José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo

Dr. José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

35Years (1992-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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14 July 2020 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
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LELuis Espino-Díaz
Luis Espino-Díaz
GFGemma Fernández-Caminero
Gemma Fernández-Caminero
CHCarmen-Maria Hernandez-Lloret
Carmen-Maria Hernandez-Lloret
Hugo Gonzalez-GonzalezHugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Hugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
JÁJosé-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
This study analyzed the current situation of education in the context of the pandemic caused by COVID-19. The worldwide health emergency situation has caused the confinement of people and with it, the closure of centers and the transfer of face-to-face education to online education. Faced with these facts, teachers have had to adapt at a dizzying pace not only to new methodological approaches, but also to their own confinement, presenting high levels of stress. The purpose of this study is to offer a proposal that optimizes the work of education professionals in the current context of a pandemic through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) under the novel approach of the contributions of neuroeducation in the field of managing emotions and motivational processes, contributing to meaningful learning in students. The symbiosis of ICT and neuroeducation can make a great contribution to the paradigm shift that is taking place today.

8 January 2025 in European Journal of Educational Research
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LELuis Espino-Díaz
Luis Espino-Díaz
RLRocío Luque-González
Rocío Luque-González
GFGemma Fernández-Caminero
Gemma Fernández-Caminero
JÁJosé-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
This study evaluates the impact of an educational intervention strategy – Project-Based Learning (PBL) – designed to enhance university students' knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their integration into academic curricula, and their relevance for future professional and personal applications. The research is motivated by the recognised importance of the SDGs in education and the current limited integration and understanding within higher education settings. The study applied a pre-test and post-test experimental design used, involving 199 first-year students from the University of Cordoba (Spain), enrolled in Primary and Early Childhood Education programmes. The intervention comprised PBL activities aimed at increasing knowledge and perceptions of the SDGs. Data were collected using a questionnaire assessing three dimensions: knowledge of the SDGs, the importance of their inclusion in the curriculum, and the perceived relevance of applying SDG principles in professional and personal contexts. The findings indicate that the intervention strategy effectively improved, albeit partially, students' understanding and perception of the SDGs. There was a significant improvement in students' knowledge. However, regarding the perceived importance of integrating the SDGs into their curriculum and the relevance of the SDGs for their future professional and personal lives, no effects were observed. These results underscore the partial efficacy of PBL in promoting sustainability competences and global citizenship among students, suggesting the need to explore other pedagogical methodologies for greater effectiveness. The study advocates the integration of SDGs into higher education curricula to better prepare students for future challenges, emphasising the need for further research to explore the long-term impacts and broader applicability of such educational intervention.

5 May 2015 in Revista Complutense de Educación
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JÁJosé-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
MFMariana Buenestado Fernández
Mariana Buenestado Fernández
One of the main pillars in the development of inclusive schools is the initial teacher training. Before determining if it is necessary to make changes (and of what type) in training programs or curriculum guides related to the attention to diversity and inclusive education, the attitudes of future education professionals in this area should be analyzed. This includes the identification of the relevant predictors of inclusive attitudes. The research reported in this article pursued this objective, doing so with a quantitative survey methodology based on the use of cross-sectional structured data collection and statistical analyses related to the quality of the attitude questionnaire (factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha), descriptive statistics, correlations, hypothesis tests for difference of means, and regression analysis in order to predict attitudes towards inclusion in education. Firstly, the results show that the participants held very positive attitudes toward the inclusion of students with special educational needs. Particularly, older respondents, those with a longer training and, to a lesser extent, women and those who had been in touch with disabled people stood out within this attitude. Secondly, it is evidenced that self-transcendence values and, more weakly, contact, function as robust predictors of attitudes of future practitioners towards the inclusion of students with special needs. Some applications for the initial professionalization of educators are suggested in the discussion.

24 July 2019 in PLOS ONE
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MBMariana Buenestado-Fernández
Mariana Buenestado-Fernández
JÁJosé-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
Hugo Gonzalez-GonzalezHugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Hugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
LELuis Espino-Díaz
Luis Espino-Díaz
The participation of diverse demographics in higher education has risen over the last half-century; meanwhile, different political and social tiers have been assigning a more active role to institutions in terms of equality and social justice. This change in circumstances has led to the roll out of processes to institutionalise diversity outreach. This study was conducted for the clear purpose of assessing the current institutionalisation status of diversity outreach in 127 key universities from the Academic Ranking of World Universities based on the opinions of diversity outreach managers and the information published on institutional websites, in turn measuring compliance with various indicators. A qualitative analysis of the institutional statements, the goals sought through strategic plans and the definitions of diversity itself was also conducted. The evidence reveals the early stage of the institutionalisation process in universities on account of the low percentage obtained for the proposed indicators. Furthermore, the study failed to exhibit significant differences in this process in terms of the institutional ownership or position held in the ranking; however, more prominent progress was noted in the North-American region when geographical differences were taken into account, likely as a result of the historical background in the advocacy for equal opportunities. Lastly, a change of approach to the conceptualisation of diversity is suggested in favour of equality and social justice.

7 May 2020 in Social Sciences
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LELuis Espino-Díaz
Luis Espino-Díaz
JÁJosé-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
Hugo Gonzalez-GonzalezHugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Hugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
CHCarmen-Maria Hernandez-Lloret
Carmen-Maria Hernandez-Lloret
GFGemma Fernández-Caminero
Gemma Fernández-Caminero
In order to link learning and the brain, it is necessary to carry out a restructuring of pedagogical practice so that it can be linked to the contributions of Neurosciences. In this sense, Neuro-education is emerging as a new science that has as its main objective the synergy of Pedagogy, Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience, and with this, being able to bring the different educational agents the necessary resources in terms of the brain and learning binomial This article focuses on the importance of education in values, and the acquisition of prosocial behavior and how this educational field can be developed from the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). The challenge before us is to build the map of values, which make the individual a fulfilled being and, in turn, a collaborator of the social environment. On the other hand, ICTs offer enormous potential in terms of their application in the field of education. In this article we will show the role that this type of tools can play in the learning and assimilation of values, bearing in mind the contributions of neuro-education.

31 August 2021 in Children
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Journal Article
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LELuis Espino-Díaz
Luis Espino-Díaz
GFGemma Fernández-Caminero
Gemma Fernández-Caminero
CHCarmen-Maria Hernandez-Lloret
Carmen-Maria Hernandez-Lloret
Hugo Gonzalez-GonzalezHugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
Hugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
JÁJosé-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
José-Luis Álvarez-Castillo
One of the most analyzed variables in educational research is prosocial behavior, given its relevance and its application in favor of a culture of peace, the construction of solid democratic societies and the development of social justice. For this reason, it is necessary to extend the knowledge of predictors of prosocial behavior so that they can be transferred to teaching practice. The research reported here was carried out using a quantitative methodology through a survey, based on data collection instruments, whose data were treated statistically by means of descriptive, correlational and predictive analyses. The results obtained suggest that emotional intelligence has a strong predictive capacity for prosocial behavior while executive functions show a mild-moderate predictive behavior. In the conclusions and discussion, we provide a series of arguments on some of the results obtained in contrast with previous literature, as well as incorporating limitations of the study and prospects for future research.