ABSTRACT
Background: High-ability students require effective educational strategies. This study introduces and evaluates a curriculum enrichment programme aimed at enhancing cre ativity. The programme is based on a competency framework and was implemented using variations of Project-Based Learning (PBL) strategies. Method: A quasi-experimental design compared two interventions using pre-test and post-test groups. The first intervention (N = 38) involved a 12-week PBL unit focused on designing a video game using block-based program ming through Scratch. The second intervention (N = 51), also lasting 12 weeks, comprised three separate projects involving vectorial design and programming of an Arduino-based ro bot. Both interventions used strategies for creative-thinking development. The sample includ ed high-ability students from 8 to 12 years of age. Results: Both interventions significantly increased creativity, with no statistical differences between them. This suggests that both types of PBL interventions effectively improved participants' creativity. Conclusions: This study suggests that PBL-based curricular enrichment programmes are effective in fostering creativity among high-ability students.
Antecedentes: Los estudiantes con alta capacidad requieren estrategias educativas efectivas. Este estudio presenta y evalúa un programa de enriquecimiento curricular diseñado para mejorar la creatividad. El programa se basa en un marco de competencias y se implemen tó utilizando variaciones de estrategias de aprendizaje basado en proyectos (ABP). Método: Un diseño cuasi-experimental comparó dos intervenciones utilizando grupos pretest y postest. La primera intervención consistió en una unidad de ABP de 12 semanas centrada en el diseño de un videojuego utilizando programación basada en bloques mediante Scratch. La segunda intervención, también de 12 semanas de duración, consistió en tres proyectos independientes de diseño vectorial y programación de un robot basado en Arduino. En ambas intervencio nes se utilizaron estrategias para el desarrollo del pensamiento creativo. La muestra incluía estudiantes con altas capacidades de entre 8 y 12 años. Resultados: Ambas intervenciones aumentaron significativamente la creatividad, sin diferencias estadísticas entre ellas. Esto sugiere que ambos tipos de intervenciones de ABP mejoraron efectivamente la creatividad de los participantes. Conclusiones: Este estudio sugiere que los programas de enriquecimiento curricular basados en ABP son efectivos para fomentar la creatividad entre los estudiantes con altas capacidades.
ABSTRACT
Among the factors that influence the quality of life of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), physical activity and sport are key dimensions of physical well-being. Few studies take into account the perspectives of people with ASD in order to understand the extent of physical well-being and their subjective perception of it. The development of a system of quality of life indicators related to physical activity and sport for people with ASD and their analysis is the aim of this study, providing guidelines for improvement. A study was carried out with a sample of 276 people, professionals (n = 143), family members (n = 73) and people with ASD (n = 60). The people with ASD in the sample belonged to three age categories: children aged 8-12 years, adolescents aged 12-18 years and adults over 18 years. The research team used a qualitative methodology in the collection of information. They adapted three questionnaires, with validated quality of life scales, to guide the interviews and also applied them in the design of the focus group protocols. Subsequently, the research team analysed the information collected in the focus groups with families and professionals using a DELPHI method. A system for coding the responses and qualitative analysis of the responses was also prepared for the analysis of the data by the research team. Finally, the information obtained was compared with a group of representative experts. The results concluded with the elaboration of a system of quality of life indicators related to the dimension of physical well-being, as well as guidelines and proposals that bring together the perspectives of people with ASD in relation to the practice of sport and physical activity. There is a need to increase the practice of sport among people with ASD in order to promote their health, social participation and personal satisfaction. It is concluded that it is not possible to obtain a broad picture of the quality of life of people with ASD and their families due to lack of information. However, the method and the results obtained represent a first approach at national level to increase knowledge about the quality of life of people with ASD.
