Wiki as a tool for microbiology teaching, learning and assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence suggests that cooperative learning and peer-assessment fosters students' ability to work with others and may lead to better cognitive outcomes and higher achievement. This work aimed to assess the use of an online collaborative tool for the teaching/learning and assessment of Microbiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 144 students were grouped and assigned to create wiki entries as well as to peer review wikis created by colleagues (peer-assessment process) using the Wiki module from Moodle Virtual Learning Environment (MVLE). MVLE actions log was used for tracking students' activity. RESULTS: The number of student's actions within wiki did not present a strong correlation with wiki scores, so it should not be used as a heavy evaluation parameter. The amount of work developed between members of the same group differed significantly, suggesting that final scores should be attributed individually. When peer-assessment process was implemented, the number of editing actions increased, suggesting that the peer-assessment strategy encourages the development of a better work. The vast majority of students execute the work in the last 10% of the period assigned for task development, which can be counter-productive for a truly collaborative work. CONCLUSIONS: Wiki revealed to be a useful tool for Microbiology teaching/learning and assessment, promoting collaborative work, promoting virtual mobility and facilitating the real-time monitoring of the students' work. This pedagogical project promoted also the involvement of students in their assessment process, encouraging their critical sense and quest for Excellency.

Comparaçäo experimental entre enxertos autógenos de córnea e conjuntiva no reparo de ceratectomias superficiais em cäes (Canis familiares, Linnaeus, 1758). Estudo clínico e morfológico / Experimental comparison between corneal and conjunctival autogenous grafts in the repair of superficial keratoctomies in dogs (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758). Clinical and morfological study

Foram estudadas ceratoplastias lamelares por enxertos autógenos frescos de córnea e de conjuntiva. Utilizaram-se 31 animais da espécie canina, adultos, machos ou fêmeas, clinicamente sadios. Realizaram-se ceratectomias superficiais com trépano de 5 mm de diâmetro na consecuçäo de botöes lamelares que incluíram epitélio e metade da espessura do estroma. Obtiveram-se os tecidos para as enxertias, a partir da córnea e da conjuntiva bulbar contralateral, que foram fixados à córnea trepanada com o fio de seda oftálmica número 8-0, em pontos simples separados. A evoluçäo dos enxertos foi avliada aos 1,2,7,15,30 e 60 dias após a cirurgia. Os resultados mostraram edema, vasos neoformados, congestäo, hemorragia, infiltrado de células polimorfo e mononucleares, que tenderam a se tornar exíguos no decurso do tempo, e fibrose tardia. Aos 60 dias, as áreas de enxertia começaram a exibir transparência em pontos distintos. Näo houve diferenças entre as técnicas estudadas. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostrou epitelizaçäo na zona dos enxertos, já aos dois dias da implantaçäo. Aos 15 dias, notaram-se células pavimentosas nas regiöes enxertadas. Aos 30 dias, as áreas mostraram-se morfologicamente similares às da córnea normal. Neste período, foram também encontrados granulomas de ponto. Aos 30 dias, puderam-se visualizar projeçöes citoplasmáticas semelhantes às da superfície da córnea normal. Com base nos achados clínicos e morfológicos, pode-se inferir que os procedimentos investigados mostraram-se similares