Global ETD Search

761	Evaluation of a Novel Biochemistry Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Stefan M Irby (6326255) 15 May 2019 (has links) <p>Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) have been described in a range of educational contexts. Although various learning objectives, termed anticipated learning outcomes (ALOs) in this project, have been proposed, processes for identifying them may not be rigorous or well-documented, which can lead to inappropriate assessment and speculation about what students actually learn from CUREs. Additionally, evaluation of CUREs has primarily relied on student and instructor perception data rather than more reliable measures of learning.This dissertation investigated a novel biochemistry laboratory curriculum for a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) known as the Biochemistry Authentic Scientific Inquiry Lab (BASIL). Students participating in this CURE use a combination of computational and biochemical wet-lab techniques to elucidate the function of proteins of known structure but unknown function. The goal of the project was to evaluate the efficacy of the BASIL CURE curriculum for developing students’ research abilities across implementations. Towards achieving this goal, we addressed the following four research questions (RQs): <b>RQ1</b>) How can ALOs be rigorously identified for the BASIL CURE; <b>RQ2</b>) How can the identified ALOs be used to develop a matrix that characterizes the BASIL CURE; <b>RQ3</b>) What are students’ perceptions of their knowledge, confidence and competence regarding their abilities to perform the top-rated ALOs for this CURE; <b>RQ4</b>) What are appropriate assessments for student achievement of the identified ALOs and what is the nature of student learning, and related difficulties, developed by students during the BASIL CURE? To address these RQs, this project focused on the development and use of qualitative and quantitative methods guided by constructivism and situated cognition theoretical frameworks. Data was collected using a range of instruments including, content analysis, Qualtrics surveys, open-ended questions and interviews, in order to identify ALOs and to determine student learning for the BASIL CURE. Analysis of the qualitative data was through inductive coding guided by the concept-reasoning-mode (CRM) model and the assessment triangle, while analysis of quantitative data was done by using standard statistical techniques (e.g. conducting a parried t-test and effect size). The results led to the development of a novel method for identifying ALOs, namely a process for identifying course-based undergraduate research abilities (PICURA; RQ1; Irby, Pelaez, & Anderson 2018b). Application of PICURA to the BASIL CURE resulted in the identification and rating by instructors of a wide range of ALOs, termed course-based undergraduate research abilities (CURAs), which were formulated into a matrix (RQs 2; Irby, Pelaez, & Anderson, 2018a,). The matrix was, in turn, used to characterize the BASIL CURE and to inform the design of student assessments aimed at evaluating student development of the identified CURAs (RQs 4; Irby, Pelaez, & Anderson, 2018a). Preliminary findings from implementation of the open-ended assessments in a small case study of students, revealed a range of student competencies for selected top-rated CURAs as well as evidence for student difficulties (RQ4). In this way we were able to confirm that students are developing some of the ALOs as actual learning outcomes which we term VLOs or verified learning outcomes. In addition, a participant perception indicator (PPI) survey was used to gauge students’ perceptions of their gains in knowledge, experience, and confidence during the BASIL CURE and, therefore, to inform which CURAs should be specifically targeted for assessment in specific BASIL implementations (RQ3;). These results indicate that, across implementations of the CURE, students perceived significant gains with large effect sizes in their knowledge, experience, and confidence for items on the PPI survey (RQ3;). In our view, the results of this dissertation will make important contributions to the CURE literature, as well as to the biochemistry education and assessment literature in general. More specifically, it will significantly improve understanding of the nature of student learning from CUREs and how to identify ALOs and design assessments that reveal what students actually learn from such CUREs - an area where there has been a dearth of available knowledge in the past. The outcomes of this dissertation could also help instructors and administrators identify and align assessments with the actual features of a CURE (or courses in general), use the identified CURAs to ensure the material fits departmental or university needs, and evaluate the benefits of students participating in these innovative curricula. Future research will focus on expanding the development and validation of assessments so that practitioners can better evaluate the efficacy of their CUREs for developing the research competencies of their undergraduate students and continue to render improvements to their curricula.