Zoom & WhatsApp Digital Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Enhance Community Engaged Research with Women Immigrants from Mexico.

This article demonstrates how digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) (Zoom/WhatsApp) unexpectedly and counterintuitively proved to be valuable tools for community-engaged health research when, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were integrated into a research study testing a peer support group intervention with female immigrants from Mexico. Because of pandemic restrictions, we changed the study protocol to hold meetings remotely via Zoom rather than in person as originally planned. Because we recognized that this would lack some opportunities for participants to interact and develop relationships, we created a WhatsApp chat for each group. Despite challenges for participants to use ICTs and participant-stated preference for in-person meetings, the results demonstrated that participants overwhelmingly endorsed these technologies as promoting access, participation, engagement, and satisfaction. Zoom/WhatsApp created a valuable environment both as a method for conducting research with this population, but also as part of the intervention for immigrant women to support and learn from each other. ICT adaptations have now permanently changed the way we conduct community-engaged health research.

ICT training for educators of Granada for working with people with autism.

Background: Innovative methodologies based on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are a tested and motivating option for working with people with autism. Their use, however, should not be indiscriminatory and arbitrary, but didactic and appropriate. Objective: We aimed to discover the training in ICT they had, its frequency of use, and the types of digital resources that they used. Methods: We administered the questionnaire, "Demands and Potentials of ICT and Apps for Assisting People with Autism" to 310 educators in the city of Granada (Spain). The participants belonged to schools and associations that worked with people with autism. Adopting a quantitative-type study, we carried out descriptive analyses (frequencies, mean, mode, and standard deviation). Having confirmed that the data did not follow a normal distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for samples of >50 participants), we carried out non-parametric inferential and intrafactorial correlation analyses. We also calculated the effect size. Results: The educators revealed that they had ICT training for working with people with autism, but not enough. This suggests that there is still a need to improve the digital competence of these professionals. Strong, direct and significant correlations were found between ICT training and the frequency with which they were used. There were also statistically significant differences according to sex, gender, age, type of institution, and type of educator. The educators who worked as Therapeutic Pedagogy teachers and those who worked in Special Education schools were shown to be more competent than the rest in educational technology applied to people with autism. Conclusions: The results, which were not wholly positive since ICT training should be better and have achieved higher scores, revealed that there is a foundation in ICT education but it needs to be heightened and improved with greater knowledge and more practical experience.

Uso de tecnologías de información y comunicación en el screening de la depresión asociada al consumo de sustancias psicoactivas / Use of information and communication technologies in screening of depression associated with the use of psychoactive substances

Resumen Introducción. El consumo de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA) se consideran como una enfermedad crónica debido a que el inicio, curso, dirección, y resultado es impredecible en algunos casos y adicionalmente son trastornos multicausales como es el caso de la depresión; según datos reportados por el Centro de Adicciones de Barcelona "la incidencia de depresión en pacientes con abuso de sustancias oscila entre el 6% y 70% en los consumidores de SPA". Con este panorama se debe comprender que la intervención debe desarrollar la promoción de la salud y la prevención de la enfermedad, con la aparición de la biotecnología con el uso y aplicación de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) en las ciencias de salud y la vida para el diagnóstico, prevención, supervisión, tratamiento. Objetivo. Desarrollar un software que permita generar una alerta para la identificación temprana de la depresión asociada al consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en adultos, mediante el uso de una TICs previamente validada, durante el año 2019. Metodología. Investigación Tecnológica, utilizando la metodología "UWE" con enfoque al desarrollo de software para el dominio web. Resultados. En esta propuesta de investigación se avanzará en el desarrollo del prototipo del producto para la identificación temprana de la depresión con el fin de mejorar el proceso de toma de decisiones clínicas, en el momento mismo de la atención, con base en la información registrada en el software llamado MEASDEP (Medición de la depresión en consumidores de SPA).

Abstract Introduction. The consumption of psychoactive substances (SPA) is considered a chronic disease because the onset, course, direction, and result is unpredictable in some cases and additionally they are multi-causal disorders such as depression; according to data reported by the Barcelona Addiction Center "the incidence of depression in patients with substance abuse ranges between 6% and 70% in SPA users". With this outlook, it should be understood that the intervention should develop the promotion of health and the prevention of disease, with the appearance of biotechnology with the use and application of information and communication technologies (ICT) in science, health and life for diagnosis, prevention, supervision, treatment. Objective. To develop a software that allows generating an alert for the early identification of depression associated with the use of psychoactive substances in adults, through the use of a previously validated ICT, during 2019. Methodology. Technological Research, using the "UWE "With a focus on software development for the web domain. Results. In this research proposal, progress will be made in the development of the product prototype for the early identification of depression in order to improve the clinical decision-making process, at the moment of care, based on the registered information in the software called MEASDEP (Measurement of depression in SPA consumers).