ABSTRACT
(1) Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently have difficulties in processing sensory information, which is a limitation when participating in different contexts, such as school. The objective of the present study was to compare the sensory processing characteristics of children with ASD in the natural context of school through the perception of professionals in the field of education, in comparison with neurodevelopmental children (2) Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study as conducted with study population consisting of children between three and ten years old, 36 of whom were diagnosed with ASD and attended the Autismo Burgos association; the remaining 24 had neurotypical development. The degree of response of the children to sensory stimuli at school was evaluated using the Sensory Profile-2 (SP-2) questionnaire in its school version, answered by the teachers. (3) Results: Statistically significant differences were found in sensory processing patterns (p = 0.001), in sensory systems (p = 0.001) and in school factors (p = 0.001). Children with ASD who obtained worse results. (4) Conclusions: Children with ASD are prone to present sensory alterations in different contexts, giving nonadapted behavioral and learning responses.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autism Spectrum Disorder/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cognition , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Schools , SensationABSTRACT
Workers living with intellectual disability suffer in a special way from the onset of premature aging. Hence the need to generate alternatives and policies for the development of a new model for active aging and the care of workers with intellectual disability. Our objective in this study is, therefore, to devise intervention measures that can minimize the effects of aging on the lives and the activities of these workers. Employing the Delphi technique, we assembled and consulted a panel of 8 experts with relevant expertise in the fields of intellectual disability; aging; employment and dependency. The panel included employers, families and workers with disability. Each expert reached a prior consensus over every response and contribution after having consulted four other experts with similar backgrounds, a consultative process in which a total of 40 experts participated. A total of 68 measures were proposed which correspond to three lines of action or key contexts: Firms and Organizations that employ People with Intellectual Disability; People with Intellectual Disability, and Family setting. In all, 10 recommendations with a focus on both firms and organizations were advanced to implement the proposed measures. The conclusion was that interventions are needed from the time at which the first symptoms of deterioration are detected, which should not necessarily lead to immediate loss of employment, as well as individualized and coordinated interventions among all relevant stakeholders, including the families.
Subject(s)
Disabled Persons , Intellectual Disability , Aging , Consensus , Employment , Humans , Intellectual Disability/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The objective of the study is to track the progression of the scientific literature on autism and the technology applied to this disorder. A bibliometric methodology has been used, based on a co-word analysis. The Web of Science database was chosen to perform the analysis of the literature. A unit of analysis of 1048 publications was configured. SciMAT software was used mainly for document analysis. The results indicate that the first studies appeared in 1992, but it was not until 2009 that the research volume increased considerably. The area of knowledge where these studies were compiled was rehabilitation, which marks the truly therapeutic nature of this type of study. One of the authors with the most studies, as well as the most relevant research, was Sarkar, N. Manuscripts were usually research articles written in English. It could be concluded that research in this field of study focused mainly on interventions carried out through the use of technological resources, with students or young people who present with ASD. This line of research, although not the only one, was the most relevant and the one that had aroused the most interest among the scientific community.
ABSTRACT
Objetivo. El ictus es la condición médica más importante que origina discapacidad permanente en el adulto. El objetivo es valorar la eficacia de ortesis dinámicas en la rehabilitación del miembro superior en pacientes que han presentado un ictus. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio longitudinal de casos y controles. Se incluyó una muestra de pacientes procedentes de centros de rehabilitación que presentaban hemiparesia secundaria a ictus isquémico o hemorrágico. De forma aleatoria, los pacientes fueron distribuidos en un grupo de estudio, cuyos miembros recibieron una ortesis dinámica en el miembro superior durante seis meses, y un grupo control. Se realizaron valoraciones pre y postratamiento con la ortesis con la Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale y con la Wolf Motor Function para medir los dominios de las funciones y actividades corporales. Se compararon las diferencias entre pre y postest usando ANCOVA y t de Student. Resultados. Se incluyó a 40 pacientes (65% hombres) que presentaban una hemiparesia crónica secundaria a ictus isquémico (n = 28) o hemorrágico (n = 12), con una edad media de 58,43 ± 8,67 años. Tras el seguimiento de seis meses, se observó una mejoría en ambos grupos en la función motora según ambas escalas. El uso de la ortesis dinámica se asoció a una tendencia hacia la mejoría en la fuerza de la extremidad superior. Conclusiones. La rehabilitación tras el ictus mejora la fuerza y las actividades corporales en el miembro superior. El uso de una ortesis dinámica puede adicionalmente mejorar la fuerza en este miembro, pero se necesitan más estudios para confirmar nuestros resultados (AU)
