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- Collaborative learning and use of digital tools: Impacts on University students’ learning motivation and satisfactionPublication . Silva, Osvaldo; Sousa, ÁureaABSTRACT: Collaborative learning is widely recognised as a pedagogical approach that enhances students’ active engagement, supports the co-construction of knowledge, and improves learning outcomes in higher education. The growth of digital and hybrid teaching has expanded opportunities to integrate online collaborative tools, enabling more flexible interaction, communication, and resource sharing, even across geographical distances. However, the effectiveness of these tools depends not only on their technical affordances but also on how they are perceived and adopted by students. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) therefore offers a robust framework for understanding the factors that shape students’ acceptance, motivation, and satisfaction when using educational technologies. In the university context, collaborative learning has been associated with improved critical thinking, stronger cognitive and emotional engagement, shared responsibility, and increased intrinsic motivation. This study examines how collaborative learning supported by online tools influences university students’ learning motivation and satisfaction, integrating key TAM variables, namely perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU), using a PLS-SEM approach. Data were collected from 752 Portuguese students through a validated questionnaire including nine constructs and sociodemographic variables. All nineteen hypotheses were supported (thirteen direct and six indirect effects). Findings show that attitude strongly predicts perceived enjoyment and satisfaction, and that learning motivation is a powerful determinant of learning satisfaction. Perceived ease of use also strongly enhances learning motivation, while collaborative learning exerts significant positive effects on multiple outcomes. The use of online collaborative tools mediates the relationships between collaborative learning, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and both learning motivation and satisfaction. Overall, combining collaborative learning with user-friendly digital tools leads to higher levels of motivation and satisfaction among university students. Careful instructional design, robust technological support, appropriate training, and the provision of clear guidance materials are essential for higher education institutions seeking to maximise the benefits of digital collaborative learning.
- How students feel and behave in Statistics: Predicting procrastination and performancePublication . Silva, Osvaldo; Sousa, Áurea; IATEDABSTRACT: Statistics education plays a crucial role in the development of scientific literacy across diverse academic fields, yet many university students experience difficulties associated with low self-efficacy, anxiety, and negative attitudes towards statistics. These affective and motivational factors influence engagement, procrastination, and academic performance, forming a complex network of relationships that remains underexplored in integrated models. This study examined the effects of self-efficacy, statistics anxiety, attitudes towards statistics, engagement in statistics, procrastination, and perceived academic performance using a structural equation modelling approach (PLS-SEM). A sample of 668 Portuguese university students completed a questionnaire comprising these six validated constructs and some sociodemographic variables. Of the twelve hypotheses tested, seven were supported—five direct effects and two indirect effects. Statistics anxiety had a strong positive impact on procrastination, while more favourable attitudes towards statistics significantly reduced anxiety and enhanced engagement and perceived academic performance. Procrastination negatively affected academic performance. Additionally, attitudes influenced performance indirectly through sequential mediation by anxiety and procrastination, and procrastination mediated the impact of anxiety on performance. These findings highlight the central role of attitudes, the detrimental effects of anxiety, and the behavioural consequences of procrastination in shaping students’ learning outcomes. The study underscores the need for pedagogical strategies that foster positive attitudes, reduce anxiety, support engagement, and promote effective self-regulation in statistics education.
- A divulgação de ciência através das vidas dos seus agentes: biografias de cientistasPublication . Alves, Ana Teresa; Coordenação e edição de Ana Teresa Alves (FCSH-UAc)A divulgação de ciência pode ser e é, de facto, feita de muitas formas: através de artigos que os cientistas escrevem para revistas especializadas, através de comunicações que apresentam em congressos e outros eventos científicos, através de livros de divulgação que escrevem para públicos menos especializados, através de rubricas publicadas em jornais, como esta que estás a ler, entre muito outras possibilidades. Uma delas é através das biografias de cientistas. As biografias são textos que relatam a vida de uma pessoa, geralmente desde a sua infância até, se escritas depois de a pessoa em causa já tiver morrido, à sua morte.
