Ciencia Digital

Artificial intelligence as a project-based teaching strategy: a theoretical approach

Erick Leandro Ruano Lara — 2025-10-05

Introduction: AI is currently adapting to all educational areas, enhancing the efficiency of knowledge acquisition in universities. Objective: To describe, through a systematic review, the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence (AI) as a project-based learning (PBL) strategy. Methodology: An integrative systematic review, in which 100 articles were analyzed in scientific databases based on descriptors and Boolean operators. As inclusion criteria, 20 articles from 2021 to 2025 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, published in indexed journals, were accepted. PRISMA was used as a method to search for scientific publications that cover AI and PBL variables. Results: AI has provided the educational system with tools to optimize educational processes, guaranteeing automatic assessment, efficient student feedback, educational personalization and inclusion, promoting collaborative work, and developing critical thinking skills to make decisions and contribute to problem-solving. Conclusions: AI contributes as a strategy to optimize PBL by motivating the development of student creativity, as well as their cognitive and attitudinal skills. General area of study: Educational Sciences. Specific area of study: Educational projects and computer science. Type of study: Original article.

Impact of Labxchange on cell biology learning in first-year high school students

Nelson Timana — 2025-10-05

Introduction: Labxchange simulator enhances Cell Biology learning by improving comprehension, motivation, and autonomy through its resources. Objective: To analyze the impact of the Labxchange web simulator on the Cell Biology learning of 160 first-year high school students from Unidad Educativa Jacinto Collahuazo. Methodology: This explanatory research employs a quantitative, quasi-experimental approach with correlational and applied characteristics to assess the impact of Labxchange on cellular biology learning. The methods used include analysis-synthesis, induction-deduction, and theoretical modeling. Data collection began with a cohort study of at least three academic years in Cell Biology, revealing an institutional average score of 8.074/10 and a score below 700/1000 in the Instituto Nacional de Evaluacón Educativa, indicating low performance in this subject. A Cell Biology knowledge test was conducted using diagnostic and summative questionnaires on control and experimental groups, and a satisfaction survey regarding Labxchange usage. Results: Labxchange usage significantly promotes Cell Biology learning, with 92.5% of the experimental group achieving and mastering the learning objectives, with a significant difference in the Wilcoxon test with Z = -7.732 and p < 0.001. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation between Labxchange usage and Cell Biology learning was observed through Spearman’s Rho correlation analysis, with r = 0.955. Conclusion: Labxchange positively impacts the Cell biology learning of first-year high school students at Unidad Educativa Jacinto Collahuazo. General Area of Study: Education and Biological Sciences. Specific area of study: Didactics of Cell Biology. Type of study: Original articles.

The contribution of social media to Social Education: The case of "Educablog"

Iñigo Rodríguez Torre — 2025-10-05

Introduction. Social media with a professional theme have not been sufficiently researched to analyse their contributions to the different professions and specifically to Social Education. "Educablog" is a blog addressed to Social Education professionals since 2006. Objective. To analyse the contribution of "Educablog" to Social Education and to make proposals for improvement. Methodology. This article, which is part of a broader qualitative research, is based on a case study from a phenomenological approach that aims to understand and explain a specific reality from the perception of professionals who follow the blog. A mixed virtual and voluntary questionnaire was used, which was addressed to professionals from the third social sector who follow "Educablog". The analysis was carried out using the software NVivo 12 V. Release 1.5. Results. The results have made it possible, on the one hand, to identify relevant issues with regard to the contribution of "Educablog" to Social Education and, on the other, to make proposals for improvement with regard to this blog. Conclusions. It is worth highlighting the impact of this space with regard to professionalisation, identity and professional development.

Didactic tasks for reading and writing in baccalaureate students

Manuela Leticia Rios Illapa — 2025-10-05

Introduction: Literacy is a fundamental skill for students' academic and social development, making it a priority to identify effective strategies that respond to their learning needs. Objective: the main objective was to design teaching tasks for literacy in second-year elementary school students. Methodology: the methodology applied was a mixed approach, with a pre-experimental design based on a pre-test and post-test administered to a sample of 25 students. Results: the fundamental weaknesses found in the diagnosis are related to problems in phonological awareness, spelling recognition, reading comprehension, and reading fluency. Therefore, five teaching tasks are proposed as scientific results, focusing on sound recognition, word construction, oral reading, written production, and creative storytelling. Once the pedagogical intervention was completed, a post-test was administered, which showed significant improvements in students' performance related to literacy. Through qualitative analysis, teachers identified recurring difficulties in phonological awareness and reading comprehension, as well as the effectiveness of their use of visual aids, contextualized tasks, and playful dynamics. Conclusion: it is concluded that the teaching tasks implemented were effective in developing key literacy skills and promoting more active, equitable, and meaningful learning. General Area of Study: Education. Specific area of study: basic general education. Type of study: Original articles.

