Showing papers by "Juan J. Muñoz-Perez published in 2014"

Comments on “Confirmation of beach accretion by grain-size trend analysis: Camposoto beach, Cádiz, SW Spain” by E. Poizot et al. (2013) Geo-Marine Letters 33(4)

Abstract: This Discussion provides comments on the application of grain-size trend analysis to Camposoto beach (SW Spain) reported by Poizot et al. (2013) in Geo-Marine Letters 33(4):263–272. Some of their results are updated or complemented by existing data from other studies carried out on Camposoto and other nearby beaches. For example, a detailed breakdown of beach nourishment volumes and costs is presented, and the influence of a horizontal reef flat on the tilting of the beach profile around the mean or the low water level is highlighted. Moreover, data from the displacement of dyed samples are used to evaluate the relationship between sediment transport speed (va) and current speed (V), the corresponding ratio being consistent with the range of values reported by several other authors. Finally, some minor, although still significant, differences are detected in some granulometric parameters as well as in the profile shape. Determining the reason for these discrepancies could enhance our current knowledge about the factors controlling short-term beach profile responses.

Success on increasing number of students that pass the coastal engineering subject

Abstract: Spanish universities are currently undergoing an educational transition that implies significant changes in learning and teaching methodologies, in compliance with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Within this phase, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) provides the opportunity to enhance student performance and improve academic assessment. An experimental procedure has been implemented within the Coastal Engineering course (Sea Sciences Faculty) to decrease academic failure (to date, 25% of no-show and 35% of fails), and to allow students to achieve better grades. During the last academic year, students were encouraged to follow a new learning plan based on coursework performance, the duration of which was similar to the theoretical lessons, i.e., two hours a week. Assignments were not mandatory, and they only represented 10% of the final mark. Weekly homework was directly related to the main aspects of the theoretical lessons, and included practical exercises as well as research of particular cases about the topics explained in class. Hence, in addition to improving students’ knowledge of the subject by encouraging them through the possibility of increasing their final grades, this method also supports the application of cross competencies that allow students to:!!a) check their learning progress; b) introduce them to e-learning; c) learn complementary concepts of scientific research by using e-databases;!!d) refresh and update the theoretical concepts provided during the live lectures; e) add new teaching material to enhance the comprehension and study of the subject; f) think for themselves by becoming autonomous when the course is over. Despite representing only a low percentage of the final mark, a complete dedication of the students was achieved. This experience resulted in 97.4% of the students successfully passing the final exam, thus achieving better grades. Keywords: student assessment, learning feedback, course final grades, cross competencies, coursework.

Audiovisual resources as a useful tool to improve the teaching of coastal engineering (marine science bsc degree)

Abstract: Lessons for a technical subject were explained in videos which were later uploaded to YouTube and to a virtual classroom within the Marine Science BSc degree. In this way, these files, complemented with ppt slide presentations, were also useful for the Erasmus students with a low level of Spanish. Finally, some online questionnaires were also uploaded in order to allow the users check by themselves their knowledge. The different steps of the followed methodology are explained and screenshots of the virtual are also displayed. The use of Moodle was therefore highly encouraged and the results of a survey conducted by the teachers of the course showed the utility of the technique proposed herein.