Fernandes, Sandra

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Fernandes

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Sandra

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Sandra Fernandes

Biography

Sandra Raquel Gonçalves Fernandes - PhD in Education Sciences, specialization in Curriculum Development, at the University of Minho. Graduate degree in Education, by the same University. She is Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Education at Universidade Portucalense, Porto, Portugal. She is the Head of the Pedagogic Innovation Office (Gabinete de Inovação Pedagógica - GIP) at Universidade Portucalense, an institutional structure aimed to promote the quality of teaching and learning through pedagogical training and teacher professional development. She is the coordinator of the new Masters in Innovation in Education, created in 2023. She coordinated the Masters in Education Administration and Management, from 2015 to 2023. She is an integrated member of Portucalense Institute of Psychology (I2P) at Portucalense University and an external collaborating member of the Research Center on Child Studies (CIEC) at the University of Minho. She is member of several national and international research projects, with public funding. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice and member of the Editorial Board of Frontiers in Education and Education Sciences (MDPI). She is a founding member and vice president of the Project Approaches in Engineering Education (PAEE) Association. Her research interests include Teacher Education, Higher Education, Curriculum Development, Education Administration and Management, Teacher Performance Assessment, Active Learning, Project-based Learning (PBL), Engineering Education, among others.

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit
CINTESIS.UPT - Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde
Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde (CINTESIS.UPT), former I2P, is an R&D unit devoted to the study of cognition and behaviour in context. With an interdisciplinary focus, namely on Education, Translational and Applied Psychology

