Learning gymnastic practices for the inclusion of hearing-impaired students in physical education

Introduction. Inclusion in Physical Education is key to guaranteeing the active participation of hearing-impaired students, overcoming communication and accessibility barriers. Adapted gymnastic practices, through visual and kinesthetic strategies, promote the development of motor skills, social interaction, and group cohesion. Objective. To design and validate a learning program and gymnastic practices that promote the inclusion of hearing-impaired students in physical education. Methodology. The research used a mixed sequential explanatory approach with a pre-experimental and phenomenological design. We worked with 28 students, including one student with hearing impairment. The 8-week intervention integrated adapted visual and gestural activities. Observational instruments were used to measure dimensions of inclusion and semi-structured interviews for qualitative analysis. Results. The data evidenced significant gains in overall inclusion, with an increase in mean values from 24.79 ± 6.69 at pretest to 37.69 ± 3.48 at posttest (P = 0.05). In addition, improvements were observed in group cohesion, communication and positive perception of the adaptive strategies implemented, strengthening integration to Physical Education. Qualitative analysis revealed improvements in group cohesion, communication, and participants' perception of inclusive strategies. Conclusion. The adapted gymnastic practices program was effective in promoting the inclusion of students with hearing impairment in the physical education class. General area of study: Education. Specific area of study: Inclusive Physical Education. Type of study: Original articles.

Angel Geovanny Curicama Ayol, Maria Katherine Quiñonez Panezo, Lenin Esteban Loaiza Dávila, Giceya de la Caridad Maqueira Caraballo

27-47

Facebook and Instagram: communication platforms of the Decentralized Autonomous Government of Nangaritza, January-June 2022

Introduction: Social networks have become one of the communication spaces through which public and private institutions seek to visualize themselves and interact with their audiences to achieve greater acceptance. Facebook and Instagram are widely used digital platforms due to their easy use and reach to all audiences. Objectives: a) To establish under the concepts of Niklas Luhmann's systems theory how social networks generate interaction and communication. b) To analyze how social networks serve to communicate and interact from the principles of organizational communication of the GAD of Nangaritza. Methodology: A qualitative-quantitative approach was used to obtain a comprehensive view of the use of social networks. An analysis matrix was designed that evaluated publications in the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of the GAD of Nangaritza. Interviews were also conducted with three experts in digital communication and public management to understand how these tools encourage interaction with the community. Results: The social networks of the GAD of Nangaritza have been an optimal channel to present information to citizens. However, communication and interaction have not been fully achieved, so it is necessary to adjust the organizational communication strategy. Conclusions: It is necessary to invest efforts in the creation of a specific strategic plan for the management of social networks, including periodic reviews and updates of its digital platforms. This will allow for fostering greater closeness with citizens. General study area: Communication. Specific study area: Organizational communication.

Raúl Edison Lomas Badillo, Widinson Steven Villa Rodríguez

48-61

Voice of América, a website to assess reading comprehension

Introduction: Reading is a fundamental skill in the learning of English as a foreign language, which, combined with technological tools, allows an effective development of the language. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the Voice of America website on reading comprehension in seventh-semester students of a language program at a public university in Ecuador. Methodology: A quantitative study was carried out with a pre-experimental design and the population was made up of 35 seventh-semester students. In addition, ten interventions of 30 minutes each were made, in which several informative reports from the Voice of America website and different LKT tools were used. In addition, a variety of instruments were used, including a survey on the use of Learning and Knowledge Technologies (LKT), a pre- and post-test based on the FCE standardized test, and a model technology acceptance (TAM) survey. Finally, when applying the SPSS, the alternative hypothesis (H1) with a p value of 0.001 was accepted, indicating that the Voice of America website was effective for the development of reading comprehension of university students. Results: The results showed that the post-test average was higher than the pre-test average, with a difference of 1.6 points. Conclusions: The interventions had a positive impact on the students through the development of different activities such as group discussions, audio recordings, debates, predictions, answers to questions and written tasks that promoted a communicative environment and encouraged their critical thinking. General area of study: education. Specific area of study: language learning. Type of study: Original articles

Elsa Mayorie Chimbo Cáceres, Dayana Liceth Ayala Tipanluisa, Wilma Elizabeth Suárez Mosquera, Mayra Isabel Barrera Gutiérrez

62-76

Digital tools in bimodal teaching, and its implementation at the South of Manabí State University

Introduction: The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has caused more than 1600 million students to be interrupted from their academic activities during 2020, which generated the use of alternatives such as remote, co-educational or face-to-face education, the latter in a very low percentage and complying with strict security measures. Objectives: Research was developed with the aim of applying digital tools in bimodal teaching, and its implementation at the State University of the South of Manabí (UNESUM). Methodology: the methodology used in the research was implemented in 100 sixth-semester students of the Nursing career at UNESUM. The survey system was used as an instrument, which was elaborated establishing a dependence and interaction between generic competencies and digital tools, in the teaching-learning process. Results: The results obtained from the surveys were organized by hierarchical orders from 1 to 5 that expressed in decreasing degrees (5-too much, 4-enough, 3- neither little-nor enough, 2-little, 1-nothing) satisfaction or satisfaction of the students. It was evidenced that in the knowledge of information technologies, and their relationship with digital tools as forms of bimodal teaching, 27.3% of the students responded that they know too much, 57.6% enough, 12.1% neither little, nor enough and 3% little, however in the application of digital tools it was obtained that approximately 94% of them had applied too much and enough,  digital technologies in some form, and only 6% responded neither much nor little. However, in the need for bimodal teaching in the object of study, 78.8% of the students expressed the need to continue with these elements and only 18.2% agreed on either much, or too little and little. Conclusions: The results of the research allow us to conclude that the bimodal teaching methodology with the application of digital tools, denote an improvement of the teaching-learning process in the Nursing career of the State University of Manabí, so it becomes a possible option in the improvement of educational quality. General area of study: education. Specific area of study: teaching in nursing. Type of study: Original articles.

Maribel Celi Vásquez Paucar, Mercedes del Rosario Acuña Acebo, Oreste La-O León

77-90