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The genus Hoplosauris Butler 1882 is reviewed and redefined. Species belonging to the genera Notholoba syn. nov. and Physoloba Warren (1908) are incorporated into Hoplosauris, and the species Physoloba griseofasciata is maintained Physoloba as its type species. The following eight species are recognized in Hoplosauris: H. heliconoides Butler, 1882; H. schausi (Warren 1908) comb. nov.; H. valeria Butler 1893; H. indistincta (Butler, 1882) comb. nov.; H. macarenae Parra sp. nov.; H. granitata (Fletcher 1953) comb. nov.; H. pachrophylloides Parra sp. nov.; H. mabillei Parra sp. nov. Synapomorphic characters supporting monophyly of Hoplosauris include vesicle of anal margin of the male hindwings small, corpus bursae striated, internal surface of corpus bursae with microspines, and valvae with androconia subapically. Adult wing patterns and genitalia are illustrated, and geographic distributions discussed.

The impact of the information and communication technologies (ICT) has become the core of a change that involves most of the society fields, consequently, the technological and informational literacy are essential requirements in education. The research is a quasi-experimental and ex-post-facto study in schools from Spain. The aim was to describe and analyse the involvement showed by 219 students who participated in a development of ICTs project named Ponte dos Brozos. The research objective was to respond if the students who usually worked with ICT, had better knowledge and management with computing tools, and if they are better prepared in researching and selecting information. Results showed that students who have a higher contact with ICTs know about the technology and how to use it, also, better knowledge and control of the computer and operative systems, a high information management level trough the internet, although their literacy in information is devoid.

With the incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education, especially the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB), the need for a proper teacher training process emerges in order to adjust the integration and didactic use of this tool in the classroom. This paper discusses the teachers| perception on the training process for ICT integration. Its main aim is to contribute to the unification of minimum criteria for effective ICT implementation in any training process for active teachers. This case study begins from the development of a training model called Eduticom which was put into practice in four schools in Catalonia, Spain. Findings indicated different teachers| needs such as an appropriate infrastructure, a proper management and a flexible training model which essentially addresses methodological and didactic aspects of IWB use in the classroom.

The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the involvement showed by 190 students who participated in an introduction to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) project, in public schools from Spain. By means of an Internet browsing test, access and information selection processes were afforded. The purpose of the study was to explore whether students who usually worked with ICT in their classrooms, had better knowledge and management with computing tools, and if they are better prepared to research and select information. Results show that students of elementary and secondary education, who have a greater contact with ICT, but not specifically introduced to searching for information on the Internet, know how to use the technology. All these students show better knowledge and control of the computer as well as presenting better Web literacy skills. Although they found, organized, used and assessed the information better their literacy in Web information is missing key skills, especially in analyzing, assessing and summarizing information.

This article is focused on a case study of an educational innovation project supported by technology. Its aim is to analyze the socio-pedagogical effects of this project on the participants –students, teachers, family and community representatives– at individual and interpersonal levels applying an integrated methodology through different self perceptive research instruments –interviews, surveys and focus groups–, non-participant observations and semi-experimental tests. Results show significant effects at individual level are observed, not only during the teaching exercise but also during the pupils’ scholarly tasks. Also there are remarkable aspects in the interactions between the educational community agents –for example families, students and teachers– and strengthened relationships among them.

With the incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education, especially the interactive whiteboard (IWB), the need for a proper teacher training process emerges in order to adjust the integration and didactic use of this tool in the classroom. This paper explores how they use the IWB in their teaching and learning methodology and their perceptions about the integration of this technology. Our sample consisted of 80 teachers from 14 schools in Catalonia, Spain, who work with IWB in kindergarten and primary education. This paper reports a case-study with a mixed-method design. The data was collected by systematic observations and questionnaires to teachers. Data analysis offers evidence that teachers request more training and pedagogical time to create didactic material, although they showed security on the instrumental control of the IWB. There is a clear relationship between the use of IWB in classrooms and pupils’ enhanced motivation and their attention into the content of the lessons. Furthermore, we conclude that IWB use in classrooms can provide an appropriate environment to encourage the creation of a shared space and the generation of a fluent oral communication involving both teacher and pupils in the learning process.

El dominio de la tecnología es fundamental para los estudiantes de pedagogía para proponer estrategias metodológicas, didácticas y evaluativas que les permita responder adecuadamente a las demandas del sistema educativo actual. Esta investigación se enfoca desde una perspectiva cuantitativa, con aportes cualitativos, a través de un diseño no experimental descriptivo, a conocer cuál es el nivel de adquisición de las competencias tecnológicas (TIC) de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC) en cinco dimensiones relacionadas con el uso e implementación en contextos personales y pedagógicos. La muestra se constituyó de manera aleatoria por 681 estudiantes pertenecientes a seis especialidades de las cohortes 2007, 2009 y 2011 de: pedagogía en educación general básica, educación de párvulo, educación diferencial, pedagogía media en lenguaje y comunicación, pedagogía media en inglés y pedagogía media en biología y ciencias naturales. Los principales resultados indican que los estudiantes poseen un nivel adecuado de competencias TIC requeridas por el Gobierno de Chile; sin embargo, las dimensiones “pedagógica” y “gestión del conocimiento” son las que presentan mayores debilidades. Además, las percepciones de los estudiantes se enfocan a resaltar la necesidad de una formación con mayor apoyo de tecnologías, tanto en la aplicación como en su integración curricular.