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 83
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Avaliação da docência no Ensino Superior: Contributos para um modelo compreensivo de avaliação do desempenho
    2018 - Oliveira, Íris Martins; Mesquita, Diana; Abelha, Marta; Carvalho, Olívia da Conceição; Jesus, Paulo Renato; Fernandes, Sara M.; Leite, Jorge; Fernandes, Sandra
    Esta comunicação tem como objetivo apresentar a proposta de um projeto de investigação sobre avaliação do desempenho docente no Ensino Superior. Esta proposta surgiu da atividade de colaboração desenvolvida por um grupo de docentes da Universidade Portucalense (UPT) no contexto de uma ação de formação subordinada à temática Scholarhip of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), promovida pelo Centre for Excellence in Teaching da UPT. Este centro foi criado pela Reitoria da UPT em Maio de 2017, para potenciar o desenvolvimento de estratégias favorecedoras da reflexão e melhoria das práticas pedagógicas dos/as docentes. Neste âmbito, um dos seus objetivos consiste em promover competências que se consideram fundamentais para a inovação pedagógica e curricular por parte dos/as docentes, tais como trabalho colaborativo, capacidade de ultrapassar desafios, reflexão sobre a prática e investigação. A formação sobre SoTL, organizada em quatro sessões (3h cada), tem periodicidade mensal entre abril e julho 2018. Esta formação pretende: apresentar, discutir e analisar os princípios do SoTL; desenvolver tempos e espaços de reflexão crítica sobre a prática de ensino e das aprendizagens; bem como desenvolver e apresentar uma proposta de investigação sobre a prática pedagógica. Como o SoTL assenta numa abordagem que favorece a reflexão sobre e para a prática pedagógica, numa lógica de contínua indagação profissional (Shulman, 2000; 2011; Vieira, 2009), as sessões de formação dedicadas à temática procuram refletir esse mesmo princípio e apropriar esta metodologia para o desenvolvimento profissional dos docentes (Fanghanel, 2013). A proposta de projeto apresentada surge como resultado da aplicação da abordagem SoTL em contexto de formação e da inerente indagação da prática docente, por parte dos elementos do grupo. Em particular, a presente comunicação deriva da reflexão sobre a valorização da docência enquanto uma das funções do/a docente universitário/a. Esta tem sido uma preocupação crescente por parte das Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), que se deparam atualmente com desafios no que se refere às questões da avaliação da qualidade dos/as docentes e do ensino superior, decorrentes do Processo de Bolonha, do financiamento das IES e da garantia e certificação da Qualidade. (...)
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Aging behind bars in Portugal: A case study of a prison context
    2017-07 - Ferreira, Catarina; Ferreira-Oliveira, Ana Teresa; Santos, Conceição; Fernandes, Sandra; Miguel, Isabel
    This paper presents a study about the ageing of people under detention, based on the analysis of a prison located in the north of Portugal. Scarce studies were developed with this population and statistical data indicates the increasing number of elderly inmates in the Portuguese prison context. This paper intends to explore the perceptions of the inmates who are over 60 years old, as well as other professionals who interact daily with this population. The research is a case study with a qualitative approach. Data collection includes semi-structured interviews to prisoners, the prison director, guards, health professionals, reeducation professionals, etc. For the purpose of this paper, only results from interviews to prisoners will be analyzed (n=11). Ethical issues and procedures were carefully considered during all phases of the research plan. The results intend to contribute to a greater comprehension of the ageing phenomena behind bars and the imprisonment experiences lived by elderly prisoners, including adaptation to prison as well as resocialization issues, pointed out as of great importance by the Portuguese legal system frameworks. Results of this exploratory paper show a description of the social representations of elderly inmates, regarding perspectives of life trajectory without imprisonment, reasons for the crime practice and its interpretation, representation of prison admission, adaptation to prison, representation of the relationship with professionals, social representation of prison population and resocialization and age.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Student´s role in the Implementation of a Lean Teaching and Learning Model
    2016-07 - Dinis-Carvalho, José; Fernandes, Sandra
    This paper presents a pilot study based on the application of lean concepts to teaching and learning in higher education. It is based on findings carried out within an optional course called "Lean Enterprise", which is part of the 5th year of the Integrated Masters degree program of Industrial Engineering and Management (IME), at the University of Minho, Portugal. The study aims to discuss students’ active role in the improvement of teaching and learning. The main structure of the methodology used is based on the implementation of PDCA cycles of continuous improvement in each class. A set of standards were created at the start to make the continuous improvement effective. One of the standards created was the standard structure for the class. The classes followed a pattern established of 100 minutes per class, with a defined instant to start and a defined instant to finish. At the end of every class (total of 12 sessions), the students were asked to give feedback about the class performance. Data collection was based on online questionnaires to students, applied at the end of each class (for process evaluation) and also at the end of the conclusion of the course (overall evaluation). Findings based on students’ perceptions suggest that the model applied was useful and contributed to improve teaching and learning, showing that students´ play a very important role in supporting teachers with feedback about course planning, delivery and assessment. Implications of the application of this model based on lean concepts to educational settings will be discussed in the paper.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    The Centre for Excellence in Teaching (CET) at Portucalense University: goals, strategies and expected outcomes
    2018-06 - Mesquita, Diana; Morais, Paula; Fernandes, Sandra; Fernandes, Sara M.; Abelha, Marta; Albuquerque, Ana Sílvia
    This paper presents part of the change process carried out at the Portucalense University (UPT), Portugal, aimed at promoting student centred teaching and learning. To attain this goal, the Centre for Excellence in Teaching (CET) was created to support academic staff development, provide pedagogic training for teachers, create pedagogical resources and enhance the dissemination of best practices and teaching quality at UPT. The preliminary results of the implementation of the activities developed by the CET reveal a positive participation and involvement of academic staff, according to data collected through an online questionnaire to participants. Teachers showed interest in developing active learning strategies and openness to change their teaching practices. Some examples of the activities implemented by teachers, in the first semester of 2017/2018, are briefly presented in this paper.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    EHIS Method©: Entrepreneurship human interaction skills
    2017 - Sousa, Cristina; Magalhães, Miguel; Costa-Lobo, Cristina; Lopes, Filomena Castro; Fernandes, Sandra
    The purpose of this paper is to describe the EHIS Method© (Entrepreneurship Human Interactions Skills), an innovative entrepreneurship teaching and learning method developed and used at the Entrepreneurship course at Portucalense University (UPT), a private higher education institution in Portugal. EHIS Method© draws on insights from the recent literature on entrepreneurship education and is applied to teach Entrepreneurship in several study programs at UPT, such as Psychology, Social Education, Tourism, Economics, Law, Management, Informatics, Management and Information Systems and Hospitality Management. The students are grouped into teams and challenged to develop an entrepreneurship project, which consists of four different steps: (1) the idea discovery/generation; (2) from the idea to the business model; (3) from the business model to the business plan; (4) from the business plan to the preparation of the application to the Net UPT (business incubator of UPT). Throughout the EHIS Method©, students have to successfully go through a variety of assessment elements, held at different times, encompassing different activities and skills and involving different types of evaluators: (a) teachers/mentors; (b) university professors and (c) potential investors.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Are perceptions of grandparenthood related to family and life satisfaction? A study with emerging adults