- O impacto económico da Covid-19 nas Microentidades da Região Autónoma da MadeiraPublication . Silva, Alison Michel Ramos da; Batista, Maria da Graça Câmara; Sousa, Áurea Sandra Toledo de; Fernandes, Paulo FilipeCom características próprias de uma região insular e ultraperiférica, a economia da Região Autónoma da Madeira (RAM) depende fortemente do setor do turismo, tendo sido particularmente afetada pela pandemia da COVID-19. Considerando o peso das microentidades no tecido económico regional, totalizando 96% das empresas e quase metade dos postos de trabalho do setor privado na Região, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto económico da pandemia nas microentidades com sede na RAM e analisar as respetivas estratégias de gestão e acesso aos apoios públicos. Recorrendo a uma metodologia mista, que combinou análise documental, inquérito por questionário e entrevistas semiestruturadas, foi possível caracterizar os principais constrangimentos enfrentados, a eficácia das medidas de mitigação nacionais e regionais, e o papel da literacia financeira na capacidade de adaptação e tomada de decisão dos microempresários. Os resultados revelam um impacto económico transversal, mitigado por medidas públicas percecionadas como eficazes, apesar de barreiras no acesso. A maioria dos empresários expressou satisfação com os apoios recebidos, sobretudo pela preservação dos postos de trabalho. Verificou-se ainda um processo de recuperação económica acelerado, favorecido pela retoma do turismo, mas sem mudança estrutural significativa nos modelos de gestão, condicionada por resistência à mudança, dependência continuada dos apoios públicos e níveis baixos de literacia financeira e digital. Estes resultados permitem identificar pistas para o reforço da resiliência das microentidades, destacando a importância da capacitação técnica, da simplificação administrativa e da modernização dos processos de gestão.
- A utilização dos media sociais pela Geração Z na jornada turísticaPublication . Pereira, Jéssica da Silva; Moniz, Ana Isabel Damião de Serpa Arruda; Silva, Osvaldo Dias Lopes daO turismo tem sido um dos setores económicos com maior crescimento a nível global, impulsionado, em grande parte, pelo desenvolvimento tecnológico dos media sociais, que atuam como facilitadores desse progresso. Estas plataformas desempenham um papel fulcral na promoção dos destinos e na tomada de decisão dos viajantes, ao longo de todas as fases da jornada turística. Esta investigação teve como propósito compreender a utilização dos media sociais pelos turistas da Geração Z, nas cinco fases da jornada turística. Inserido no âmbito do marketing digital, o estudo centra-se nos media sociais enquanto canais essenciais no ecossistema online, que facilitam o acesso à informação turística, simplificam processos de logística e de reserva, e promovem a comunicação entre viajantes. A metodologia utilizada foi de natureza quantitativa, com a aplicação de um questionário online a indivíduos da Geração Z que realizaram pelo menos uma viagem, nos últimos dois anos, com estadia superior a 24 horas. A amostra contou com 100 respostas válidas, que permitiram avaliar os comportamentos, preferências e motivações relativamente ao uso dos media sociais, antes, durante e após a viagem. Os resultados revelaram que a utilização dos media sociais varia consoante a fase da jornada turística, sendo mais intensa na fase de pesquisa e planeamento, com diferenças significativas entre as fases antes, durante e após a viagem. Observou-se uma correlação positiva entre o uso dos media sociais e a partilha de conteúdos durante a viagem. A confiança nos media sociais demonstrou ser um fator relevante para a partilha de conteúdo, sobretudo no pós-viagem. Este estudo oferece contributos para o desenvolvimento de estratégias de marketing digital mais eficazes, focadas no perfil e comportamentos da Geração Z.
- Até onde podem chegar as cinzas dos vulcões dos Açores?Publication . Ramalho, Margarida; Pimentel, Adriano; Pacheco, José; Coordenação e edição de Armindo Rodrigues (FCT-UAc)As erupções vulcânicas explosivas são um dos fenómenos naturais que podem causar maior impacto económico, social e ambiental, pois possuem potencial para afectar vastas áreas terrestres, marinhas e aéreas. Estas erupções podem emitir grandes quantidades de tefra (isto é, fragmentos rochosos de origem vulcânica) e gases para a atmosfera, originando plumas eruptivas verticais que se podem elevar até cerca dos 50 km de altitude.
