s are analysed in order to develop in the future a new GEECA version including Optical Mark Recognition for classroom evaluations. The updates made to GEECA 2013 are presented and the adaption of GEECA to work with AMC and GEXCAT.

Index Terms- Student Evaluation, Optical Mark Recognition, Student Continuous Assessment, Learning Goals.

Title- Application of new assessment tools in engineering studies: the rubric.

Abstract- The present work reports an experiment in the application of rubrics, as an assessment tool, in different degree courses in the fields of engineering and architecture. The study involved 5 subjects, 7 teachers and a total of 170 students. We analyze the scores obtained by the students and the degree of satisfaction of both the students and the teachers, based on questionnaires developed specifically for this purpose.

Index Terms- Evaluation rubric, evaluation criteria, evaluation protocol, self-assessement, co-assessment, Architecture and Engineering.

Title- Using Robotics as Learning Tool in Latin America and Spain.

Abstract- Technological advances have allowed bring robotics as learning tool to multiple environments, ordinary school and after school. This article presents the perceptions of 127 teachers who teach Educational Robotics (ER) in Latin America and Spain to pre-university level. The studied dimensions were: the profile of the teachers, technological resources, learning activities, environmental characteristics and learning outcomes. The analysis suggests that learning outcomes in ER activities are related to attributes of the learning environment and the pedagogical approach.

Index Terms- Educational robotics, educational robotic platforms, learning outcomes, learning environment, learning tool, pedagogical approach, programming software, robotics.

Title- Development of a Spanish Standard for the Assessment of Digital Educational Material Quality

Abstract- The quality of Digital Educational Materials (DEMs) constitutes one of the basic components of a high quality institutional certification for outstanding use of ICT in learning and teaching. However, currently, there is neither national nor international standard for DEM quality assessment. This deficiency not only limits the efficiency of the certification systems to assess the quality of the e-learning of an educational institution, but also the creation, use, reuse and appraisal of DEMs. This article presents the project and first results of the development of a DEM quality standard of the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification (AENOR).

Index Terms- Standardization, E-Learning, Quality, Digital Educational Materials, Digital Learning Objects