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    Living Heritage and Knowledge Dialogue: Intercultural Revitalization of Muleteering as a Strategy for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Saraguro, Ecuador
    (MDPI AG, 2026-07-09) ;
    Martínez-Gallego, Francesc Andreu
    ;
    Salas-Alvarez, Wilson
    ;
    Chango-Cañaveral, Patricia Marisol
    The rapid transformation of rural societies and the progressive decline of traditional livelihoods have placed numerous expressions of intangible cultural heritage at risk of disappearance. In the Saraguro territory of southern Ecuador, muleteering (arriería) historically functioned as a means of transportation, trade, and cultural exchange, facilitating the transmission of knowledge, values, and practices among generations and diverse social groups. This study examines muleteering as a form of living heritage and explores its revitalization through intercultural dialogue and the recovery of ancestral knowledge. A qualitative ethnographic approach was employed, integrating documentary analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with former muleteers, community elders, cultural leaders, and local residents. The findings indicate that muleteering contributed significantly to territorial connectivity, economic exchange, collective memory, and the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge related to mobility, animal management, and community cooperation. Participants recognized muleteering as a central element of Saraguro’s cultural identity and emphasized its role in fostering intercultural interaction and inter-generational learning. The study concludes that the revitalization of muleteering through dialogue of knowledge can contribute to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, strengthening cultural continuity, and supporting culturally sustainable development in indigenous territories. © 2026 by the authors.
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    Validation of an Emotional Model in Programming Learning in the University Context
    (Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026) ; ;
    Sabando-García, Ángel Ramón
    ;
    Programming learning in higher education constitutes a complex academic experience, characterized by continuous cycles of problem solving, trial and error, feedback, and performance assessment. Beyond cognitive demands, affective and motivational factors are involved, influencing students’ persistence, engagement, and self-regulation. In this context, the aim of this study was to conduct the initial validation of an emotional model for programming learning in a university population through structural equations. The model was structured into five latent factors: academic emotions, motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic), emotional self-perception, the emotional climate of the educational environment, and emotional engagement. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design was implemented with a sample of 159 university students enrolled in programming courses in Ecuador. Data were collected using a 100-item online questionnaire in English (20 per dimension), with a five-point Likert scale. Analyses were conducted in SPSS and AMOS using maximum likelihood estimation, assessing sampling adequacy, internal consistency, model fit, and convergent and discriminant validity. The results showed high sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.898) and strong internal consistency of the instrument (overall α = 0.988). The model demonstrated satisfactory overall fit (CMIN/DF = 2.371) and significant covariances among factors, highlighting the associations between climate and emotional engagement and between motivation and emotional engagement. Convergent validity was adequate; however, discriminant analysis suggested high proximity between some constructs, which may reflect conceptual overlap at this initial stage. The model provides robust psychometric evidence for characterizing emotional dimensions linked to programming learning. Future work should refine and reduce items, evaluate model stability across other samples, and strengthen discrimination among factors to optimize its application in real-world university teaching contexts. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
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    Smart Learning for Dyscalculia: Cognitive Support with a Pedagogical Approach
    This study explores the impact of the cognitive rehabilitation of dyscalculia, assessing its effectiveness in improving mathematical competencies and its potential as a complementary tool in educational and therapeutic settings. Preliminary results suggest a significant improvement in numerical performance, highlighting the importance of technology in inclusive education. Smart Learning for Dyscalculia represents an innovative pedagogical approach that combines adaptive technologies with inclusive educational strategies to support learners who experience persistent difficulties in mathematical cognition. Dyscalculia often affects numerical processing, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills, leading to increased anxiety and reduced confidence in formal learning contexts. To address these challenges, Smart Learning environments integrate intelligent tutoring systems, interactive applications, and serious games designed to provide personalized guidance, real-time feedback, and dynamic scaffolding. From a pedagogical perspective, this approach emphasizes student-centered learning by recognizing individual rhythms, strengthening working memory, and promoting motivation through gamification and challenge-based tasks. Immediate feedback and progressive difficulty levels foster critical thinking, while reducing frustration and promoting a sense of achievement. The role of the teacher remains essential, as educators act as facilitators who interpret data from smart systems, adapt strategies, and provide socio-emotional support to ensure equitable learning outcomes. This cognitive support framework not only leverages technology to mitigate mathematical learning barriers, but also advances inclusive education by aligning innovation with pedagogical intentionality. Ultimately, Smart Learning for Dyscalculia contributes to the development of essential mathematical competencies, ensuring that students with diverse needs can participate fully and effectively in academic and everyday contexts. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
