The development of critical thinking among citizens is crucial for the advancement of humanity in a dynamic and ever-changing world. Therefore, it is essential to promote a critical understanding of the challenges we face as a society. Initially, this chapter addresses how various scholars have discussed and developed the construct of critical thinking from philosophical and cognitive psychology perspectives, with a particular emphasis on its integration into science education. Next, the ENCIC-CT model to critical thinking development is introduced. This framework was formulated during the research project that underpins this book, and guides its constituent chapters. This model proposes developing critical thinking in science education through daily life problems and includes three key domains of action: knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Each domain comprises different dimensions that can be addressed through scientific practices such as argumentation, inquiry, or modeling, using various teaching strategies including gamification/role-playing, micro-debates, augmented reality, controversy mapping, and multimedia resources such as digital storytelling, among others. This model can also be applied to the analysis and design of educational proposals in teacher training.

Through an inquiry-based approach, ninth-grade secondary students gain an understanding of how material degradation occurs in the environment, and their conclusions reveal the underlying principles of green chemistry.

Esta investigación explora el impacto de un debate sobre la elección de un producto de la vida diaria en las habilidades de argumentación y en la toma de decisiones, dimensiones importantes del pensamiento crítico, en 45 estudiantes de especialidades científicas del Máster en Profesorado de Educación Secundaria. Se presenta el caso sobre el material (acero o aluminio) que prefieren al comprar una bicicleta empleando como instrumentos un pretest y un postest sobre decisiones y argumentos de oyentes, así como sobre los informes de preparación y grabación en audio del debate. Se analizan las decisiones de los oyentes antes y después y sus posibles cambios, además de los argumentos dados, empleando una rúbrica que incluye las pruebas, la justificación y la conclusión. Tras el debate se producen progresos, estadísticamente significativos en los oyentes, con respecto al uso de argumentos con un mayor número de pruebas, una tipología más amplia de ellas y una mejor calidad de las justificaciones y conclusiones empleadas. Las mejoras son más relevantes en estudiantes de grados no afines que afines al estudio de la materia.

The paper describes an experimental study developed on the AA7075 T651, which is an aluminum alloy extensively used in the aeronautical industry. This work presents a double approach of investigation where there is no literature about previous research. This includes the analysis of the results obtained by the combination of mechanical and chemical actions on the mechanical properties of this material. On the one hand, the combinations of relevant milling parameters (feed rate, cutting speed) on flat samples (flat specimens have been selected by attempting to reproduce with the most accurate way the geometry and the type of machining process known as face milling is usually used in this manufacturing field). On the other hand, the stimulating effect of the corrosion by salt spray on selected batches of specimens was machined in the previous stage. Results from tensile tests performed on the whole of specimens allowed us to evaluate how the main mechanical properties (yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break) have been affected by the processes applied. Elongation at the break presents a reduction in an inverse order to feed a rate increase (up to 24.5%) and this reduction is extended (additional 19.17%) in specimens under corrosion conditions, which results in a greater fragility of the material.

This paper presents the analytical method capacity of the upper bound theorem, under modular approach, to extend its application possibilities. Traditionally, this method has been applied in forging processes, considering plane strain condition and parts with double symmetry configuration. However, in this study, the double symmetry is eliminated by means of a fluency plane whose position comes from the center of mass calculated. The study of the load required to ensure the plastic deformation will be focus on the profile of the part, independently on both sides of the fluence plane, modifying the number and the shape of the modules that form the two halves in which the part is defined. This way, it is possible to calculate the necessary load to cause the plastic deformation, whatever its geometric profile.