Alternative conceptions of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 assumed by Basic Education pre-service teachers. A case study for Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Almost at the end of 2022, the world is experiencing a relative calm after the rigors imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing the ideas, feelings and procedures used by people in this type of unexpected events, which exceeded all established standards of educational and health actions, can help us be prepared for the possible occurrence of similar events. This study aims to determine the main alternative conceptions that pre-service teachers hold about the pandemic and the post-pandemic within the framework of the four basic pillars of Education. METHODS: A case study was conducted using an ethnographic approach. The unit of analysis was made up of 227 students from the major of Primary Education at Universidad Técnica del Norte. Two research instruments were used to collect the data: a test for verbal associations where participants can express themselves freely with hierarchical, substitution and connotative evocations; and Specialized Analytical Summary sheets to revise and organize specialized scientific texts. The data was analyzed using the IRaMuTeQ software. RESULTS: At first glance, what was expressed in the two contexts, both in the pandemic and in the post-pandemic, show a similar structure; however, a deeper analysis reveals different perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: In the end, the alternative conceptions moved from expressing fear to tranquility.

NANO-MOOCs to train university professors in digital competences.

Rapid changes in technology force Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to generate policies and permanent digital adaptations in their exercise of forming professionals through university professors. HEIs -in their permanent desire to qualify teaching faculty and graduate high-level professionals-develop continuous training events to strengthen and update techno-pedagogical skills that allow giving concrete responses to the needs of a globalized society during a human-educational crisis that arises from the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims at analyzing whether nano-MOOCs improve digital teaching competences in university professors since in the scientific literature, this topic does not show with certainty the effectiveness of these types of courses in teacher training. By conducting a quantitative descriptive-inferential, comparative quasi-experimental research (pre-test and post-test) and with a sample made up of 297 faculty members from Universidad Técnica del Norte (UTN, Ibarra-Ecuador) belonging to the five academic units that compose it, it was identified that the teaching staff has limitations in two of the areas of competence that are articulated by INTEF Common Framework: creation of digital content and security; nevertheless, they did show optimal skills in the areas of information and information literacy, communication and collaboration, and problem solving. The findings also determined that online training based on a nano-MOOC format becomes a successful alternative for university faculty training, 83.84% of the participants under study improved their level of digital competence. These results show that an efficient customizable training can be achieved in less time and adjusted to the needs and characteristics of the professors. The criteria of various authors in this field are ratified with this research, it is, therefore, relevant to evaluate the level of digital competence of teachers and, based on that, be able to plan a personalized training program.

Tendencias de investigación en salud: Análisis y reflexiones / Trends in Health Research: Analysis and Reflections / Tendências de pesquisa em saúde: Análise e reflexões

Objetivo: analizar el estado de la investigación en salud en Colombia, Ecuador y en Latinoamérica; sus implicaciones, la importancia de esta para tratar de impactar en políticas y estrategias de salud que mejoren el nivel de vida de las poblaciones y los asentamientos urbanos. Método: se realizó una revisión de la literatura en las bases de datos latinoamericanas Scielo, Redalyc, Bireme y Pubmed en los últimos 8 años. Resultados: se evidencia la trascendencia de las universidades como instituciones, que tienen la obligación de influir en lo social, lo humano y lo cultural, y transformen en entornos ligados a programas sociales y de gobierno en pro de una comunidad. Igualmente, se hace un análisis de las políticas de investigación, de organismos rectores y sus implicaciones en las instituciones formadoras de recurso humano a nivel superior. Conclusiones: es necesario fortalecer la reflexión crítica en los espacios académicos comprometidos con la transformación de las condiciones colectivas de la comunidad en los procesos de salud, enfermedad, promoción, prevención y atención, que tocan los hilos de la conciencia, afirmando que el individuo y la colectividad son responsables de "cuidar su salud", mediante el abordaje transdisciplinario, teniendo en cuenta la normatividad ética que rige las investigaciones; fortaleciéndola mediante la consolidación de redes, divulgando los hallazgos.

Objective: Analyze the state of health research in Colombia, Ecuador and Latin America, its implications and the importance of health research in attempting to impact health policies and strategies that will improve the standard of living in urban communities. Method: The study involved a review of the literature contained in the Latin American databases SciELO, Redalyc, Medicine® and PubMed during the last eight years. Results: It provides evidence on the importance of universities as institutions that are obliged to influence social, human and cultural aspects and become environs linked to social and government program developed in the interest of a community. Research policies, governing bodies and their implications in institutions of higher learning are analyzed as well. Conclusions: It is necessary to strengthen critical thinking in academic circles that are committed to transforming the social conditions of the community in processes concerning health, disease, promotion, prevention and care. In doing to, it is important to affect awareness by affirming that both the individual and the community are responsible for their "health care," through a trans-disciplinary approach that takes into account the ethical standards governing research and strengthens it by consolidating networks and reporting research findings.

Objetivo: analisar o estado da pesquisa em saúde na Colômbia, Equador e na América Latina, suas implicações, a importância desta na tentativa de impactar políticas e estratégias de saúde que melhorem o nível de vida das populações e dos assentamentos urbanos. Método: realizou-se uma revisão da literatura nas bases de dados latino-americanas SciELO, Redalyc, Bireme e Pubmed nos últimos oito anos. Resultados: evidencia-se a transcendência das universidades como instituições que têm a obrigação de influenciar no âmbito social, humano e cultural, e de se transformar em ambientes ligados a programas sociais e de governo em prol de uma comunidade. Além disso, faz-se uma análise das políticas de pesquisa, de organismos diretivos e de suas implicações nas instituições formadoras de recurso humano em nível superior. Conclusões: é necessário fortalecer a reflexão crítica nos espaços acadêmicos comprometidos com a transformação das condições coletivas da comunidade nos processos de saúde, doença, promoção, prevenção e atendimento, afirmando que o indivíduo e a coletividade são responsáveis por "cuidar da sua saúde", mediante a abordagem transdisciplinar, que considera a normatividade ética que rege as pesquisas, fortalecendo-a por meio da consolidação de redes que divulgam as novas constatações.