office support

The initiative is part of the process of renewing material and implementing the different units of the university.

With the aim of strengthening the development of the 'Disability Support Program', attached to the General Directorate of Student Affairs (DGAE), the office in charge of the execution of this initiative received new computer equipment. The contribution was made by the central administration, through the Accreditation Office.

This equipment will allow the use of specialized software for people with disabilities, so students will be able to have one more tool to help them develop their university life, since its use will not be restricted exclusively to staff dedicated to carrying out administrative work, but rather which can also be used by any student who needs to use it and who is part of the Program.

For the person in charge of the Disability Support Program at the University of La Serena, Dr. Georgina García, the delivery of this equipment is quite important, since it is a tool that complements the work that is already being done. “For us it is very important that the University invests in inclusion issues, especially for students with disabilities, because this is an issue of human rights, social equity and it is also a clear sign that our institution is committed to the social, political and cultural changes that the country requires to guarantee equal rights for all students,” he stated.

The academic from the Department of Education also referred to the way in which these equipment will be used. “It will be used, on the one hand, by the disability inclusion program itself, in the preparation of reports, in the search for information, but also by the students themselves who have this room to study.”

 

 

ipa day

The investigations were promoted through actions managed by the FIP ULS1501 Institutional Improvement Plan, in conjunction with the Research and Development Directorate of the University of La Serena.

With the purpose of strengthening the research area within the University of La Serena, last year academics, pedagogy students and classroom teachers were invited to participate in the Applied Pedagogical Research Contest, with five projects awarded in the first version. 2016.

In this context, the Annual Conference on Evaluation of the Design and Implementation of research projects was held, where each participating team presented the main results obtained to date.

ipa2 dayOne of the proposals is related to the observation of teaching pedagogical practices focused on the treatment of cognitive skills of reading comprehension in kindergarten, first and second grade students of the Carlos Condell de la Haza School in the city of La Serena (responsible researcher , Dr. Alejandra Torrejón). Among some of the preliminary results, it was found that the professional development of the teacher in the classroom is more focused on class moments than on the development of skills for the treatment of comprehensive reading strategies; and the use of the ICT resource in the classroom corresponds to the initial level, since it is used only to project content and not for the development of reading skills.

Regarding the project that seeks to improve the quality of the questions used by Basic General Education teachers to achieve learning in their students (responsible researcher, René Barraza), work has been done with three municipal schools in the commune of Ovalle, in the It has been observed that class questions are installed within the first three taxonomic levels and that their qualities must be improved in their approach to clarity of writing.

Another of the awarded investigations aims to recognize aspects that influence the application of a didactic modeling sequence, through an investigative approach in 8th grade students from two rural schools in Monte Patria (responsible researcher, Mg. Marta Madrid). Preliminarily, the spontaneous use of analogies as a reasoning instrument could be identified as a finding, when developing the didactic sequence of the atomic model in the classroom, which conditions not only the level of help as a compression tool, but also the degree of Maintained awareness of the value of said contribution in the investigative process.

ipa3 dayThe fourth proposal presented corresponds to the research being carried out at the Altovalsol Intercultural School and the Pedro Aguirre Cerda School, and which seeks to apply two different didactic strategies for the understanding and acquisition of scientific skills in the Stoichiometry Unit, present in the bases curricula of the first-year chemistry course (responsible researcher, Dr. Patricia Pizarro). The results of the diagnostic tests were obtained from the students of both establishments. At the Pedro Aguirre Cerda establishment, laboratory activities have been carried out, previously planned with the subject teacher, and therefore, at the Altovalsol Intercultural School, the stoichiometry unit has been developed based on problem-based learning.

Finally, the project regarding the formation of learning communities has worked with the fifteen communes of the Coquimbo Region (responsible researcher, Dr. Fabián Araya), in which the conceptual and didactic problems identified by the teachers were investigated. of History, Geography and Social Sciences in their daily work in the classroom. Some of the preliminary results detected in the area of ​​teaching are related to the tendency to generalize knowledge, the lack of depth in addressing specific content and the isolation between the knowledge acquired in initial training and the school context. On the other hand, from the area of ​​didactics, difficulties were identified for multidisciplinary work and innovation, and a need for professional teaching updating.

ipa4 dayParticipants

For student Janina Craviolatti, who participates in the learning communities project, “this experience has been very enriching because it has given us the opportunity to investigate as future teachers in different contexts, especially in rural areas (…). The fact of leaving the University and going to learn how teachers teach pedagogy in History allows us to pose challenges of what we are going to do when it is our turn to teach.”