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    Analysis of Age to First Calving in Ecuadorian Charolais Cattle Using Linear and Survival Models
    (Springer Nature Switzerland, 2026)
    Cartuche-Macas, Luis Favian
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    Lozada-Rivadeneira, Edwin
    ;
    ;
    Vargas-Jurado, Napo-león
    The Charolais breed has successfully adapted to the Amazonian conditions of Ecuador. The implementation of reproductive and molecular biotechnologies has positioned this breed as the most genetically significant for improvement programs in the region. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for age at first calving (AFC) under Normal and survival models. Data included animals born between 2010 and 2021, with calving records spanning from 2012 to 2024. The total number of records was 700 after editing. Sire and animal models were considered for the analysis of AFC. The mean AFC was 3.44 years with a standard deviation of 1.19 years. Contemporary group had a significant effect on AFC, but type of cross and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer status had no impact. Under normality assumptions, heritability estimates ranged from 0.17 to 0.21 for sire and animal models, respectively. On the other hand, for the Weibull survival model heritability ranged from 0.45 to 0.74 for sire and animal model, respectively. Estimates for the sire and animal models under Normal assumptions were similar to those reported in literature and thus suggest appropriate model fit. This constitutes an additional step into routine genetic evaluation in Ecuadorian beef cattle. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
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    Sustainable Tourism in the Galapagos Islands: Strategies and Challenges for Conserving Natural Heritage and Tourism for Adults
    (2025) ;
    Patricia Marisol Chango-Cañaveral
    ;
    ;
    Mónica Consuelo Sarauz
    This research emphasizes the significance of the Galapagos Islands as a unique tourist destination with exceptional biodiversity and valuable natural heritage for adult tourists. It explores how adventurous tourists of different ages, particularly older adults, have become a crucial source of economic income and a catalyst for the development of local communities. The study also discusses the importance of implementing sustainable tourism practices to protect fragile ecosystems and the islands’ endemic biodiversity. It also addresses challenges such as the introduction of alien species, the impact of increasing tourism demand on resources and infrastructure, and the crucial need for a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. The research examines how sustainable tourism has significantly benefitted local communities, not only in terms of employment generation but also in promoting environmental awareness and community participation, instilling hope and optimism for a sustainable, prosperous future. The research concludes by emphasizing the need for a holistic and adaptive approach to ensure that the Galapagos Islands remain a model of sustainable tourism, protecting its natural heritage and ensuring a sustainable, prosperous future for its inhabitants and adult tourists.
      25
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    Cloud Computing Platforms to Improve Shuar Chicham Writing Skills
    (2024) ;
    Patricia Marisol Chango-Cañaveral
    ;
    ;
    Washikiat Pedro Tsere-Juma
    Higher education through virtual environments is centered on the student, oriented towards interactive learning, in situations that are close to the real world, for which teachers require new communicative, non-verbal skills and an innovative approach to learning, which will accompany their students. Students in the complex process of acquiring even more knowledge of a non-native language. In the same context, the use of open-source technology platforms is becoming the best way to deliver solutions that meet the current need for the process of acquiring an ancestral language, so in this document we will focus on the analysis and use of Cloud Computing Tools as an alternative to complementary material to improve writing skills in the process of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) in our case Shuar Chicham. Likewise, teachers should not focus only on online learning but also on interaction with students as Gibson (1993) states; thus, innovative technologies must be means that help reduce the digital technological gap, allowing solutions, answers and agile questions to be given within the teaching-learning process, which is visible with the use of cloud computing tools. Therefore, using cloud computing tools it was proposed to demonstrate if writing skills can be improved in students who learned Shuar Chicham basic.
