ABSTRACT
Objective: We aimed to assess whether SARS-CoV2 vaccines have any positive or negative impact on motor symptoms in PD patients. Background: Studies focusing on the relationship between SARSCoV- 2, COVID-19 and PD have provided conflicting results (1). Recently, few cases of severe dyskinesia after receiving BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine have been reported but there is no data about impact of vaccines on motor symptoms in larger series of PD patients (2). Methods: We reviewed the charts of the last two months of consecutive PD patients who were attended monthly by telemedicine during the pandemic and who had received one or two doses of any of the SARSCoV- 2 vaccines available in Peru (BNT162b2, Pfizer/BioNTech and BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm). We specifically searched for any reported variation on motor symptoms including dyskinesia during a period of at least three days after any of each dose. Results: One hundred eighty-one PD patients met inclusion criteria. 107 males and 74 females were included. Mean age was 65 years old (range 31-99). 178 patients received two doses of SARSCoV2 vaccine (177 Pfizer/BioNTech and 1 Sinopharm respectively) and three patients received only one dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Eleven patients (6%) had COVID19 infection during the pandemic. The effect of the infection on parkinsonian symptoms was not evaluated in this report. Only two patients (1.1%) reported some degree of exacerbation following one of the dose of the vaccine. First one presented with increased rigidity and gait impairment soon after the first dose and the second case presented with increased resting tremor that lasted for two weeks also after the first dose. In both cases exacerbation improved spontaneously. Conclusion: The approved mRNA-based vaccines and viral vector vaccines are not expected to interact with the neurodegenerative process nor modify motor symptoms in PD. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are not known neither to interfere with the current therapies for PD. Some patients have developed exacerbation of motor symptoms or severe dyskinesia after vaccination and the reasons remain unclear but they might be explained by triggering a systemic inflammatory response, by stress or excessive anxiety or due to modification of habitual medication response. These very low incidence should not discourage patients to receive vaccines and we recommend COVID-19 vaccination with approved vaccines for persons with PD, unless there is a specific contraindication.
ABSTRACT
The context of virtual education requires not only the availability of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), but also the development of digital competencies that will mediate the teaching and learning processes. These digital competencies and the development of autonomy are established as transversal competencies in the National Curriculum of the Peruvian Ministry of Education. In addition, it is in this context that it is urgent to evaluate the digital competencies of students. For these reasons, the present study aims to analyze diagnostically the level of digital competencies in primary school students in Lima-Peru. The sample consisted of 118 students (67 females (56.8%) and 51 males (43.2%), 71 (60.2%) from fifth grade and 47 (39.8%) from sixth grade. A scale assessing 5 digital competencies was applied, which evidenced adequate levels of reliability (α = 0.83). Finally, the results showed that the students have optimal levels of development of digital competencies, but in the exploratory analysis, 2 students were identified with difficulties in the digital content creation competency and 2 with difficulties in the digital security competency. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
In the current context of the Covid-19 pandemic, education and teaching methodology have undergone significant changes to consolidate virtual education. In addition, in virtual education, the teaching of mathematics has the same level of priority in the processes of didactic adaptation. Particularly in the Peruvian context, this priority is due to the low performance in mathematics that Peru has shown in international evaluations. For these reasons, the present study analyzes the experiences of teaching mathematics through the inverted classroom in fifth-cycle students of a private educational institution in Callao (Lima - Peru). A sample of 35 students, 19 males (54.3%) and 16 females (45.7%) between 10 and 12 years of age, was used for this purpose. Finally, the analysis of the means and coefficients of variation allows us to conclude that, in virtual education with the inverted classroom, academic performance increased, reaching a level of homogeneity of mathematical competencies according to the expected learning. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
ABSTRACT
This article describes the pedagogical strategies planned within the Computer and Systems Engineering program attached to the Faculty of Engineering of the University - before the COVID-19 pandemic, to attract the attention of new students and improve the retention of active students. In attracting new students, promotional activity is created based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives, which target schools through academic events and competitions. In retention, we redesigned digital classrooms from the personalized construction of didactic materials used in the fundamental courses of computer science in engineering programs. In the short term, it would be a collateral benefit for the continuity of operations in the time of the pandemic. With these measures, the program reduced inter-monthly dropouts by 7% and increased the number of students by 77% in a five-year window. © 2021 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
In basic education it is important to develop digital and mathematical competences in students;both necessary to solve computing and calculation problems. Regarding this reflection, the objective of this study is to analyze digital and mathematical competences in students participating in a virtual education program as a consequence of the social isolation generated by Covid - 19. Thus, in terms of methodology, the study is oriented according to the quantitative approach of descriptive design in which 40 students from the fifth and sixth grade elementary education from a private school (Lima - Peru) participated. From our results, it could be concluded that the fifth-grade students were more competent in solving mathematical problems of shapes, movement and location, unlike the sixth-grade students. And also, according to gender, it was possible to identify that women excel in the communication and digital collaboration competences.
ABSTRACT
The present work has as objective the systematization of educational experiences developed for the teaching of Mathematics (Geometry, Algebra, and Arithmetic) through the Zoom® platform to students of regular basic education of an educational institution of the Constitutional Province of Callao (Peru). The qualitative approach of this research allows us to understand the different factors that have allowed students to successfully achieve their competences and capacities through the compulsory modality of virtual education due to social isolation by COVID-19. Finally, the importance of the joint work of all educational agents (parents, teachers, students, and institution) is concluded so that these experiences can be successfully achieved. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.