Aims. Stroke is the most important medical condition leading to permanent disability in adults. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of dynamic orthoses in the rehabilitation of the upper limbs in patients who have had a stroke. Patients and methods. We conducted a longitudinal case-control study. The sample used in the study consisted of patients from rehabilitation centres who presented hemiparesis secondary to an ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke. The patients were randomly distributed into a study group, whose members received a dynamic orthosis on an upper limb for a sixmonth period, and a control group. Appraisals were performed pre- and post-treatment with the orthosis with Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale and with Wolf Motor Function to measure their command over body functions and activities. Differences between pre- and post-test were compared using ANCOVA and Students t. Results. The sample included 40 patients (65% males) who presented chronic hemiparesis secondary to ischaemic (n = 28) or haemorrhagic stroke (n = 12), with a mean age of 58.43 ± 8.67 years. After the six-month follow-up, improved motor function was observed in both groups, according to both scales. The use of a dynamic orthosis was associated with a tendency towards improved strength in the upper limb. Conclusions. Rehabilitation following a stroke improves strength and body activities in the upper limb. the use of a dynamic orthosis can further improve the strength in this limb, but additional research is needed to confirm our results (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Stroke/complications , Orthotic Devices , Upper Extremity/injuries , Disabled Persons/rehabilitation , Stroke/rehabilitation , Brain Damage, Chronic/rehabilitation , Longitudinal StudiesABSTRACT
Objective: The evaluation of individual and organizational quality of life through the Guide to Quality-of-Life Indicators and its promotion in English-speaking areas. This guide was initially designed for people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder in specialist autism centers in Spanish and Italian-speaking areas where its effectiveness has been validated. Method: The Delphi technique is applied to the design of a qualitative investigation, with expert validation for the adaptation to English-speaking areas. Results: The results have facilitated the adaptation and validation of the tool, which has 68 indicators grouped into six areas, for its application in both the planning and the evaluation processes of organizations and support services in English-speaking areas. Conclusion: The adaptation of the questionnaire on QoL indicators for people with ASD is a reliable service-provision tool intended to assess integrated programs and to improve them throughout their life-cycles; this aim is approached from the objective perspective and through a subjective evaluation. The Guide will require further updating and review procedures as new needs and contexts emerge.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. El concepto de calidad de vida tiene gran importancia en la intervención dirigida a las personas con discapacidad. Resulta indiscutible que el alcance de una calidad de vida satisfactoria debe ser el objetivo de las intervenciones clínicas dirigidas al colectivo de personas con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA), y un elemento clave para diseñar los tratamientos necesarios que mejoren el pronóstico de desarrollo futuro. A pesar de ello, el conocimiento sobre las condiciones objetivas y subjetivas que predicen una mayor satisfacción en las personas con TEA es aún muy limitado. Objetivo. Explorar la percepción de la calidad de vida que experimenta un grupo de niños y adolescentes con TEA sin discapacidad intelectual asociada. Pacientes y métodos. Muestra de 12 niños y 11 adolescentes con TEA sin discapacidad intelectual asociada. Dependiendo de la edad, se les aplicó el cuestionario de calidad de vida específico. Resultados. Ambos grupos informan positivamente sobre su calidad, sin que existan diferencias en las dimensiones básicas. No obstante, en el caso de los adolescentes se obtienen puntuaciones más bajas en el área de autodeterminación en comparación con las demás. Conclusiones. La discusión se centra en la identificación de las dimensiones más relevantes para la calidad de vida, las implicaciones para la intervención y la necesidad de adecuar las metodologías empleadas para la evaluación subjetiva de estos factores, debido a que las características de los TEA pueden alterar las habilidades necesarias para la valoración de la experiencia personal y requerir la adaptación de los procedimientos empleados (AU)
Introduction. The concept of quality of life is of great importance for interventions directed at people living with disabilities. It is undeniable that the achievement of a satisfactory quality of life should be the objective of clinical interventions that are directed at the group of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and should be a key element in the design of the treatments that are needed to improve the prognosis of future development. Nevertheless, knowledge of both the objective and the subjective conditions that predict greater quality of life satisfaction in people with ASD is still very limited. Aim. To explore the perception of the quality of life experienced by a group of children and adolescents with ASD without intellectual disability. Patients and methods. A sample of 12 children and 11 adolescents with ASD without intellectual disability. In accordance with their age, they were administered the corresponding quality of life questionnaires. Results. Both groups reported positively on their quality of life, without any differences in the basic dimensions. Nevertheless, in the case of adolescents, very low scores were obtained in the area of self-determination in comparison with their scores in other areas. Conclusions. The discussion centers on the identification of the most relevant dimensions for quality of life, the implications for intervention, and the need to adapt the methodologies in use for the subjective evaluation of those factors, due to the characteristics of ASD that can affect the capabilities necessary for the evaluation of personal experience, and may require the adaptation of the procedures that are employed (AU)