</p> Biochemistry Education Course-based Undergraduate Research Course-based Research Experiences CURE anticipated learning outcomes ALOs ALO CURAs research abilities PICURA ALO matrix BASIL weighted-relevance WR verified learning outcomes VLOs CUREs biochemistry computational biochemistry bioinformatics biochemistry education chemistry education chemistry teaching laboratory upper-division ACE-Bio experimental competencies Authentic science inquiry chemical education assessment assessment design Student understanding student difficulties biochemistry laboratory experiments biochemistry teaching laboratory chemistry teaching laboratory chemistry teaching laboratories predicting protein function protein inquiry-based learning inquiry-based teaching content analysis open-ended survey interviews semi-structured interviews PPI participant perception indicator assessment triangle CRM conceptual reasoning mode conceptual-reasoning-mode model curriculum evaluation experimental abilities discovery skills learning objectives learning outcomes LO LOs collaborations collaborative course implementation implementation student difficuluties experimental learning experimental literacy data-representation ACE-Bio Network Likert-survey
762	Evaluering van die Vienna toetsbattery in die voorspelling van effektiewe busbestuurder gedrag Du Toit, Martina Petronella 30 November 2006 (has links) Vehicle accidents by means of Public transport annually leads to a large number of passenger deaths and life long disablement. AsDu Toit, Martina Petronella a result, there is a need for preventative measures by identifying the psychomotor abilities of bus drivers during the recruitment and selection process of employment. The study was conducted among 398 bus drivers employed by a large bus company. The Vienna Test Battery was administered. It was found that distance estimation, ability to recognize forms and figures, concentration ability, eye-hand feet coordination and two-hand coordination predicted the effectiveness of bus drivers successfully. It is suggested that further research should focus on client services, attitude of bus drivers and learning potential, as factors that influence the effectiveness of bus drivers. / Industrial psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology) Bus driver Human abilities Prediction Vienna test battery Bus driver behaviour Psychomotor ability Accidents Distance estimation Two hand coordination Concentration ability Eye-hand-feet coordination Text in Afrikaans 150.287 Vienna Test System Bus drivers -- Ability testing Motor ability Eye-hand coordination Attention Traffic accidents Bus accidents
763	Effects of chess instruction on the intellectual development of grade R leaners Basson, Mary Rose 02 1900 (has links) Text in English / The literature review indicated similarities between education and chess playing and possible transfer of knowledge between these two different domains. A link was then suggested between some aspects of intellectual abilities and chess instruction in children, but not in adults (Frydman & Lynn, 1992; Waters, Doll & Mayr, 1987). In this research study the aim was to explore the relationship between chess playing and cognitive and intellectual development in Grade R learners at Garsieland. Therefore the positive influence that chess playing brings to bear on the intelligence of 64 Grade R learners (as measured on intelligence scales) was investigated. The data was collected through short biographical questionnaires and psychometric tests and the participants in both groups were assessed on two occasions. The study suggested that chess instruction exerted a positive (small) effect on Performance intelligence and subsequently on the Global scale of the Junior South African Intelligence Scales. The children in both groups also exhibited improved cognitive development after the 40 week period during 2009. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology) Learners and learning Grade R Cognitive development Visuo-spatial abilities Transfer of knowledge or training Metacognition Novices and experts Psychometric tests 155.41390968227 Chess -- Psychology Garsfontein (South Africa)
764	Quality assurance challenges for private providers in post-school education and training in South Africa Baumgardt, Jacqueline 09 1900 (has links) Quality assurance has been a vexed and troubled journey for private providers in South Africa in a complex and burdensome educational environment. It is well recognised that private providers are significant role-players in the provision of education and training in South Africa and the stated intention is to create a more enabling regulatory framework The focus of this thesis is on the private providers at the post-school level. The quality assurance regime was examined and contextualised to analyse what is required, and to determine how the private provider is impacted by the regulatory requirements for the establishment and operation of a private tuition provider in South Africa. The experience of private providers, CEOs of professional bodies, ETQA managers and ETD practitioners was investigated using a mixed methods research approach. The conclusion is a call for a far more streamlined system with a centralised oversight body, greater stakeholder consultation, less political interference and a deeper appreciation for the contribution that private providers make to the education of learners in South Africa. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management) Curriculum Faculty key skills and abilities Globalisation Institutional design Institutional leadership Internationalisation Learner profiles Marketisation Massification Open systems thinking Policies and practices Post-school education and training Private providers Privatisation Quality assurance Regulatory authorities Resources Stakeholders 378.040968
