Open University of Catalonia

About: Open University of Catalonia is a education organization based out in Barcelona, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Higher education. The organization has 1943 authors who have published 4646 publications receiving 64200 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya & UOC.

The Regulation of Diffusion of Public Sector Information Via Electronic Means: Lessons from the Spanish Regulation

Abstract: Transparency is one of the main challenges for public administrations in the information society to bring the public administrations closer to citizens and finally, to improve their democratic legitimacy. The article focuses on new tools to regulate the diffusion of public sector information and it also contributes some elements which will improve it. This analysis will be done, firstly by examining the various regulations approved in Spain on the diffusion of public sector information through electronic means. In particular, the scope of the Spanish e-Government Act will be analyzed in relation to the diffusion of public sector information through electronic means. Finally, some landmarks will be proposed which can serve to guide the formulation of new regulations on the use of electronic means for diffusing public sector information not only by Spanish public authorities but also by other authorities who intend to pass a regulation in this field to improve transparency.

Educación a distancia, educación presencial y usos de la tecnología: una tríada para el progreso educativo

Abstract: Con el objetivo de hacer llegar la educacion a todo aquel que la necesita, aparecieron las practicas de educacion a distancia. Estas practicas han exigido siempre la existencia de un elemento mediador entre el docente y el discente. Generalmente, este mediador ha sido una tecnologia, que ha ido variando en cada momento. Si historicamente nos referiamos al correo convencional, que establecia una relacion epistolar entre el profesor y el estudiante, con el tiempo hemos ido introduciendo nuevas tecnologias que, por su coste y su accesibilidad, nos permiten evolucionar en esta relacion a distancia (Bates, 1995).

Language Aptitude and Long-term Achievement in Early Childhood L2 Learners

Abstract: Language aptitude comprises cognitive and perceptual abilities that predispose individuals to learn well or rapidly (Carroll 1981; Doughty et al. 2007) and that can interplay with age by moderating its effects on learning outcomes. Although there is agreement regarding the importance of aptitude, findings have been mixed regarding its role in child second language acquisition (e.g. Abrahamsson and Hyltenstam 2008 vs. DeKeyser 2000). This study set out to investigate whether aptitude played a role in ultimate morphosyntactic attainment by a group of early childhood learners. Participants completed a speeded-response and a non-speeded-response grammaticality judgement test (GJT), and the LLAMA aptitude test (Meara 2005). Results showed the presence of an interaction between aptitude, test, and target structure. Aptitude was significantly related to early learners' attainment in structures involving grammatical agreement on the non-speeded-response GJT. This was interpreted as showing the compensatory role of aptitude in structures for which age effects are the strongest and a relationship between measures of aptitude weighted in favour of explicit cognitive processes and untimed measures that induce learners to approach language analytically.