Innovation in commerce: e-commerce and sales digitalization as a strategy for pymes

Henry Mauricio Guachán Piaún — 2025-10-05

The use of mobile devices to purchase products and services is on the rise, as consumers turn to online shopping as an alternative that offers some convenience. This work implements quantitative and qualitative techniques that seek to address the research objective from a comprehensive perspective. Through a descriptive and interpretive design, the perceptions, experiences, and strategies of SMEs at different levels of technological adoption were explored in depth. This allows us to understand how the digitalization process develops, the factors that determine it, and the key elements for building an adaptive digital transformation strategy. A qualitative bibliographic review was also conducted to understand the theoretical, methodological, and strategic approaches developed in the field of digital transformation for SMEs. This work has led to the conclusion that e-commerce and digitalization are important tools in the activities carried out by SMEs due to their usefulness in optimizing processes, where costs can be reduced and the business market expanded, provided they have a planning that responds to business objectives.General Area of Study: Commerce. Specific area of study: E-commerce. Type of study: Investigation article.

Teacher training with the use of ICTs, for the teaching-learning process

Galo Antonio Álava Macías — 2025-10-05

Introduction: The main purpose of education is for students to achieve their learning; for this, a correct management of the teacher in the teaching-learning process is required; it is in this area that ICTs play a preponderant role by allowing the complete interaction of students in this process, by awakening in them the motivation for learning. Objective: The purpose of this article is to strengthen teachers in the use of gamified tools through the B-Learning model of the El Esfuerzo Educational Unit, using active methodologies with technological tools to improve and strengthen the teaching-learning process in students. Methodology: The methodology implemented is of a mixed type where surveys and interviews were used for its execution. Results: After the application of these instruments, the result was that most teachers have little practice of technological tools in the classroom, so they require continuous training in this area to achieve an adequate articulation of communication technologies in their daily practices. Conclusions: The conclusions highlight the need for continuous training in the strengthening of teachers on the use of gamified tools through the b-Learning model, instruments that aim at the academic excellence of teachers and the inclusion of Information and Communication Technology in teaching-learning that contributes to growing the levels of digital knowledge. General area of study: Education. Specific area of study: Teacher training. Type of study: Original articles.

Right to appeal in the scope of the order of summons to trial in Ecuadorian criminal law

Roobertt Jesús Burbano Numerable — 2025-10-05

Introduction: This article analyzes the legal problems related to the prohibition of appealing the writ of summons to trial within the Ecuadorian criminal process, in the light of the constitutional right to appeal, it is studied how this restriction affects fundamental principles such as due process, technical defense, legal certainty and equality of the procedural parties. Objectives: Its objective is not only to demonstrate the impact on the right to appeal, but also to provoke a critical reflection on the importance of a legal reform that allows correcting this omission, an equitable and guaranteed criminal system cannot tolerate limitations that reduce the tools of procedural control or that promote inequitable justice. Methodology: The research was developed through a qualitative approach, using dogmatic-legal, analytical, and deductive methods, based on the study of constitutional norms, doctrine, national and international jurisprudence, and current Ecuadorian criminal legislation. Results: As a result, it was identified that the incontestability of the order of summons to trial generates an unjustified procedural asymmetry, by granting the Prosecutor's Office the possibility of appealing the order of dismissal, but denying that same power to the accused, in addition, it was evident that the lack of review of this resolution compromises effective judicial control and can lead to unjustified oral trials. Conclusions: It is concluded that this limitation violates the right to appeal enshrined in the Constitution and that it is necessary to reform Article 653 of the COIP, to guarantee a more equitable criminal justice, guaranteeing and in accordance with the principles of the constitutional State of rights and justice. General Area of Study: Law. Specific area of study: Procedural Law. Type of study: Systematic literature review.

Neurodidactics with digital tools in the personalization of learning

Lorena Yajaira Almachi Caiza — 2025-10-05

Introduction: The problem was addressed in terms of the need to verify whether the application of neurodidactic strategies supported by digital tools would have the potential to personalize learning and increase students' academic performance by responding effectively to individual cognitive processes. Objectives: In this sense, the objective of the study was to analyze how the application of neurodidactics, supported by digital tools, can strengthen the personalization of learning. Methodology: The research was conducted under the pragmatic paradigm, ideal for the use of mixed methods, integrating quantitative and qualitative data through a survey validated with SPSS, inductive-deductive analysis, and a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests for a particular group. It was also exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, field-based, and documentary research. Theoretical methods such as inductive-deductive and analytical-synthetic were used, as well as empirical methods such as surveys, whose statistical reliability was verified using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.980 for students). The population consisted of 202 students, with a sample of 59 tenth-grade students from Upper General Basic Education. In the second quarter, a traditional methodology was used, and in the third quarter, digital tools with a neurodidactic approach were applied. Results: The results show a significant improvement in the students' academic performance, from an average of 8.1219 in the pretest to 9.1602 in the posttest, a difference validated by the student’s t-test. Conclusions: It is concluded that integrating neurodidactics with digital tools promotes attention, memory, and motivation, personalizing learning and positively transforming teaching practices, orienting them toward inclusive and effective environments. General area of study: Education. Specific area of study: Digital environment. Type of study: Original article.