765	Lien entre l'activité pariéto-occipitale enregistrée pendant une tâche de mémoire à court terme visuelle et les habiletés mathématiques : une étude en magnétoencéphalographie Boulet-Craig, Aubrée 08 1900 (has links) La mémoire à court terme visuelle (MCTv) est un système qui permet le maintien temporaire de l’information visuelle en mémoire. La capacité en mémoire à court terme se définit par le nombre d’items qu’un individu peut maintenir en mémoire sur une courte période de temps et est limitée à environ quatre items. Il a été démontré que la capacité en MCTv et les habiletés mathématiques sont étroitement liées. La MCTv est utile dans beaucoup de composantes liées aux mathématiques, comme la résolution de problèmes, la visualisation mentale et l’arithmétique. En outre, la MCTv et le raisonnement mathématique font appel à des régions similaires du cerveau, notamment dans le cortex pariétal. Le sillon intrapariétal (SIP) semble être particulièrement important, autant dans la réalisation de tâches liées à la MCTv qu’aux habiletés mathématiques. Nous avons créé une tâche de MCTv que 15 participants adultes en santé ont réalisée pendant que nous enregistrions leur activité cérébrale à l’aide de la magnétoencéphalographie (MEG). Nous nous sommes intéressés principalement à la composante SPCM. Une évaluation neuropsychologique a également été administrée aux participants. Nous souhaitions tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle l’activité cérébrale aux capteurs pariéto-occipitaux pendant la tâche de MCTv en MEG sera liée à la performance en mathématiques. Les résultats indiquent que l’amplitude de l’activité pariéto-occipitale pendant la tâche de MCTv permet de prédire les habiletés mathématiques ainsi que la performance dans une tâche de raisonnement perceptif. Ces résultats permettent de confirmer le lien existant entre les habiletés mathématiques et le fonctionnement sous-jacent à la MCTv. / Visual short-term memory (VSTM) is a memory system that permits the temporary retention of visual information. Short-term memory capacity can be defined by the amount of information that an individual can remember over a short period of time and is limited to about four items. It was shown that VSTM capacity and mathematical abilities are closely related. VSTM is useful for a lot of components linked to mathematical skills like word problem solving, mental visualisation and arithmetic. Moreover, VSTM and mathematical reasoning activate similar brain regions, mainly within the parietal cortex. The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) appears to be particularly important both in the realization of VSTM tasks and mathematical reasoning tasks. We created a VSTM task which 15 healthy adult participants completed while we recorded their brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG). We were mainly interested in the SPCM component. A neuropsychological assessment was also administrated to the participants. We wanted to verify the hypothesis stipulating that cerebral activity recorded at parieto-occipital sensors during the VSTM task should be linked to performance in mathematics. The results indicate that parieto-occipital activity during the VSTM tasks predicted mathematical abilities as well as performance on a perceptive reasoning task. These results confirmed the link existing between mathematical abilities and VSTM functioning. mémoire à court terme visuelle capacité en mémoire à court terme magnétoencéphalographie habiletés mathématiques attention visuelle vitesse de traitement visual short-term memory short-term memory capacity magnetoencephalography event-related magnetic fields mathematical abilities visual attention processing speed
766	L'expérience de parents expertisés en matière de garde d'enfant et de droits d'accès Dessureault, Diane 08 1900 (has links) La présente étude porte sur l’expérience vécue par les parents pendant une expertise en matière de garde d’enfant et de droits d’accès. Elle vise une meilleure compréhension de l’expérience des parents qui rencontrent un expert pour l’évaluation de leurs capacités parentales au nom du meilleur intérêt de leur enfant. Elle souhaite provoquer une réflexion des intervenants des milieux social et juridique sur les pratiques d’expertise, sur leur éthique et sur leur renouvellement. Il s’agit d’une étude qualitative de nature exploratoire. Les données proviennent d’entrevues semi-dirigées réalisées auprès de vingt parents, dix mères et dix pères. Ces parents ont été évalués par les experts du Service d’expertise psychosociale du Centre jeunesse de Montréal. L’analyse des données recueillies a été réalisée à partir de l’approche phénoménologique et de la méthode d’analyse de contenu. Les résultats permettent d’observer qu’en participant à une expertise psychosociale, les parents sont confrontés à un haut niveau de risque dans une relation de pouvoir avec l’expert où ils aspirent à être reconnus compétents en conformité avec la norme sociale régissant le meilleur intérêt de l’enfant. Le tiers des parents rencontrés ont été satisfaits de leur expérience, ce qui les a validés dans leur perception de la réalité ou restaurés dans leur dignité. Les deux tiers des parents rencontrés ont été insatisfaits de leur expérience, ce qui a confirmé leurs craintes quant aux comportements inadéquats de l’autre parent et alimenté une perte de confiance envers le système de justice. Ils ont eu l’impression d’avoir été invalidés et ont développé de l’amertume contre l’expert qui n’a pas répondu à