Information and Communication Technology, Mobile Devices, and Medical Education.

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are practical and highly available tools. In medical education, ICTs allow physicians to update their knowledge and remember the necessary information within reach of current mobile devices. ICTs as preparation tools for medical education have not been reported for medical students in Mexico. To assess the use of mobile devices as ICTs with medical education purposes, we distributed a questionnaire through an online survey management system to all the medical students (n = 180) from a private university in Mexico City, 100% agreed to participate. We developed a questionnaire based on previous surveys and adapted it to our university. All participants reported possession of an electronic mobile device, and 95% used it regularly for learning purposes. Regardless of the school year, the most frequent usage given to these devices was the search and reading of medical articles, the use of medical calculators, and taking notes. As the levels in career advances, there was a reduction in the use of electronic devices. According to the students, the main barriers towards using mobile devices for learning purposes were both the lack of access to the Internet and permission from the professor to use them. Most medical students use mobile devices for learning purposes, but usage changes during their education. It is convenient to encourage the use of mobile devices and the development of ICT skills as tools for educational purposes rather than banning their use in schools and hospitals.

IoT-Based Library Automation and Monitoring system: Developing an Implementation framework of Implementation / Sistema de automatización y monitoreo de bibliotecas basado en el internet de las cosas: Desarrollando un marco de implementación

Abstract Currently, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and related topics such as Internet of Things (IoT) have an essential influence on all elements of human life. IoT as a prevalent phenomenon is transforming daily life by the usage of the smart features of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technologies. As IoT progresses, it has extended in size and dimension, improving many contexts of the society; such as, the traditional library system. This research proposes an implementation framework for employing the IoT in renovating the conventional library systems to become smart online library schemes. The IoT enables connectivity of a physical object (such as a book or other text typologies) with the real-time communication technology by using the RFID tags and tiny sensors. The continuous monitoring of books in real time and the tracking of labeled objects geographically are some desirable characteristics that result from the use of the IoT tags. These characteristics of IoT allow implementing an online library supply chain, integrating it with different types of technologies such as data bases, data gathering, and cloud systems. The Internet of Things can also provide a global linking of a huge number of libraries and universities in real time, all the time. It is concluded that the IoT-based library management systems will be a promising structure that can play a vital role in the human data organization and knowledge access by helping researchers, designers, and administrators in a more efficient and smarter manner.

Resumen En la actualidad, las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TIC) y asuntos relacionados, tales como el Internet de las Cosas (IoT, por sus siglas en inglés), tiene una influencia decisiva en todos los aspectos de la vida humana. IoT como fenómeno dominante es la transformación de la vida diaria mediante el uso de las funciones inteligentes como la de Identificación por Radio Frecuencia (RFID, por sus siglas en inglés) y las Redes de Tecnología de Sensores Inalámbricos (WSN, por sus siglas en inglés). Conforme el IoT avanza, se amplía en tamaño y dimensiones, mejorando muchos de los contextos de la sociedad; tales como, el sistema tradicional de biblioteca. Esta investigación propone un marco de ejecución sobre el empleo del IoT con el fin de renovar la estructura y esquema convencional de las bibliotecas a sistemas inteligentes en línea. El IoT permite la conectividad en tiempo real de un objeto físico (como un libro o cualquier otro tipo de texto) mediante el uso de las etiquetas RFID y sensores diminutos. El monitoreo continuo de los libros en tiempo real y la localización de objetos de manera geográfica son algunas de las características que se derivan del uso de las etiquetas de IoT. Estas características de IoT permiten la implementación de una línea de bibliotecas por medio de una cadena de suministros, la integración con diferentes tipos de tecnologías como la base de datos, la recopilación de datos y sistemas en la nube. El Internet de las Cosas también ofrece una panorámica de la vinculación entre el gran número de universidades y bibliotecas en el mundo en tiempo real, todo el tiempo. Se concluye que el implementar el IoT en sistemas de gestión de bibliotecas sería una estructura prometedora que puede jugar un papel vital en la organización de conocimientos del ser humano y en el acceso a informaciones para ayudar a investigadores, diseñadores y administradores en una manera más eficiente e inteligente.