    2021-01-08 - Carneiro, Luísa; Fernandes, Paula; Araújo, Alexandra M.; Miguel, Isabel; Fernandes, Sandra
    Given the crucial role that grandparents play in the upbringing and well-being of their grandchildren, research regarding the perceived importance of grandparents for their emerging adult grandchildren is of particular relevance. This study examined the relations between perceived grandparents’ roles and family and life satisfaction in Portuguese emerging adults. Participants (N ¼ 387), aged 18–25, completed a structured self-report questionnaire. Findings of structural equation modeling showed that emerging adults’ perceptions of grandparental roles of counselor, enjoying the relationship, and indulgence are positively related to their family and life satisfaction. The mediation analysis showed that family satisfaction mediated the relation between perceptions of grandparents acting as counselors and the life satisfaction of emerging adult grandchildren. Implications of family relationships and grandparenting in the context of emerging adulthood are discussed.
  • PublicationRestricted Access
    Managing PBL dificulties in an Industrial Engineering and Management Programme
    2016-03 - Alves, Anabela C.; Sousa, Rui; Moreira, Francisco; Carvalho, M. Alice; Cardoso, Elisabete; Pimenta, Pedro; Malheiro, Teresa; Brito, Irene; Mesquita, Diana; Fernandes, Sandra
    Purpose: Project-Based Learning (PBL) is considered to be an active learning methodology which can be used to develop both technical and transversal competences in engineering programs. This methodology demands a great deal of work effort from the students and also from the teachers and it requires a meticulous plan and a well-managed project as well. These activities go far beyond the normal activities in traditional lectures, enabling to outpace the difficulties that spur along the way that may be both complex and demotivating. This methodology has been implemented in the Integrated Master Degree on Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM), at one public university in Portugal, since the 2004/2005 academic year. The aim of this paper is to identify and discuss the main difficulties of the implementation of PBL, mainly from the teachers’ perspectives. Additionally, some effective strategies will be recommended to overcome such difficulties. Design/methodology/approach: The perceptions of the teachers were collected through a survey based on six main themes. The participants in the study include eight teachers from the five courses of the first semester of the first year of the IEM program involved in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 editions. Findings: Integration of courses in the project; student assessment; growing number of students in each team and the need of physical spaces for them; and compartmentalized knowledge has emerged as the main difficulties. To overcome these difficulties some key strategies were recommended. Originality/value: A new perspective based on course teachers' views and experiences will deepen the understanding of the problems and provide inputs for the development of strategies that may improve the effectiveness of PBL and introduce changes for its successful implementation. These strategies are intended to be transferable to other contexts, as most of the problems and constraints are common to other active learning approaches.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Implementação de PBL no curso de Educação Social: resultados de um estudo piloto na Universidade Portucalense
    2018 - Fernandes, Sara M.; Fernandes, Sandra; Abelha, Marta; Albuquerque, Ana Sílvia
    This study aims to describe the implementation of a PBL approach in a Social Education Programme at the Portucalense University (UPT) and to analyse student's perceptions about their participation in the project, namely the main advantages and difficulties in regard to the PBL approach implemented in this context. The idea of the project emerged from the participation of the teachers in a training session about Active Learning, which provided the opportunity to development this experience. In 2017/2018, three curricular units of the 2nd year of the programme, namely, "Adult Education", "Education for Health" and "Education Mediation" developed an interdisciplinary project, based on the topic of addictive behaviours and dependencies. Students opinions were collected through a questionnaire, applied at the start and at the end of the project. The results, based on students' perceptions, suggest a positive view of the PBL experience. Student highlight creativity, problem solving skills, oral and written communication skills, project management skills, interpersonal skills and teamwork as the main skills developed during the PBL project.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    How to apply SCRUM in PBL teams
    2018 - Carvalho, José Dinis; Fernandes, Sandra
    Scrum is a project management methodology very popular in the software industry with very good results in terms of team work effectiveness. Scrum is based on important team work values such as commitment, courage, focus, openness and respect and can be described in three different dimensions: Scrum team; Scrum Events; and Scrum artefacts. This workshop aims to provide the participants with the opportunity to practice the scrum methodology. This goal will be attained by using a short project which includes similar characteristics to the typical PBL projects. The first moment of the workshop will focus on presenting the basic concepts about the Scrum methodology, its use and main features. In the second moment the participants will be actively involved in a training activity which allows them to practice Scrum in a small project. This includes the generation of a backlog, a sprint planning meeting, and at least on sprint (one iteration of the methodology). The third and last moment will be based on the discussion and reflection about the effectiveness of this methodology when applied in PBL teams. Some guidelines and tips for an effective use of Scrum in PBL teams will be available for all participants on the workshop.
  • PublicationOpen Access
    Impactful creativity: The role of entrepreneurship Education in driving sustainable development in the cultural and creative industries
    2025-02-01 - Durão, Marília; Simão, Emília; Veríssimo, Medéia; Nogueira, Sónia; Fernandes, Sandra
    The cultural and creative sector is one of the most dynamic sectors of the Portuguese economy, contributing to job creation, innovation, social development, preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of the country’s image across the globe. Entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) plays a crucial role in creating new opportunities for employment and revenue generation. Therefore, entrepreneurship education is receiving increasing attention as a means to contribute to the sustainable development of the cultural and creative sector. Underpinned on an Erasmus+ Project, FENICE ‘Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Cultural and Creative Industries through Interdisciplinary Education’, the present research contributes to the discussion on the main challenges of entrepreneurship education for the CCIs. Using a qualitative research design, this exploratory study employs a focus group with purposeful sampling as the research method. An online focus group was conducted in February 2023, with 11 participants identified as renowned professionals and experts in various cultural, artistic, and creative fields in Portugal. Preliminary results suggest that creatives are perceived, by nature, as entrepreneurial-oriented and often motivated by passion and a sense of mission. However, they also face a generalized lack of perspective on how products/services from the CCIs should be capitalized or how different monetization models may apply to them, especially when culture is perceived more as a symbolic than a capitalizable good. For many cultural and creative entrepreneurs, difficulties arise when understanding how business or project management tools can contribute to their professional growth within the CCIs.