leurs attentes et n’a pas su capter correctement, selon eux, leur dynamique familiale. Cette étude permet de comprendre l’importance primordiale pour le parent de la conservation ou de la restauration de sa dignité parentale. Par ailleurs, elle soulève la question du savoir-être et du savoir-faire des experts. La teneur critique des propos des parents face à certains experts oblige à une réflexion sérieuse sur les attitudes et les pratiques des experts en matière de garde d’enfant et de droits d’accès. / This study focuses on the experience of parents who have undergone an expertise in child custody and access rights. It seeks a better understanding of the experience lived by parents who meet with an expert to assess their parenting skills in regard with the best interest of their child. It aims to prompt stakeholders in the social and legal practices of expertise to reflect on their ethics and the improvement of their practices. This is an exploratory qualitative study. The data come from semi-directed interviews conducted with twenty parents, including ten mothers and ten fathers. These parents were evaluated by experts of the Service d'expertise psychosociale du Centre jeunesse de Montréal. Data analysis was carried out using the phenomenological approach and the method of content analysis. Results indicate that by participating in a psychosocial evaluation, parents are faced with a high level of risk in a power relationship with the expert, in which they aspire to be recognized as competent in accordance with social norms governing the best interest of their child. A third of the interviewed parents were satisfied with their experience, which has validated their perception of reality or restored their dignity. Two thirds of interviewed parents were however dissatisfied with their experience, which confirmed their fears about the inappropriate behaviour of the other parent and aggravated a loss of confidence in the justice system. These parents had the impression of having been invalidated and have developed some bitterness against the expert who did not meet their expectations and did not properly grasp, according to them, the family dynamics. This study helps understand the paramount importance for parents to preserve or restore their parental dignity. It also raises questions on the competency and adequacy of the experts. The critical views of the expertise that many parents shared emphasize the necessity for the experts to seriously hreview their attitude and practices in child custody and access rights. Expertise psychosociale Garde d'enfant Droits d'accès Parent Expert Relation de pouvoir Risque Norme Meilleur intérêt de l'enfant Capacités parentales Psychosocial expertise Child custody Access rights Parent Expert Hierarchical relationship Risk Norm The best interest of the child Parental abilities
767	Réorganisation neurofonctionnelle permettant le maintien des habiletés d’évocation lexicale lors du vieillissement Marsolais, Yannick 12 1900 (has links) Le maintien de performances cognitives optimales au cours du vieillissement a été associé à des changements adaptatifs au niveau de l’activité cérébrale relative à diverses habiletés qui tendent à décliner avec l’âge. Peu d’études ont toutefois évalué cette réorganisation neurofonctionnelle dans le cadre des habiletés de communication, notamment en ce qui concerne le langage expressif. Or, considérant que plusieurs composantes langagières demeurent généralement intègres chez les aînés, il s’avère nécessaire d’explorer davantage les mécanismes cérébraux sous-jacents afin de mieux cerner les déterminants du vieillissement cognitif réussi. L’objectif de la présente thèse est d’examiner en détail les effets de l’âge sur les patrons d’activations et les interactions fonctionnelles entre les substrats neuraux contribuant aux habiletés de communication expressive. Deux études en neuroimagerie fonctionnelle, ayant recours à des approches méthodologiques distinctes, ont ainsi été menées à l’aide d’un paradigme mixte novateur et d’une tâche auto-rythmée d’évocation lexicale sémantique et orthographique, effectuée par des participants jeunes et âgés présentant plusieurs années de scolarisation. S’intéressant spécifiquement aux patrons d’activations associés à un rendement élevé à cette tâche, la première étude révèle que le maintien des habiletés d’évocation lexicale lors du vieillissement s’accompagne de changements neurofonctionnels superficiels chez les adultes âgés performants. Par contre, la seconde étude indique que les interactions fonctionnelles entre les régions corticales contribuant aux productions lexicales déclinent considérablement avec l’âge, sans qu’il y ait toutefois d’impact au plan comportemental. Cet effet du vieillissement sur l’intégration fonctionnelle du réseau de l’évocation sémantique et orthographique est aussi exacerbé par la difficulté de la tâche, ce qui s’exprime par des perturbations locales de la connectivité fonctionnelle. Somme toute, cette thèse démontre qu’une réorganisation neurofonctionnelle afin de maintenir les habiletés d’évocation lexicale au cours du vieillissement s’avère superflue chez les adultes âgés instruits et performants, et ce, malgré une diminution des interactions fonctionnelles au sein des réseaux corticaux sous-jacents. Ces résultats reflètent possiblement une perte d’efficience neurale avec l’âge, toutefois insuffisante pour avoir un impact comportemental chez des individus bénéficiant de facteurs de protection susceptibles de favoriser le vieillissement