Propuesta de ejercicios interactivos para la autoevaluación del aprendizaje en la asignatura Medicina General Integral / A proposal of interactive exercises for the self-assessment of learning in the subject Comprehensive General Medicine

Antecedentes: en los exámenes teóricos realizados en Medicina es frecuente la utilización de las preguntas de ensayo, y en menor medida, las empleadas en el instrumento de evaluación teórico estatal, las que exigen del entrenamiento previo del estudiante, aún insuficiente. Métodos: en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara, de enero a junio del 2012, se realizó un estudio para diseñar un sistema de ejercicios interactivos para la autoevaluación de los contenidos de la asignatura Medicina General Integral de sexto año. Resultados: la metodología utilizada permitió el conocimiento sobre el estado de la problemática planteada, por lo que se confeccionaron ejercicios con el programa Hot Potatoes versión 5, a partir del diseño de diferentes preguntas teniendo en cuenta los objetivos de la asignatura. El material cuenta con 29 ejercicios. Conclusiones: con el sistema de ejercicios el estudiante puede construir su aprendizaje mediante el esfuerzo y su implicación activa en el proceso, y entrenarse en los diferentes tipos de preguntas que se emplean en el instrumento de evaluación teórica estatal.

Background: the theoretical examinations conducted in medicine undergraduate studies often include the use of essay questions, and to a lesser extent, of those used in the state theoretical assessment instrument, requiring the student's previous training, which is still insufficient. Methods: a study was conducted at the Medical University of Villa Clara, from January to June 2012, in order to design a system of interactive exercises for the self-assessment of the contents in the subject Comprehensive General Medicine, in sixth year. Results: the methodology used allowed the understanding of the problem studied; thus, exercises were devised with the program Hot Potatoes, version 5, through the design of different questions taking into account the objectives of the subject. The material has 29 exercises. Conclusions: with the system of exercises, the students can build their learning through their effort and active involvement in the process, training themselves in the different types of questions used in the state theoretical assessment instrument.

Técnicas de rehabilitación neuropsicológica en demencias: hacia la ciber-rehabilitación neuropsicológica / Neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques in dementias: towards neuropsychological cyber-rehabilitation

Las técnicas de rehabilitación neuropsicológica están destinadas a paliar el deterioro cognitivo de pacientes que sufren una demencia de severidad leve, sin el uso de psicofármacos. Actualmente, la mayoría de estos programas de intervención cognitiva en demencias está siendo mejorada, a través de la incorporación de los avances en el campo de la Tecnología de la Información y Comunicación (TIC). El objetivo del presente trabajo es la revisión de los avances más recientes en este campo. Describiremos las técnicas de rehabilitación neuropsicológica desde las más clásicas (Terapia de Orientación a la Realidad y la Terapia de Reminiscencias), pasando por las más actuales, como las técnicas para la facilitación de la re-codificación, las técnicas de acondicionamiento del entorno y para el aprendizaje de nueva información (Recuperación Espaciada, Difuminación de los Indicios de Recuperación, Aprendizaje sin Errores y Procedimentalización de Tareas). Esta revisión finaliza con las técnicas ciber-neuropsicológicas, las cuales aplican las últimas novedades de las TIC como la realidad virtual a la rehabilitación neuropsicológica.

Neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques are aimed at palliating the cognitive deterioration of patients suffering from non-severe dementia, without the use of psychotropics. Currently, most such cognitive intervention programs in dementia are being improved through the use of advances in the field of information and communication technology (ICTs). The aim of this paper is to offer a review of the most recent advances in this area. We shall describe Neuropsychological Rehabilitation techniques ranging from the most classical (Reality Orientation Therapy and Reminiscence Therapy), to more updated techniques such as those for facilitating re-encoding, techniques for conditioning the environment and techniques for learning new information (Spaced Retrieval, Vanishing Cues, Errorless learning and procedural techniques). This review ends with cyber-neuropsychological techniques, which apply the latest introductions to ICTs, such as virtual reality.