On the other hand, the classroom teacher, Angélica Castro, who participates in the project that investigates the didactic sequences of modeling, stated that “I think it is very good that the University cares about the teachers and students with these projects, which are very beneficial. for educational communities. I hope these initiatives continue to be carried out and contribute to improving the quality of learning.”   

The Alternate Director of the PMI and head of the Applied Pedagogical Research subunit, Dr. Fabián Araya, stated that “what we are trying to promote at the UGIP level is that teaching is linked to research (…), and specifically Applied Pedagogical Research has to work based on real problems that teachers have in their daily lives,” he stated.
 
It should be remembered that applications to participate in the second version of the Applied Pedagogical Research Contest are open until January 4 and the contest rules are available at http://investigacion.userena.cl/concurso-de-investigacion-pedagogica-aplicada-pmi-fip-uls1501/.

Source: PMI FIP ULS1501 Press

 

 

scientific talks

The call was made by the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, through the Multidisciplinary Research Institute in Sciences and Technology.

Two interesting talks, one referring to “Technologies for environmental sustainability: applications of solar thermal energy, water collection from dew and fog”, by the researcher, Dr. Danilo Carvajal, belonging to the Innergias team and attached to the Research Institute Multidisciplinary in Sciences and Technology of the ULS (IIMCT-ULS), and another on “Energy Efficiency in thermal systems: Theory in favor of Engineering”, taught by Dr. Luis Silva, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the house of studies and assigned to the IIMCT-ULS, were carried out to conclude the cycle of talks organized by the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies.

During the activity, reviews of the work carried out by the researchers, both attached to the IIMCT-ULS, were presented. The exhibitions included the participation of students and teachers from the University, who interacted with the Doctors, transforming into an interactive master class on the topics covered.

The first talk, given by Dr. Danilo Carvajal, dealt with works related to technologies applied to renewable natural resources, particularly applied solar thermal energy and atmospheric water collection, which included the results of outstanding works developed by the expert.

scientific talks2The final talk was given by Dr. Luis Silva, who showed various techniques to improve energy efficiency in applications that involve thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer, as well as Synthetic Jet, which were described as air flows that are They produce in an oscillatory manner and can be used to improve heat removal from electronic components; matter that interested those present, who asked questions about the concept and the study addressed by the professional.

In response to the Research and Postgraduate policy, the ULS considers research, development and training of advanced human capital activities as a fundamental axis, and it is for this reason that dissemination talks are regularly held, with the idea that students can learn about the type of research that is carried out at the university, and thus share experiences regarding the different agreed upon topics.

It should be noted that the IIMCT-ULS aims to provide support to the different doctoral and master's programs, as well as strengthen institutional scientific productivity. This means that researchers are attached to the Institute and carry out their research and teaching activities within the departments, ensuring that the results of the research are transferred to teaching and strengthen student learning.

The fact must also be highlighted that, under the gaze of the University of La Serena, it is always necessary to advance in quantity and quality of scientific productivity. Thus, to date the University has published approximately 150 articles in WOS and around 170 articles in Scopus, surpassing the productivity of just last year to date. It must be noted and taken into consideration that the ULS has been quickly positioning itself in the rankings that visualize the area of ​​research, especially considering that not more than two days ago the university was positioned in the “Ranking of Research Quality 2017” published in the newspaper La Tercera (http://especiales.latercera.com/2017/universidades/article.html?id=6). Of the 40 study houses analyzed, the ULS is located in 11th place in the classification, rising four places compared to the previous year.

Regarding this achievement, the Vice-Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, Dr. Eduardo Notte Cuello, pointed out that “the results that we are showing are the result of a policy of strengthening postgraduate degrees, in particular the Creditable Doctorate programs and the hiring of researchers to complement their cloisters; It is no coincidence that to date we have far exceeded the number of articles published during 2016 and that, in addition, we have three of the five doctorates that the ULS has accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA), and one in the process of accreditation. It is notable that the recently created Doctorate in Biological Sciences, Mention Ecology of Arid Zones, has already managed to be accredited by the CNA, which indicates firstly a robust and committed academic body, and secondly, an adequate political and administrative structure ”.

central House

The state university rose two places in the ranking of universities (No. 22), also highlighting its rise in the areas of research quality (No. 11), students (No. 18) and academics (No. 19 ).

