It has been an honour to chair the panel that has judged the doctoral thesis entitled “A trivium for the 21st century”, defended by Mr. Javier B. Teira and directed by Directors Pablo García Castillo and Ana de Luis Reboredo. The doctoral thesis explores in depth the challenges and the needs of today’s education and searches for a realistic response to them, especially with regard to the training of students in digital competences. It is an interdisciplinary work, since it involves the areas of Philosophy, but also Education and Computer Science.
The main contribution of the thesis is the methodological and interdisciplinary analysis (Education, Philosophy, Computer Science) of the potential of Trivium to face 21st century educational challenges, paying special attention to those concerning the impact of digital technology, and also to the new competences associated with thinking, social, communication and emotional skills.
The thesis presents relevant contributions, highlighting Sommers’ analysis of logic as a way of connecting the sciences of speech and the development of digital skills.
The initial hypothesis has been proven in the teaching experiences of the doctoral student, demonstrating the potential of the proposed model. The bibliographic review is updated, accurate and includes the major studies carried out in this field.
It has been a truly magnificent event. It has been an honour to be on the panel of a faculty with more than 800 years of history and a pleasure, not only because of the quality of the doctoral theses, but also because of the many things that fellow panellists, Professor Mercedes Gonzalez Sanmamed, from the University of A Coruña and Jose Manuel Chillón Lorenzo from the University of Valladolid, have taught us.
Congratulations Javier and congratulations to your thesis directors Ana and Pablo.
Juan M. Corchado 