Mobile devices are efficient tools of language learning since they enable students to learn and practice anywhere and anytime with personalized content and progress. The article analyzes the incorporation of the use of mobile devices for teaching English as a second language in higher education. This research was developed on a positivist paradigm, with a descriptive and quantitative methodology. The sample was formed by 32 students of Basic English courses belong to DUOC UC Institute, in Chile who practice their writing skills through systematic activities developed during 2013 in the Virtual Platform Blackboard. The results of this study suggest that students reacted positively to the use of technology, but expressed concern about the technological difficulties. Main findings confirm that the use of technology enables student's practice of English, transforming and improving the learning environment inside of the classroom and students feel comfortable and secure because they have a teacher and technology's support.

This article describes an experience of the use of Personal Learning Environment (PLE)-Portfolio to compile various digital artifacts in virtual spaces, which represent a theoretical content learning process associated with knowledge, in a competency-based context, using a variety of Web 2.0 tools. Based on the Learning Spiral as a framework for curriculum design in connectivisim and in the co-association, it was created lessons, activities, and projects in order to create dynamic learning situations that contribute to the development of thinking skills and mental habits of first-year college students of technical engineering education at the Higher Technical Network Administration and Computational Support of the Lota Arauco Technical Training Center at the University of Concepción. To analyze the experience, it was proposed an evaluation model that was built using ICT, evaluative principles, a defined competencies standard, evidence and types of ICT assessment. As data instrument collection, rubrics were used that allowed to determine what students did with and without ICT. Main results of this experience are the generation of a methodological and evaluative model that facilitates theoretical learning, from the paradigm of learning using ICT, for example to promote higher competencies development in students, incorporating ICT seamlessly into a learning activity, increasing motivation and collaborative work in the physical and virtual classrooms.

This article presents some results obtained partially during the first year of the TYMMI project. TYMMI’s aim is to strengthen the professional performance of pre-service teachers in the real classroom. Through the design of a free immersive virtual world Open Sim we have developed a technology readiness for 27 pre-service high school English teachers who are preparing their career at Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepcion, in Chile. Initial results show some evidence of working in a three dimensional environment and in a virtual learning platform (called EV@ supported by Moodle) through Sloodle. One of the first findings we have gathered are: motivation for using these environments, strengthening ICT skills, and also technological difficulties for the development of the academic activities of interaction during teaching practices.

Two 3D-learning environments in SecondLife and OpenSim have been developed as part of a grant project called TYMMI -Technology and Pedagogical Models in Immersive Worlds- funded by the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FONDECYT) in Chile. The main objective is to strengthen the professional performance of pre-service teachers (bachelor students), by simulating teaching practices and virtual learning opportunities where the community members join a meeting or class, share and interact in the complex process of assimilation teaching skills. Preliminary results are related to the design of two immersive simulation platforms and to develop a conceptual and technological model for teaching in Immersive Worlds. In this context, the authors created an ACTI-PLAN that allows pre-service teachers to act in two areas: cataloging resources and educational planning. Also, in this virtual space there is an architecture that supports pedagogical proposal that includes classrooms for Mathematic and Language for elementary education.

Considering multi difficulties that determine the labor of rural teachers who perform their teaching practices in semi-isolated contexts, it is necessary to provide them a supportive system which favors their pedagogical performances to benefit rural students’ education. The aim of this phenomenological study is to describe and analyze how e-mentoring can strengthen pedagogical performances of primary rural teachers with complex geographical accesses in Chile, exploring the subjective experiences of four couples of teachers and mentors that take place in this process by e-mail relationship. Results show the necessity of considering the accompaniment as a horizontal pedagogical assistance which can be influenced by the technological resources availability, identifying an adequate profile of e-mentor to influence teacher adherence to the process, such as his communicative style, empathy, pedagogical and cognitive skills. Finally, this investigation allows projecting a viable model to be applied as support for rural education with access to Internet resource.

This research is focused on developing an approach for learning activities in a virtual learning environment employing Web 2.0. These activities are incorporated into the design of a course intended to contribute to the development of generic and specific competencies. Input from subject experts was utilized in developing the approach. A pilot project was implemented and assessed in a Civil Engineering and Informatics course at the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción. The approach was assessed through a developed guide to the most effective course design based on learning theories relating instructional design to learning outcomes.

The aim of this quantitative, exploratory and descriptive research is to know if teachers that work in intercultural contexts develop ICT competences by using virtual platforms. The innovation of the teaching-learning processes is promoted through the virtual platform, keeping a connection by forming school networks among schools in indigenous contexts. 51 teachers from 10 schools from the Bío–Bío and Araucanía regions in Chile were part of the development of the networks. The main results show that the participant teachers increased their ICT competences in the different dimensions of the use of the ICT: pedagogical management, knowledge management, deepening of knowledge; and social, ethic and legal dimensions, by applying the knowledge and talent management models.