As técnicas de Reabilitação Neuropsicológica estão destinadas a diminuir, sem o uso de psicofármacos, a disfunção cognitiva de pacientes que sofrem uma demência de severidade leve. Atualmente, a maioria de estes programas de intervenção cognitiva em demências estão sendo melhorados, a través da incorporação dos avances no campo da tecnologia da informação e comunicação (TIC). O escopo do presente trabalho é revisar os avances mais novos neste campo. São descritas as técnicas de Reabilitação Neuropsicológica desde as mais clássicas (Terapia de Orientação à Realidade e a Terapia de Reminiscências), passando pelas técnicas mais atuais como a facilidade da recodificação, as técnicas de acondicionamento do entorno e as técnicas para a aprendizagem de nova informação (Recuperação Espaçada, Difuminação dos Indícios de Recuperação, Aprendizagem sem erros e Procedimentalização de tarefas). Esta revisão termina com as técnicas ciber-neuropsicológicas, as quais aplicam as últimas novidades das TICs como a realidade virtual à reabilitação neuropsicológica.

Seguimiento al plan de egreso hospitalario con uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (teléfono fijo-móvil y/o mensajes de texto) a cuidadores familiares de niños con enfermedad crónica en el Institutode Ortopedia Infantil Roosevelt / Acompanhamento ao plano de saída hospitalaria com utilização das tecnologias da informação e comunicação (telefone fixo-móvel e/ou mensagens de texto) os cuidadores familiares de crianças com doença crônica, no Instituto de Ortopedia Infantil Roosevelt / Follow to hospital discharge plan with use of information and/or communication technology (mobile home telephone and text messages) to caregiver of children with chronic disease in the Instituto de Ortopedia Infantil Roosevelt

El artículo describe el soporte social dado a los cuidadores familiares de niños con enfermedad crónica mediante el uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (teléfono fijo-móvil y/o mensajes de texto) en el seguimiento al plan de egreso. El estudio contó con la participación de nueve cuidadores familiares de niños con enfermedad crónica entre los seis meses y los diez años que asistieron al Instituto de Ortopedia Infantil Roosevelt. A cada uno de ellos se le realizó un seguimiento telefónico, para el cual fue necesario el diseño e implementación de una guía titulada Cuido cuidándome. Después del seguimiento telefónico, a cinco cuidadores se les realizó una entrevista semiestructurada. A partir de este proceso se obtuvieron cinco categorías: reconocimiento de la tecnología de la información y la comunicación (teléfono y/o mensajes de texto) en el seguimiento al plan de egreso, apoyo social, otros medios para recibir soporte social, utilidad de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación y reconocimiento de la situación como cuidador. Se concluyó que se lograron identificar las dimensiones del soporte social significativas para el cuidador; en este caso, la interacción personal y la guía, ya que ellos reconocen en la información, la educación suministrada y el apoyo emocional herramientasque les facilitan su afrontamiento a la situación de salud, el cuidado en el hogar y el seguimiento al plan de egreso realizado por la enfermera. En cuanto a la tecnología de lainformación y comunicación utilizada, se evidencia que el teléfono, a pesar de no ser una tecnología innovadora, facilita en gran medida dar continuidad a los cuidados de enfermeríaen el hogar a partir del plan de egreso establecido para cada paciente y su cuidador...

The article presents the results of an investigative process undertaken as part of the research group hotbed of Nursing Chronic-Patient Care of Universidad Nacional de Colombia at Instituto de Ortopedia Infantil Roosevelt (IOIR) during the first half of 2010. This was a qualitative and descriptive research aiming to describe the social support for family caregivers of children with chronic illness through the use of telephone (fixed-mobile) and / or text messages in the follow-up discharge plan. This was achieved through the development and implementation of a tool that facilitated providing social support and strengthening the care from caregivers through monitoring at home. The study involved the participation of nine caregivers of children with chronic disease from six months to ten years attending this medical institution. Each of these subjects underwenttelephone follow-up, which was necessary for the design and implementation of a guide entitled Cuido Cuidándome. It was intended to address different aspects of social support; including different ways to allow the caregiver recognize the importance of their role. After telephone follow-up, five of the nine caregivers participating in the research underwent semi-structured interviews. These interviews were recorded and later transcribed for content analysis and comparison with literature. From this process, five categories were drawn up: recognition of Information and communication technology (telephone or text messaging) following-up the exit plan, social support, other means for receiving social support, utility of information and communication technology, and recognition of the situation as a caregiver. It was successfully identified that there are significant dimensions of social support for the caregiver. In this case, personal interaction and guidance were meaningful because the information, the education and the emotional support provided by means of the ICT’s were tools to facilitate...