The University of La Serena rose two places in the 2017 University Ranking published by the newspaper La Tercera (Higher Education Special), placing it in the general position N° 22 of the institutions evaluated.

Furthermore, within the five dimensions that are evaluated for each of the universities, the state campus of the Coquimbo Region stood out compared to 2016 in the areas of Research Quality, where it occupies the 11th place (15th in 2016); in Quality of the students, placing itself in the 18th place (20th in 2016); and in academic quality, where he reaches the 19th place (27th in 2016).

The other dimensions considered in the ranking are management and perception of the quality that the labor market gives to each of the universities.

This is the 18th version of the University Ranking, whose objective is to provide information that helps young people and their families to make an informed decision. It is an x-ray of the year, of how the perception of quality that the labor market associates with each campus, the quality of institutional management, academics and students, as well as the levels of research achieved by the study houses have advanced. in the last 12 months.

To see details of the ranking, go to: http://especiales.latercera.com/2017/universidades/article.html?id=0.

visit chapel

Students were able to observe the application of production models.

The students of the “Operational Simulation” course, from the Industrial Civil Engineering career, taught by academic Oscar Contreras, made a technical visit to the Capel Process Plant, located on the way to Peralillo s/n.

During this visit, the group of students was received by engineer Francisco Hernández, who presented an explanatory talk about what the company is, its products and markets, as well as the challenges it faces. In addition, he offered a motivational talk about what is expected of recently graduated professionals, once they enter the job market.

Then there was a tour of the entire Process Plant, where the students were able to observe in the field how the production process is carried out in the production of alcohols and juices from the reception of the grapes to their packaging and palletizing.

“This important visit allows students to observe in reality the application of production models, ending with an analysis of said processes, in order to understand and seek the respective improvements that can be made by applying the theoretical concepts. "practical experiences seen in the classroom and laboratory based on the development of operational simulation models," explained the academic and Director of the Department of Industrial Engineering, who on behalf of the unit thanked the Capel company and its officials "for accepting this important visit to our students. Especially to the ing. Francisco Hernández for his kindness, cordiality and willingness.”

 

 

nursery conference

The activity was led by Dr. Carlos Skliar, researcher in the Education Area of ​​the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, FLACSO Argentina.

“Educating between life and the world: childhood and fragility”, was the title of the conference organized by the Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education career at the University of La Serena, held in the Auditorium Room of the CADH, located on the Isabel Bongard Campus .

The presentation was given by Dr. Carlos Skliar, researcher in the Education Area of ​​the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, FLACSO Argentina.

nursery conference2Dr. Skliar is an academic recognized internationally for his work, focused on language, reading, childhood, disability, education in terms of an ethical problem and the forms that pedagogical conversation takes.

For the academic of the Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education career at the University of La Serena, Dr. Silvia López de Maturana, the presence of the academic is of great importance for the career and a great contribution to the training of her students. “Dr. Skliar's presence is very relevant, he is a reference for our students, for our colleagues, for the conversations we have in our human training meetings and we are interested in giving a new turn and a new look at the school. That is why everything that he proposes, that of rescuing the human, of rescuing the doing, the being of the person who is being educated, which has to be beyond the technique, beyond the instrumental, but has "It has to do with recovering those important values ​​in the formation of the person."

The activity included the participation of students and academics from the ULS pedagogy courses, who filled the Auditorium room.

nursery conference3This particular fact was highlighted by Dr. Carlos Skliar, who also referred to the personal value that participating for the first time in an activity like this at the University of La Serena gives him. “I wanted to come for a long time, I knew the work of a group of academics from the University and the truth is that it is a unique opportunity to be able to talk and, from this, think about things together and get to know the University. The truth is that I want to talk to few people, many people, crowds or small groups. This probably has to do with the work that the teachers themselves have done in introducing me during the year and that there is interest in listening to me.”