      21
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    Technology-Mediated Collaborative Strategies Among Online University Students
    This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of collaborative teaching strategies mediated by digital technologies among online university students. The research was conducted with a sample of 256 participants, divided into an experimental group and a control group. While both groups used technological resources, only the experimental group engaged in structured collaborative strategies using tools such as Genially, Kahoot, Canva, Padlet, and Wordwall, within the framework of the Cátedra Integradora course. The results revealed a significant improvement in the academic performance of the experimental group, with an average increase of 27.4%, compared to 13.2% in the control group. Furthermore, the teacher's perception highlighted higher levels of student engagement, motivation, and collaboration among those who actively participated in the strategies. These findings demonstrate that the intentional use of educational technologies with a collaborative focus fosters active, participatory, and meaningful learning, while also strengthening socio-emotional skills and improving academic achievement in virtual higher education settings. © 2025 IEEE.
      23
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    Macrophotography of Moths as an Educational Tool to Promote Tourism and Culture in the Parish of Chonta Punta, Napo, Ecuador for Older People
    (2025) ;
    Xavier Andres Barnuevo-Solís
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    Patricia Marisol Chango-Cañaveral
    ;
    Wilson Teodomiro Salas-Alvarez
    ;
    Alfonso David Jiménez-Arias
    Macrophotography is proving to be an educational tool for capturing details of the objects photographed, particularly to reveal the amazing variety of colors and shapes that characterize moths. In this sense, it is a tool that can well promote entomotourism in the community of Chonta Punta, located in the province of Napo—Ecuador for older people. Moth activity was documented during 17 nightly monitoring sessions at three randomly selected locations in the Yachana Foundation, Agua Santa. 4497 images were taken, and 395 species were identified. The usefulness of macrophotography in revealing useful information about insects was documented and supported by a systematic literature review. The literature review revealed that primary forests harbor moth species absent from eucalyptus plantations. Reporting on these insects demonstrates their potential as attractions within entomotourism, as well as their role as indicators of forest health. The country has untapped potential to turn moth diversity into a tourist attraction. Examples such as the butterfly farms in Mindo, just 2 h from Quito, are clear evidence of the interest butterflies generate among visitors. In addition, experiences such as visiting bioluminescent worms in New Zealand present insects as an attraction. In the context of this research, macrophotography is positioned as an indispensable tool for the identification of insects, allowing a detailed study of their morphology and unique characteristics, as a basis for the development of cultural and tourist proposals around these insects.
      17
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    Artificial Intelligence and Gastronomic Tourism: A New Frontier for Culinary Experiences
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key driver of innovation in the gastronomic tourism industry, significantly transforming traveler experiences and optimizing business operations. In customer service, AIpowered tools such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and intelligent video call systems-fueled by Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning-offer fast, accurate, and tailored responses that enhance user satisfaction and reduce wait times. From a security and risk management perspective, AI enhances surveillance systems at gastronomic destinations by analyzing real-time data from sensors and cameras. This capability supports early threat detection, the identification of suspicious behaviors, and the implementation of preventive measures, ensuring safer environments for tourists. Moreover, AI enables hyperpersonalized travel experiences through the analysis of large datasets. Predictive analytics and advanced market segmentation allow businesses to provide highly targeted culinary recommendations based on travelers' preferences and behavioral patterns. This strengthens customer loyalty and competitive differentiation. AI not only streamlines operational efficiency within gastronomic tourism but also elevates the quality, personalization, and safety of the services provided. As its adoption continues to grow, AI represents a strategic opportunity to enhance sustainability and innovation in the sector, positioning itself as a cornerstone of modern tourism development. © 2025 IEEE.
      15
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    Shuar Cosmovision in the Teaching and Learning Process in Palora Country
    (2025) ;
    Xavier Andrés Barnuevo-Solís
    ;
    Julio Cesar Amaguaya-Mendoza
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    Patricia Marisol Chango-Cañaveral
    ;
    Eduardo Bladimir Aguirre-Maldonado
    This research explores the importance of ancestral knowledge, such as myths, which are transmitted orally in different families in cultural communities. However, this knowledge combined with popular knowledge can also be applied to education. Therefore, the objective of this work was to design a methodological strategy for ninth grade general education students through a variety of didactic resources in the fields of knowledge of language and national literature and knowledge of language and literature spanish. The work is based on the popular myth of the community “Shakaim/The God of Work”, in which morals and moral values are taught, incorporating popular knowledge, such as reading comprehension
      10