O objetivo do artigo é descrever o apoio social para familiares de crianças com doenças crónicas com o uso de telefone (fixo-móvel) e/ou mensagens de texto no plano de acompanhamento quitação. Isto foi conseguido através do desenvolvimento e implementação de uma ferramenta que facilitou a prestar apoio social e fortalecer o atendimento dos cuidadores através do acompanhamento em casa. O estudo envolveu a participação de nove cuidadores de crianças com doença crônica a partir de 6 meses a 10 anos, para assistir a este hospital público. Cada um destes indivíduos foram submetidos a um acompanhamento telefônico, o que era necessário para a concepção e implementação de um guia intitulado Cuido cuidándome, que visava abordar diferentes aspectos do suporte social, incluindo temas diferentes para permitir que o cuidador reconhecer a importância do seu papel. Após a entrevista por telefone seguimento, foram submetidos a semi-estruturada 5 de 9 cuidadores participam da pesquisa, as entrevistas foram gravadas e posteriormente transcritas para análise de conteúdo e comparação com a literatura a partir deste processo tenho 5 categorias: Reconhecimento de Tecnologia da Informação e comunicação (telefone ou mensagens de texto) em seguir o plano de saída, o apoio social, outros meios para receber apoio social, a utilidade das tecnologias da informação e comunicação e reconhecimento da situação de um cuidador. Depois de rever o que concluiu com êxito identificadas dimensões significativas de apoio social para o cuidador, neste caso a interação pessoal e orientação, como as que foram reconhecidas na educação, informação e apoio emocional ferramentas que facilitarão o seu enfrentamento com a situação de saúde, atendimento domiciliar e acompanhamento do plano de quitação por parte do enfermeiro. Como a tecnologia da informação e comunicação usado é prova de que o telefone apesar de não ser uma tecnologia inovadora facilita muito a continuidade dos cuidados de enfermagem...

Environmental education in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), Brazil / Educação ambiental na planície alagável do Alto Rio Paraná, Porto Rico - PR, Brasil

Since 2003, researchers, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from the State University of Maringá have been working alongside teachers from the state and local schools in the municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), located on the banks of the Paraná River. Their objective is to outline actions and strategies with the purpose of building methodological paths to insert environmental education into the school curriculum. Based on the action-research methodology, the group has developed the following programs: a) the Continuing Education Program in Environmental Education; b) the Development of Interdisciplinary Projects; c) the Insertion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); and d) the Production of Teaching Materials. The evaluations of the programs indicate that teachers have been able to gradually build a theoretical and methodological basis for environmental education while simultaneously growing into the role of teacher-researchers as they create the conditions to investigate their pedagogical practices, reflect upon them, share experiences, innovate, and make the teaching-learning process more significant. Allied to the advances in educational practices and with the aid of ICTs, the activities developed in the classroom, in the field and in the lab - all of which involve natural and cultural aspects of the region - have contributed to teachers' and students' better understanding of the ecological, cultural, social and economic value of the floodplain, and consequently, of the importance of preservation and management in order to maintain local biodiversity.

Desde 2003, pesquisadores, professores, pós-graduandos e graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá vêm trabalhando em conjunto com os professores das escolas, estadual e municipal, do município de Porto Rico - PR, localizado às margens do Rio Paraná, com o objetivo de delinear ações e estratégias, no sentido de construir caminhos metodológicos para a inserção da educação ambiental no currículo escolar. Com base na metodologia da pesquisa- ação, o grupo vem desenvolvendo alguns programas: a) Programa de Educação Continuada em Educação Ambiental; b) Desenvolvimento de Projetos Interdisciplinares; c) Inserção de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs); d) Produção de Material Didático. As avaliações dos programas indicam que, gradativamente, os professores têm construído uma base teórica e metodológica da educação ambiental e, ao mesmo tempo, tem desenvolvido uma postura de professor-pesquisador, ao criar condições de investigação de sua prática pedagógica, de refletir sobre a mesma, de trocar experiências, de inovar, de tornar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem mais significativo. Aliado ao aprimoramento das práticas educacionais, e com o apoio das TICs, as atividades desenvolvidas, em sala de aula, campo e laboratório, abordando aspectos naturais e culturais da região, têm contribuído para que professores e alunos compreendam melhor o valor ecológico, cultural, social e econômico da planície e, consequentemente, da importância da conservação e manejo da mesma para a manutenção da biodiversidade local.

