Dra. Badilla-Quintana, María Graciela

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.