réussi, ce qui est discuté à la lumière du concept de réserve cognitive. / The maintenance of optimal cognitive performance in aging has been associated with adaptive changes in cerebral activation patterns for various abilities that tend to decline with age. Yet, few studies have investigated this neurofunctional reorganization based on communication abilities, particularly with regard to the expressive side of language. Considering that a number of language components usually remain well preserved in older adults, it is, however, necessary to further explore the underlying cerebral mechanisms to better understand the determinants of successful cognitive aging. The objective of this thesis is to examine in detail the effects of aging on activation patterns and functional interactions among neural substrates contributing to expressive communication abilities. Two functional neuroimaging studies, using distinct methodological approaches, have been conducted by means of an innovative mixed design and an overt self-paced semantic and orthographic verbal fluency task, performed by well-educated young and older adults. Specifically focusing of cerebral activation patterns associated with high levels of verbal fluency performance, the first study shows that the relative preservation of lexical speech production abilities in aging is characterized by marginal neurofunctional changes in high-performing older adults. Yet, the second study indicates that functional interactions between cortical areas contributing to speech productions significantly decrease with age, without, however, having an impact at the behavioral level. In addition, this effect of aging on the functional integration of the network engaged during semantic and orthographic verbal fluency was found to be exacerbated by task demands, which is expressed by local functional connectivity disruptions. In sum, this thesis demonstrates that a neurofunctional reorganization to maintain lexical speech production abilities in aging is unnecessary in well-educated and high-performing older adults, despite an age-related decrease in functional networks integration. These results may reflect a loss of neural efficiency with age, although insufficient to have behavioral outcomes in individuals who benefited from protective factors known to promote successful aging, which is discussed in light of the concept of cognitive reserve. réorganisation neurofonctionnelle vieillissement normal langage expressif habiletés de communication évocation lexicale fluence verbale connectivité fonctionnelle réseaux langagiers functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofunctional reorganization normal aging expressive language communication abilities lexical speech productions verbal fluency functional connectivity language networks
768	Psychodiagnostika v personální psychologii: kompetenční přístup při výběru zaměstnanců v hotelovém průmyslu / Psychological testing in personnel psychology: competency-based selection of hospitality leaders Šafr, Martin January 2010 (has links) This thesis deals with one of the most debated topics of the Personnel Psychology - the personnel selection. The aim of the thesis is to provide an exhaustive overview of the designing process of the selection procedures with special attention being paid to the various methods of selecting employees. Attention was primarily paid to the effort that the knowledge of the otherwise common methods of selecting employees be put in the new framework and the latest ways of their application. Particular emphasis has been put upon the new approaches to the method of interview, cognitive abilities testing, detection of individual personality at work and new methods in designing assessment centers. An interesting chapter is the use of emotional factors as selection criteria and the application of the attachment theory to work. Considerable extent of the thesis is also devoted to the methods of job analysis and competency modeling, their comparison and applications. Based on the previous theoretical treatise the empirical part attempts at creating a competency model for senior executives in the hotel industry and proposes possible ways of its practical use.
769	Hudebně didaktický a psychologický odkaz Františka Sedláka / Heritage of František Sedlák Within Disciplines of Didactics of Music Education and Music Psychology Dolejšová, Petra January 2011 (has links) TITLE: The Heritage of František Sedlák within Disciplines of Didactics of Music Education and Music Psychology. SUMMARY: The thesis deals with life and work of František Sedlák, who is known as a teacher, musicologist, choir conductor and musician. The objective of the thesis is to provide Sedlák's biography and give a thorough overview of all his publications. In his articles, papers and other publications, he writes mainly about musical development of a child, musical abilities and skills, psychology of music, problems of children's singing and didactics of music at primary schools. A separate chapter is dedicated to authentic memories of Sedlák's colleagues, which were collected specially for the purpose of this thesis. There is a CD appended to the thesis, where nearly all Sedlák's articles published in various professional journals can be found together with a few pictures from his life. KEYWORDS: František Sedlák, musical development of a child, didactics of music at primary schools, psychology of music, modernization of music education, problems of children's singing, musical abilities and skills.