Environmental education in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), Brazil

Since 2003, researchers, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from the State University of Maringá have been working alongside teachers from the state and local schools in the municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), located on the banks of the Paraná River. Their objective is to outline actions and strategies with the purpose of building methodological paths to insert environmental education into the school curriculum. Based on the action-research methodology, the group has developed the following programs: a) the Continuing Education Program in Environmental Education; b) the Development of Interdisciplinary Projects; c) the Insertion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); and d) the Production of Teaching Materials. The evaluations of the programs indicate that teachers have been able to gradually build a theoretical and methodological basis for environmental education while simultaneously growing into the role of teacher-researchers as they create the conditions to investigate their pedagogical practices, reflect upon them, share experiences, innovate, and make the teaching-learning process more significant. Allied to the advances in educational practices and with the aid of ICTs, the activities developed in the classroom, in the field and in the lab - all of which involve natural and cultural aspects of the region - have contributed to teachers' and students' better understanding of the ecological, cultural, social and economic value of the floodplain, and consequently, of the importance of preservation and management in order to maintain local biodiversity.

Desde 2003, pesquisadores, professores, pós-graduandos e graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá vêm trabalhando em conjunto com os professores das escolas, estadual e municipal, do município de Porto Rico - PR, localizado às margens do Rio Paraná, com o objetivo de delinear ações e estratégias, no sentido de construir caminhos metodológicos para a inserção da educação ambiental no currículo escolar. Com base na metodologia da pesquisa- ação, o grupo vem desenvolvendo alguns programas: a) Programa de Educação Continuada em Educação Ambiental; b) Desenvolvimento de Projetos Interdisciplinares; c) Inserção de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs); d) Produção de Material Didático. As avaliações dos programas indicam que, gradativamente, os professores têm construído uma base teórica e metodológica da educação ambiental e, ao mesmo tempo, tem desenvolvido uma postura de professor-pesquisador, ao criar condições de investigação de sua prática pedagógica, de refletir sobre a mesma, de trocar experiências, de inovar, de tornar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem mais significativo. Aliado ao aprimoramento das práticas educacionais, e com o apoio das TICs, as atividades desenvolvidas, em sala de aula, campo e laboratório, abordando aspectos naturais e culturais da região, têm contribuído para que professores e alunos compreendam melhor o valor ecológico, cultural, social e econômico da planície e, consequentemente, da importância da conservação e manejo da mesma para a manutenção da biodiversidade local.

Environmental education in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), Brazil

Since 2003, researchers, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from the State University of Maringá have been working alongside teachers from the state and local schools in the municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), located on the banks of the Paraná River. Their objective is to outline actions and strategies with the purpose of building methodological paths to insert environmental education into the school curriculum. Based on the action-research methodology, the group has developed the following programs: a) the Continuing Education Program in Environmental Education; b) the Development of Interdisciplinary Projects; c) the Insertion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); and d) the Production of Teaching Materials. The evaluations of the programs indicate that teachers have been able to gradually build a theoretical and methodological basis for environmental education while simultaneously growing into the role of teacher-researchers as they create the conditions to investigate their pedagogical practices, reflect upon them, share experiences, innovate, and make the teaching-learning process more significant. Allied to the advances in educational practices and with the aid of ICTs, the activities developed in the classroom, in the field and in the lab - all of which involve natural and cultural aspects of the region - have contributed to teachers' and students' better understanding of the ecological, cultural, social and economic value of the floodplain, and consequently, of the importance of preservation and management in order to maintain local biodiversity.

Desde 2003, pesquisadores, professores, pós-graduandos e graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá vêm trabalhando em conjunto com os professores das escolas, estadual e municipal, do município de Porto Rico - PR, localizado às margens do Rio Paraná, com o objetivo de delinear ações e estratégias, no sentido de construir caminhos metodológicos para a inserção da educação ambiental no currículo escolar. Com base na metodologia da pesquisa- ação, o grupo vem desenvolvendo alguns programas: a) Programa de Educação Continuada em Educação Ambiental; b) Desenvolvimento de Projetos Interdisciplinares; c) Inserção de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs); d) Produção de Material Didático. As avaliações dos programas indicam que, gradativamente, os professores têm construído uma base teórica e metodológica da educação ambiental e, ao mesmo tempo, tem desenvolvido uma postura de professor-pesquisador, ao criar condições de investigação de sua prática pedagógica, de refletir sobre a mesma, de trocar experiências, de inovar, de tornar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem mais significativo. Aliado ao aprimoramento das práticas educacionais, e com o apoio das TICs, as atividades desenvolvidas, em sala de aula, campo e laboratório, abordando aspectos naturais e culturais da região, têm contribuído para que professores e alunos compreendam melhor o valor ecológico, cultural, social e econômico da planície e, consequentemente, da importância da conservação e manejo da mesma para a manutenção da biodiversidade local.