Programas de fortalecimiento de prácticas parentales: un aporte a la prevención de conductas externalizantes en preescolares / Training programs in parental skills: a contribution to the prevention of the development of externalizing behaviors in preschool children

Resumen: La presencia de conductas externalizantes en la infancia tiene importantes grados de continuidad temporal futura, y es un factor de riesgo de fracaso y abandono escolar, de conductas delictuales, abuso y dependencia de sustancias, de conductas suicidas y de otros trastornos psicopatológicos del desarrollo. En esta revisión se analizan los principales aspectos relacionados con los programas de fortalecimiento de prácticas parentales como dispositivos útiles en el marco de estrategias multicomponentes de trabajo preventivo. La evidencia ha demostrado que la intervención dirigida a madres y padres es crucial en la modificación de problemas de conducta en niños/as, siendo el entrenamiento en habilidades parentales una de las estrategias mejor estudiadas y consideradas de mayor calidad al momento de prevenir el desarrollo de conductas externalizantes.

Abstract: The presence of externalizing behaviors in childhood has significant degrees of future self-continuity and is a risk factor for school failure and drop-out, criminal behavior, substance abuse and depen dence, suicidal behaviors and other developmental psychopathological disorders. In this review, the main aspects related to parental practices strengthening programs are analyzed as useful instruments in the context of multi-component preventive work strategies. The evidence has shown that interven tion aimed at mothers and fathers is crucial in the modification of behavioral problems in children, where training in parental skills is one of the most studied strategies and considered of higher quality when preventing the development of externalizing behaviors.

Desenvolvimento de projetos de inclusão digital para idosos / The development of digital inclusion projects for older adults

O envelhecimento populacional, em uma sociedade cada vez mais digital faz com que seja necessário desenvolver estratégias para que os idosos possam se sentir incluídos de forma a poderem desfrutar destas novas soluções tecnológico-digitais no seu processo de envelhecimento. Para o efeito, é fundamental que sejam desenvolvidos e implementados projetos que visem à inclusão digital dos idosos e, consequentemente, a inclusão social desse segmento populacional. Neste sentido, deverão ser criadas todas as condições para que os idosos possam conhecer e aprender a utilizar os recursos digitais de forma a poderem utilizá-los em suas atividades diárias. Este artigo teórico pretende promover uma reflexão acerca das variáveis associadas à implementação e desenvolvimento de projetos/programas de inclusão digital para os idosos, nas seguintes vertentes: a) logística, ambiente físico e características e quantidade dos participantes; b) equipamentos tecnológicos e TIC; c) recursos analógicos. Da leitura do artigo ficará claro que um programa de formação em inclusão digital terá que ser formatado para uma população específica ­ os idosos ­ considerando-se um conjunto de características que implicam um cuidado especial e uma coerência que, para além de ser de cunho tecnológico-digital, tem que se precaver de variáveis de aspecto social e afetivo.

Population aging, in an increasingly digital society, means that it is necessary to develop strategies so that older adults can feel included in order to enjoy these new technological-digital solutions in their aging process. To this end, it is essential that projects are developed and implemented with the objective of the digital inclusion of older adults and, consequently, of the social inclusion of this segment of the population. In this sense, all the conditions must be created so that older adults can know and learn to use the digital resources so that they can use them in their daily activities. This theorical article intends to promote a reflection on the variables associated with the implementation and development of projects/programs of digital inclusion for the elderly, in the following areas: a) logistics, physical environment and characteristics and quantity of participants; b) technological and ICT equipment; c) analog resources. From the reading of the article it will be clear that a program of training in digital inclusion will have to be formatted for a specific population ­ the elderly ­ with a set of characteristics that imply a special care and a coherence that, besides being technologically-digital, social and affective variables must be safeguarded.

Usefulness of the anatomy learning comics and anatomy comic strips to adolescents / Utilidad de los comics de aprendizaje de anatomía e historietas cómicas de anatomía para adolescentes

This study was intended to evaluate the anatomy comics as learning material for adolescents. For that, both the learning comics and comic strips were shown to 341 junior high school students who subsequently completed a questionnaire. According to the students answers, the anatomy comics were greatly or somewhat helpful in understanding anatomy (learning comics: 87.7 %; comic strips: 86.2 %). The anatomy comics were greatly or somewhat entertaining (learning comics: 66.9 %; comic strips: 77.4 %). According to their free remarks, the anatomy comics enhanced the students' understanding with the simple figures and easy explanations. The students regarded the anatomy comics as entertaining because of the related jokes and comparative daily lives. The students preferred the complimentary anatomy comics presented on the authors' homepage (anatomy.co.kr). This investigation proves the possibility that the anatomy comics contribute to adolescents learning.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los cómics de anatomía como material de aprendizaje para adolescentes. Para eso, tanto los cómics de aprendizaje como las tiras cómicas se mostraron a 341 estudiantes de secundaria que posteriormente completaron un cuestionario. De acuerdo con las respuestas de los estudiantes, los cómics de anatomía fueron de gran utilidad o algo útiles para comprender la anatomía (cómics de aprendizaje: 87,7 %; historietas: 86,2 %). Los cómics de anatomía fueron muy entretenidos (cómics de aprendizaje: 66,9 %; historietas: 77,4 %). De acuerdo con sus comentarios, los cómics de anatomía mejoraron la comprensión de los estudiantes con figuras simples y explicaciones fáciles. Los estudiantes consideraron los cómics de anatomía como entretenidos debido a los chistes relacionados y la comparación con la vida diaria. Los estudiantes prefirieron los cómics de anatomía complementarios presentados en la página principal de los autores (anatomy.co.kr). Esta investigación demuestra la posibilidad de que los cómics de anatomía contribuyan al aprendizaje de los adolescentes.

Local technicians in long-term research projects: evaluation of 25 years experience in an active tropical research station

Most field ecology is conceived and financed by scientists from urban areas but is actually carried out in rural areas. Field staff can either be imported from urban areas or recruited from local residents. We evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of involving rural residents as local technicians over a 25- year period at active field research site in Costa Rica. We defined "local technicians" as local residents with no university education who acquired significant experience in field data collection, data management and/or laboratory work. We analyzed the experiences of incorporating these technicians into field research In developing countries from the points of view of scientist and of the local technicians themselves. Primary data were written responses from to a standardized survey of 19 senior scientists and Ph.D. students, and results from standardized personal interviews with 22 local technicians. Researchers highlighted the advantages of highly-skilled technicians with minimal staff turnover, as well as the technicians’ knowledge of local ecological conditions. Local technicians considered the primary advantages of their jobs to be opportunities for continuing education training in science as well as cultural enrichment through interactions with people of different cultures. The main challenges identified by researchers were the lack of long-term funding for projects and extended training required for local technicians. Local technicians can be of great benefit to research projects by providing high-quality data collection at reasonable costs with low staff turnover. Over the last 25 years the research model at the field station we studied has evolved to the point that most long-term projects now depend heavily on local technicians. This model of involving local technicians in long-term research has multiple benefits for the researchers, the technicians and the local community, and could be adapted to a variety of settings in rural areas of developing countries. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (4): 1455-1462. Epub 2011 December 01.