770	A engenharia sob a ótica dos pré-universitários e o impacto das feiras de ciências. / Engineering through pre-university student\'s eyes and the impact of science fairs. Depieri, Adriana Anunciatto 11 December 2014 (has links) Um mundo em mudanças, com necessidades crescentes de soluções globais de ciência e tecnologia para seus problemas, faz da demanda por cientistas e engenheiros uma questão importante para a competitividade e o desenvolvimento econômico e social de qualquer país. Jovens devem ser cada vez mais motivados e preparados na educação básica para proporcionar à sociedade não só mais, mas melhores estudantes universitários e profissionais de engenharia. Assim, conhecer as atitudes, pensamentos, opiniões e percepções dos pré-universitários em relação à engenharia é de fundamental importância para atuar no aumento do contingente de futuros engenheiros e para predizer sua persistência na área. Por ser no ensino médio que os jovens fazem as primeiras escolhas sobre suas carreiras, a participação no desenvolvimento de projetos investigativos e na apresentação em feiras de ciências parece desempenhar importante papel não só nessa decisão, mas no desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências indispensáveis ao sucesso em qualquer carreira profissional, principalmente para a engenharia. Para conhecer e analisar o universo dos estudantes do ensino médio, neste contexto, foram aplicados questionários em cinco situações de pesquisa, cujo público alvo eram jovens pré-universitários, envolvidos ou não com atividades de feiras de ciências, e, em uma sexta situação, aos professores. Com base nos dados deste trabalho, os jovens, de forma geral, apresentaram atitudes e percepções positivas em relação à engenharia e aos engenheiros, independente do gênero, da idade, do tipo de escola e do tipo de ensino médio que frequentam. No entanto, os estudantes envolvidos com o desenvolvimento de projetos investigativos e participação em feiras de ciências revelaram atitudes mais positivas e mais autoconfiança do que os não envolvidos. A intenção de cursar engenharia se mostrou em alta para todas as situações de pesquisa, principalmente nas áreas de civil e elétrica. Além disso, tanto os jovens como os professores reconheceram nas atividades de desenvolvimento de projetos investigativos e de participação de feiras de ciências, oportunidades para o aperfeiçoamento de habilidades e competências necessárias para o sucesso profissional no mundo globalizado. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida para conhecer e analisar esse universo do ensino médio em relação à engenharia com a intenção de fornecer subsídios para atuar no aumento do contingente de futuros engenheiros e para predizer sua persistência na área. Além disso, espera-se que os resultados dessa pesquisa possam, ainda, contribuir e subsidiar a elaboração de programas e propostas para mudanças no ensino médio, a fim de atender às necessidades de despertar, desenvolver e aperfeiçoar as novas habilidades e competências impostas pelo século XXI. / A changing world, with increasing needs of global science and technology solutions, makes the demand for scientists and engineers a major issue for competitiveness and economic and social development of any country. Young people should be increasingly motivated and prepared in K-12 education in order to provide society with not only more, but better undergraduate students and engineering professionals. Thus, the knowledge of attitudes, thoughts, opinions and perceptions of preuniversity students regarding engineering is crucial to act on increasing the number of future engineers and to predict their persistence in the area. Because it is in high school that young people make their first choices about careers, participating in the development of science research projects and presentation at science fairs may play an important role not only in this decision, but in the development of essential skills and competencies to succeed in any career, especially in engineering. To understand and analyze the universe of high school students, in this context, questionnaires were applied in five research situations, whose target audience were young pre-university students, involved or not in science fair activities, and in another situation with teachers. Based on this research data, , young people had positive attitudes and perceptions towards engineering and engineers, regardless of gender, age, type of school and type of high school course attended. However, students involved with the development of research projects and participation in science fairs showed more positive attitudes and more self-confidence than those not involved. The intention of studying engineering was high in all research situations, particularly in the areas of civil and electrical engineering. Furthermore, both youth and teachers recognized in the activities related to the development of research projects and participation in science fair, opportunities to develop skills and competencies necessary for professional success in a globalized world. This research was conducted to understand and analyze the universe of secondary education students related to engineering and engineers with the intention to support future actions on increasing the number of future engineers and to predict their persistence in the area. Moreover, it is expected that results of this research may also contribute to and support the development of governmental programs and proposals for high school curricula changes in in order to meet the needs of awakening, developing and enhancing new XXI century skills and competencies. Abilities Atitudes Attitudes Competências Educação científica Educação em engenharia Educação para a engenharia Education to engineering Engenharia Engineering Engineering education Estudantes de Ensino Médio Feiras de ciências Habilidades High school students High school teachers Percepção Perception Professores de Ensino Médio Science fairs Scientific Education Skills

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