Abstract:

Digital tools for learning at the Cuajimalpa Campus of the Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico (UAM, for its acronym in spanish) are described: an educational platform (Ubicua) and a learning repository (Dialecta). The experience of developing these tools and the initial results of their implementation are described. Ubicua is a learning platform developed on the basis of a recent version of Moodle, and this development was designed taking into account a conceptual structure consistent with the educational model of the Cuajimapa Campus of the University. Accordingly, a set of dimensions were established as the platform’s underlying structure. These dimensions were: operational simplicity, usability, cognitive load, wealth of media, interactivity and sense of presence.

On the other hand, Dialecta is a web application developed at the University, which stores and makes digital material available to be used in academic processes. Among other functions, it allows users to classify work, discuss their uses, qualify them, and incorporate them into the courses created and taught through the Ubicua platform.

Both tools are linked so that from the platform, users can access and use any content in the Dialecta repository. Among other functionalities, we argue that having a repository of digital learning materials is a tool needed by the academics, in order to store, view, use and re-use the learning materials, especially when they can insert them as needed in the courses they conduct in the University. On the other hand, the platform makes possible to access the courses of others, making possible to apply the methodologies and learning contents of academic colleagues who teach similar subjects. Viewed as an integrated couple, these tools were developed and made available to the faculty of the UAM-C to foster educational support for learning technologies.

The article reports both the characteristics of these tools, their conceptual and instructional support, as well as the methodology and the results of an evaluation conducted with students and professors of the campus.

Keywords:

Learning Platforms, Digital Repositories, Collaborative Environments, Teaching Support, e-learning Dimensions.