The principle of proportionality in the juvenile offender system: legal challenges in Ecuadorian legislation

Josue David Arizabal Hurtado — 2025-10-05

Introduction: Children and adolescents are being used and recruited to commit criminal activities in Ecuador. Their participation in these acts evidences a serious legal and social problem, especially in the application of the principle of proportionality in the special sanctioning regime for adolescent offenders, but their punishment is a legal challenge, because the comprehensive doctrine privileges the best interests, and prohibits the adolescent offender from being treated the same as an adult, demanding as an alternative to ordinary justice, a specialized justice with socio-educational measures. Objectives: The objective of this article is to analyze, from a legal and constitutional perspective, the principle of proportionality and its application in the criminal responsibility regime of adolescent offenders, evaluating its normative and social implications. Methodology: a qualitative methodology was used, based on dogmatic-legal, comparative, and descriptive methods. Results: As a result, there was a disproportionality between the criminal behaviors committed by adolescents and the sanctions imposed. Conclusions: It is observed that adolescent offenders in conflict with the law are subject to specialized justice as established by the Constitution and international treaties, since due to their mental capacity, they are not capable of understanding their actions and decisions. General area of study: Law. Specific area of study: Procedural Law. Type of study: Systematic bibliographic review.

Shared custody: substantive and procedural challenges and needs

Félix Edison Sánchez Cartagenova — 2025-10-05

Introduction: Shared custody represents one of the most significant challenges in contemporary family procedural law in Ecuador, where a legal gap prevents its effective implementation, generating systematic contradictions in the legal system and affecting the materialization of the constitutional principle of parental co-responsibility. Objective: To characterize the challenges and needs associated with implementing shared custody in Ecuador from the perspective of justice operators specialized in childhood and adolescence. Methodology: Descriptive-analytical research with a mixed approach was developed, using semi-structured interviews applied to three justice operators: a litigant lawyer, a family judge, and a lawyer in free professional practice, under inclusion criteria of minimum three years of experience in family law. Results: The results confirm the scarce application of shared custody in Ecuadorian judicial practice, identifying obstacles in four dimensions: normative (lack of specific regulation), cultural (persistence of gender stereotypes), procedural (delays and absence of uniform protocols), and institutional (limited resources of technical teams). This modality represents an exceptionally low percentage, being applied only when there is explicit agreement between parents. Conclusion: The effective implementation of shared custody in Ecuador requires a systemic approach that combines normative reform of the Code of Childhood and Adolescence, institutional capacity development, cultural transformation, and strengthening of alternative conflict resolution mechanisms to materialize the constitutional principle of parental co-responsibility and guarantee the best interest of the child. General Area of Study: Procedural Law. Specific Area of Study: Legal Analysis in Procedural Law. Type of Study: Original Articles.

Lean Manufacturing: A Factor Associated with Reducing Milk Reception Times in Rural Collection Centers

Ana Patricia Beltrán González — 2025-10-05

Introduction: Operational performance in rural milk collection centers is a critical factor influencing the quality, traceability, and sustainability of the Ecuadorian dairy supply chain. Nevertheless, the absence of standardized procedures, extended milk reception times, and limited implementation of continuous improvement methodologies continue to hinder overall system efficiency. Objective: To analyze the relationship between the use of Lean Manufacturing tools and operational efficiency in ten rural milk collection centers in Ecuador, selected based on functional and geographical criteria. Methodology: A mixed-methods explanatory approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review with a comparative analysis of operational data obtained through surveys and document systematization. Results: The results show that 75% of the centers report milk reception times exceeding two hours, and that Lean-related practices such as 5S, TPM, visual control, VSM, and traceability are partially implemented in 90% of the cases. However, only one center applies them in a structured manner. This center achieved a 25% reduction in reception time and a 16% decrease in operational waste. Conclusion: It is concluded that the gradual incorporation of Lean tools enables improvement in the efficiency of milk reception processes, even in rural contexts with limited resources. General Area of Study: Business Administration. Specific area of study: Operations Management and Continuous Improvement. Type of study: Original articles.