- New occurrence data of bryophytes and lichens from São Jorge Island (Azores, Macaronesia)Publication . Silveira, Gabriela; Gabriel, Rosalina; Elias, RuiABSTRACT: The Azorean Archipelago hosts an exceptionally rich cryptogamic flora, although several islands remain comparatively understudied. To address this gap, the present study presents records of bryophytes and lichens from São Jorge Island (SJO), based on opportunistic collections made during a MOVECLIM – Azores project expedition, from 29 July to 2 August 2014. Sampling was based on direct observation of noteworthy specimens and targeted areas with high substrate diversity and species richness. All collected material was subsequently examined and identified to species or subspecies level. Overall, the study aimed to: (i) document bryophyte and lichen species richness across major habitats; (ii) identify environmental drivers of species distribution; and (iii) increase the AZU Herbarium collection.
- Climate Change Can Generate Enemy-Free Space for Crop-Feeding HerbivoresPublication . Wyckhuys, Kris; Pozsgai, Gabor; Finch, Elizabeth; Seehausen, M. Lukas; Zhang, Wei; Gc, YubakABSTARCT: Crop-feeding herbivores reduce the world's food output by approximately 20% and climate change (CC) is bound to deepen those losses. Endemic or introduced consumer organisms (i.e., biological control agents) naturally regulate herbivore populations and secure a quarter of crop yields, but are exceptionally susceptible to CC-related disturbances. Here, we use niche modeling for 14 globally-important herbivores (or pests) to forecast how richness of the associated biological control agents of each pest—as a proxy of service strength—may alter under a CC-driven range expansion. Results show that 57%–100% of pests are bound to lose parasitoid and predator associates. The cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti may experience a 27% decline in parasitoid pressure, whereas cosmopolitan pests of cereal and horticultural crops benefit from 6% to 7% drops in predator pressure. Such ‘enemy release’ can possibly exacerbate pest-induced yield losses and threaten future harvests. Ant-pest associations change in both directions, implying that pests may either face strengthened or weakened biological control. For pests spreading towards or within food-deficit regions in the equatorial belt, parasitoid declines and increases in ant pressure are most pronounced. By exposing the fragility of biodiversity-based ecological safeguards in farmland, our work calls for urgent, integrative, and nature-friendly solutions to uphold food security under environmental change.
- Eleições PresidenciaisPublication . Moniz, João; Fontes, Paulo Vitorino; Coordenação e edição de Ana Teresa Alves (FCSH-UAc)Recentemente os portugueses foram mais uma vez chamados a escolher o mais alto magistrado da Nação, isto é, o Presidente da República. Sabes o que é que isto significa?
- The biogeography of evolutionary radiations on oceanic archipelagosPublication . Brée, Baptiste; Matthews, Thomas; Fernández-Palacios, José María; Paroissin, Christian; Triantis, Kostas; Whittaker, Robert; Rigal, FrançoisEvolutionary radiations on oceanic archipelagos (ROAs) have long served as models for understanding evolutionary and ecological processes underlying species diversification. Yet, diversity patterns emerging from ROAs have received relatively little attention from biogeographers, even though characterizing the effect of key geo-environmental factors on island clade species could be important for unraveling diversification dynamics. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis using island-specific species richness values for approximately one hundred ROAs across major oceanic archipelagos (mostly Hawaii, Canary Islands, Galápagos and Fiji) and taxa (vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrates). Our aim was to determine whether (1) ROA species richness patterns scale as a function of key geo-environmental factors including island area, geological age, environmental heterogeneity (elevation and topographic complexity) and inter-island isolation, and (2) whether the magnitude of the effects of these factors varies across archipelagos and taxa. Our results identified elevation as a key driver of ROA species richness patterns on islands, supporting existing theoretical and empirical work that highlighted the central role of environmental heterogeneity in driving diversification on oceanic islands. As importantly, we found that the influence of geo-environmental factors varies across archipelagos and taxa, suggesting that unique archipelagic dynamics and biological traits together shape diversification differently. Our findings emphasize the value of applying biogeographical modeling at the resolution of individual radiations to improve our understanding of evolutionary processes on oceanic archipelagos.