Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-08-11"
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Electronics education during the COVID-19 pandemic: the use of a CAD framework in distance learning assignmentsPublication . Campos, Francisco M.Computer-aided design (CAD) software is a fundamental engineering tool that is often integrated into educational programs, including those for electronics. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide in 2020, an introductory electronics course at our Institution had to be reformulated due to restrictions on holding face-to-face classes. In this scenario, traditional lab tasks were replaced by computer-based assignments that students worked on using CAD software. This paper introduces the software framework used for this purpose, which has the two features considered necessary to closely replicate a practical experiment: i) the ability to mimic breadboard circuit prototyping activities and ii) the ability to simulate the prototyped circuits. In order to enhance students' motivation for the educational activities, the assignments proposed in our course have focused on robotics applications for several years. This was conveniently accounted for by combining simulation of electronic circuits with robotics simulation. In this way, we can be reproduce the embodiment of electronic circuits and the interaction with an external environment that takes place in a real experiment. The paper describes the proposed software framework, gives examples of its use, and reports on students' results for the first distance learning semester using the framework.
- The case for social support in social marketingPublication . Baptista, Nuno; Alves, H.; Pinho, José CarlosPurpose – This paper aims to reinforce the arguments for applying the social support concept in social marketing. Design/methodology/approach – This paper aims to conceptually outline the potential positive contribution of social support for social marketing practice as a tool to induce behavior change. Findings – This paper focuses on the philosophical principle of social exchange, highlights the consumer- centered perspective of social marketing, which implies the natural evaluation of the social networks of influence and support and presents social support as a mechanism to induce long-term behavior change. Research limitations/implications – No empirical (qualitative or quantitative) investigations were used to test the application of the concept in practical interventions. Practical implications – This paper provides significant insights for intervention developers that can be used to program and theoretically justify future social marketing interventions applying the social support concept. Social implications – Empirical research concluded for a positive relation between social support and human health and well-being. Thus, increasing the use of the concept in social marketing can serve to attain these social goals. Originality/value – The concept of social support has gained considerable interest in the areas of behavioral medicine and health psychology. Despite such interest, it is still not clear how it can be approached in social marketing as there is a lack of conceptual literature discussing social support from a social marketing perspective, the number of social marketing interventions operationalizing the concept is limited and, till date, no research has focused in comprehensively establishing a theoretical rationale to operationalize the concept in social marketing.
- Motivating female students for engineering coursesPublication . Pereira, Rita; Borges, Cristina; Ferreira, Eduarda PintoWorldwide initiatives for promoting motivation in female students for engineering courses are taking place in a regular form. Those initiatives are directed to different age groups and scholar levels. This paper addresses a methodology that was recently developed in Portugal to allow custom actions for motivating female students to those courses that historically rises them less interest. A workshop with different engineering universities and polytechnic institutions from Portugal, Brazil and Mozambique took place allowing to generate a network and a list of proposed actions. From this list each institution selected one or more actions to be implemented in their own institution. The workshop named “Good practices network for motivating female students to engineering courses” was the kick-off for this initiative. Detailed procedure of the work-in-progress and future working plan are here detailed.
- Do demographic factors affect academic outcomes? A master engineering course analysisPublication . João, Isabel; Silva, João MThe main objective of this study is to address the demographic characteristics of the engineering students enrolled in a master course to explore their effect in the academic outcomes. Variables such as gender, age, nationality and type of previous academic graduation were studied to predict their potential impact upon academic outcomes. The total number of enrolled students in the first four years of the recent master course was retrospectivelly examined. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the collected data. The chi-square test was applied to evaluate the statistical significance of the demographic variables on response variables related to academic outputs such as average grades of the completed curricular units in the master course, number of ECTS achieved and grade of the master final work. The results of the study are meaningful as they contribute to understanding the impact of demographic diversity in the academic outcomes of a study program for an engineering master's degree course and can assist the coordination team to outline actions to develop in the future taking into account the analysis carried out.
- Women and STEM: a methodology for studying factors affecting attractivityPublication . Pereira, Rita; Williams, Bill; Soares, Filomena; Cunha, João Carlos; Leão, Celina P.; Borges, Cristina; Coutinho, Fernanda; Vaz, Gilberto; João, Isabel; Meireles, Maria JoãoA research group formed by several higher education institutions (HEIs) came together with a common objective: study the factors that influence the choice of female students in STEM programs like engineering and technological ones. Based on a phenomenological analysis, semi-structured in-depth interviews were first conducted as pilot studies in two HEIs and these were used to arrive at the final methodological framework for the study planned for completion in 2020. Due to the pandemic the implementation phase had to be postponed. This paper reports on the methodology to be followed, the implementation challenges encountered in the different HEIs and expected outcomes. The study is intended to provide insights into what drives female students to choose STEM programs and their perceptions about difficulties they come across during the 1st year of studies. Also, it will contribute to improve procedures and methodologies applied to 1st year students in general and enhance motivation for new strategies to attract female students.