Incremental Prototyping Method is an engineering methodology which is presented as appropriate to collect progressive contributions of users and experts of technological solutions that are designed to meet educational challenges. This paper presents the design process that is based on four circuits: theoretical, pedagogical, and technological and management. These circuits involved experts from different disciplines such as; computer engineering, computer science education, graphic design and communication and education. Results show educational platforms which are the result of a recurring review process of the developed technological products and the inclusion of quality standards. That ensures the usability of the product; this means that the product must be coherent and consistent with the educational purpose for which it was initially required.

La formación de docentes competentes en el uso de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TIC), tanto a nivel de usuario avanzado como en su utilización pedagógica que implica la planificación, implementación y evaluación de actividades de enseñanza-aprendizaje, es un desafío que las instituciones formadoras están obligadas a abordar en el corto plazo para dar cumplimiento a las exigencias impuestas por el Ministerio de Educación (MINEDUC) en los Estándares Pedagógicos, Disciplinarios y Estándares TIC. Esta intervención fue realizada a una población de 30 estudiantes de tercer semestre de la carrera de Pedagogía en Ciencias de una Universidad Regional de Investigación, cuyo objetivo fue “Evaluar la apropiación de Habilidades TIC en estudiantes de Pedagogía en Ciencias de una Universidad Regional de Investigación a través de la implementación y evaluación de la enseñanza utilizando materiales didácticos multimediales soportados en una plataforma virtual”. Para ello se diseñó un set de materiales que se trabajó con los/las estudiantes a través de la Plataforma Virtual ARCO en la asignatura de Computación y que apuntó al desarrollo de las habilidades TIC evaluadas por la Prueba Inicia TIC en Ambiente Pedagógico, que aplica el MINEDUC CHILE a los/las egresados de pedagogía cada año.

The use of videogames in the educational area has taken a bigger role among kids, adolescents and adults, being considered a relevant element, leaving behind its playful look at leisure. Particularly in Chile, thanks to the integration of ICT, several tools like didactic presentation programs or mobile apps facilitate the teaching and learning process of a second language like English. The aim of this research is to describe the design of an educative videogame and to describe the validation process of the Word-y contents which are associated to learning vocabulary in English. The design has been developed using the incremental prototype model’ using the free version of Construct2 software. As projections, the future work implies improve the first prototype applying a content survey to 30 English teachers and educational informatics experts.

Videogames have taken an important role on children and adolescents through the years and gradually took a significant gap in education, leaving out its playful look at leisure. Particularly in Chile, thanks to the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), several tools like didactic presentation programs or mobile apps facilitate the teaching and learning process of a second language like English. The aim of this research is to describe the design of an educative videogame and to describe the validation process of the Word-y contents which are associated to learning vocabulary in English. The design has been developed using the incremental prototype model' using the free version of Construct2 software. As projections, the future work implies improve the first prototype applying a content survey to 30 English teachers and users.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3) is a dual threonine/tyrosine protein kinase that regulates inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis through specific phosphorylation and activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. However, the role of MKK3 beyond p38-signaling remains elusive. Recently, we reported a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of cancer-associated genes, termed OncoPPi, as a resource for the scientific community to generate new biological models. Analysis of the OncoPPi connectivity identified MKK3 as one of the major hub proteins in the network. Here, we show that MKK3 interacts with a large number of proteins critical for cell growth and metabolism, including the major oncogenic driver MYC. Multiple complementary approaches were used to demonstrate the direct interaction of MKK3 with MYC in vitro and in vivo. Computational modeling and experimental studies mapped the interaction interface to the MYC helix-loop-helix domain and a novel 15-residue MYC-binding motif in MKK3 (MBM). The MBM in MKK3 is distinct from the known binding sites for p38 or upstream kinases. Functionally, MKK3 stabilized MYC protein, enhanced its transcriptional activity and increased expression of MYC-regulated genes. The defined MBM peptide mimicked the MKK3 effect in promoting MYC activity. Together, the exploration of OncoPPi led to a new biological model in which MKK3 operates by two distinct mechanisms in cellular regulation through its phosphorylation of p38 and its activation of MYC through PPI.

Environmental pollution including mutagens from wastewater effluents and discontinuity by man-made barriers are considered typical anthropogenic pressures on microevolutionary processes that are responsible for the loss of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. Here, we tested for the effects of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), weirs and other stressors on the invertebrate species Gammarus pulex at the population genetic level combining evolutionary ecotoxicology, body burden analysis and testing for exposure to mutagens. Exposure to chemical pollution alone and in combination with the presence of weirs resulted in a depression of allelic richness in native G. pulex populations. Our results suggest that the input of a mutagenic effluent from a WWTP resulted in a strong increase in private alleles over the affected populations. In addition, the presence of weirs along the river disrupted the migration across the river and thus the gene flow between G. pulex upstream and downstream. This study provides strong evidence that the assessment of genetic variation including private alleles together with the contamination of mutagenic and nonmutagenic chemical pollution offers new insights into the regulation of genetic population structure and highlights the relevance of emerging anthropogenic pressures at the genetic level.