About the Journal

Focus and Scope

The virtual journal Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las Ciencias (Góndola enseñ. aprendiz. cienc.) e-ISSN 2346-4712 - ISSN: 2665-3303 publishes original papers product of research results, documented reflection, and chronicles of experiences. According to the classification of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), such material is related to the area of knowledge of Educational Sciences, specifically to educational and research fields in the teaching and learning of natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy) and mathematics.

The journal also has the section "life stories" in which we present interviews or stories of teachers, researchers and/or students from this knowledge area. Likewise, in order to contribute to the dissemination and deepening of theoretical references that underpin research in the area, the section "reviews" is showed, in which books of interest to professors and researchers are analyzed. This material can be constituted as an object of analysis or research, as well as, material for consultation and updating.

This journal seeks to consolidate itself as a scenario of strengthening the academic community of natural science teachers both in training and in professional practice at different educational levels.

 Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las Ciencias (Góndola enseñ. aprendiz. cienc.) is published quarterly, during the months of January, May and September, respectively. 

 Geographical scope: national and international.

It can be referenced as Góndola enseñ. aprendiz. cienc.

Peer Review Process

Papers submitted for publication will be analyzed in advance by the editor and, if it corresponds to the journal scope and the format established in the guide for authors, the paper will be sent to evaluation by two academic peers through the blind evaluation. Evaluators issue their concept in accordance with the criteria established by the editorial committee. In case evaluators suggest changes and/or corrections, the paper is returned to the author(s). In the case of divergence in the concept of two academic pairs, the document is sent to a third evaluator.

Evaluator contacted by this journal to collaborate with articles evaluation does not match with the institutional affiliation of the author. In the same way, we guarantee the suitability of evaluators as experts on topics dealt with in papers, in order to contribute to the improvement in the quality of authors' production.

The journal Góndola enseñ. aprendiz. cienc. Uses the Turnitin program to guarantee texts originality.

Publication Frequency

The journal “Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias”  ("Gondola, learning and teaching of science"), is published three times per year, in January, May and September, respectively. However, as soon as articles are accepted, they will be published in a "Pre-print" version to ensure quick access to the authors' work. The file will be replaced when the whole number is closed.  We establish the number of papers published in each issue according to the quantity of manuscripts approved throughout each semester, but at least nine are published.

Open Access Policy

Góndola enseñ. aprendiz. cienc. is an open-access publication, free of charge for authors and readers. The publication, consultation or download of the contents of the magazine does not generate any cost for the authors or the readers, since the Francisco José de Caldas District University assumes the expenses related to edition, management and publication. The peer evaluators do not receive any economic retribution for their valuable contribution. The work of all the actors mentioned above is understood as a contribution to the strengthening and growth of the research community in the field of Science Education.

The contents of the journal are published under the terms of the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), under which others may distribute, remix, retouch, and create from the work in a non-commercial way, give credit and license their new creations under the same conditions.

The copyright holders are the authors and the journal Góndola enseñ. aprendiz. cienc. The holders retain all rights without restrictions, respecting the terms of the license in terms of consultation, downloading and distribution of the material.

When the work or any of its elements is in the public domain according to the applicable law in force, this situation will not be affected by the license.

Likewise, we encourage authors to deposit their contributions in other institutional and thematic repositories, with the certainty that culture and knowledge is a good of all and for all.

Ethics statement

The journal Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias is committed to the academic and practitioner communities in ensuring the ethics and integrity in the publication and quality of articles appearing in this journal, in fact, any form of plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Papers identified as plagiarism or with fraudulent content will be removed or not published. By accepting the terms and agreements expressed by the journal, authors will guarantee that article and materials linked to it, are original and do not infringe copyright. Authors must provide a letter, expressing consensus for this publication in case of a shared authorship and, at the same time, confirming that the article is not being presented to other journals or has been previously published in other physical or digital medium. Also, the journal is committed to ensuring a fair and objective review of manuscripts; reason for which it uses the system of peer review.

Declaration of best publishing practices

This document has been adapted from the document for ethical procedures and standards developed by Cambridge University Press, following the guidelines for good ethical behavior in scientific publications of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICJME) and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)

Publisher Responsibilities

Acting in a balanced, objective and fair manner without any sexual, religious, political, origin or ethical discrimination with authors, adopting regulations issued in The Political Constitution of Colombia regarding editorial ethics.

 Considering, editing and publishing academic contributions only on the basis of academic merits without regard to any commercial influence or conflict of interest.

The editor and editorial committee act in accordance with regulations, policies, and procedures established by Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas and in particular by the Agreement 023 of June 19, 2012, of the Academic Council, which regulates editorial policy to this University. In consequence, editor accepts and follows proper procedures to resolve potential complaints or ethical misunderstandings or conflict of interest.

Reviewer responsibilities

To contribute objectively to the evaluation process of manuscripts submitted to the journal Góndola, Teaching and Learning Sciences, collaborating opportunely with the improvement in the scientific quality of these original products.

Maintaining confidentiality of data provided by the publisher, editorial committee or authors, making correct use of such information by the means provided. However, it is reviewer decision to keep or copy the manuscript in the evaluation process.

Inform the publisher and the editorial committee, in a timely manner, when the content of an academic contribution include elements of plagiarism or resemble substantially other research products published or in the process of being published.

Report any potential conflict of interest with the author of an academic contribution, for example, by financial, institutional, collaborative, or other relationships. In such a case, and if necessary, withdraw their services in the evaluation of the manuscript.

 Author responsibilities

Maintain accurate records and supports of data and analysis data related to the manuscript submitted. When the editor or editorial committee, for reasonable reasons, require this information, authors must provide or facilitate access to it. At the time of being required, original data will enter a chain of custody that ensures confidentiality and protection of this information by the journal.

Confirm by a letter of originality (format pre-established by the journal) that academic contribution submitted for evaluation is not being considered or has been submitted and/or accepted for another publication. When part of the content of this contribution has been published or presented in another medium, authors must recognize and cite the respective academic sources and credits. In addition, they must submit a copy to the editor and to the editorial committee of any publication that may have content superimposed or closely related to the contribution submitted for consideration. Also, the author must recognize the respective credits of material reproduced from other sources. Items such as tables, figures or patents, which require special permission to be reproduced, must be accompanied by a letter of acceptance of reproduction signed by the holders of the respective copyright.

In research involving animals, authors must to maintain and ensure good regulatory practices and appropriate research processes.

Declare any potential conflict of interest that may exert undue influence at any point in the publication process.

Carefully review final arts of the contribution, prior to publication in the journal, reporting on any mistakes that may occur and must be corrected. In case of finding significant errors, once the academic contribution has been published, authors should notify the publisher and the editorial committee opportunely, cooperating subsequently with the journal in the publication of a statement of errata, appendix, notice, correction or, in the cases where it is considered necessary, remove the manuscript from the published number.

Universidad  Distrital Francisco José de Caldas' responsibility

The Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, in whose name is published the journal Góndola, Ens Aprend Cien, and according to the stipulation in Agreement 023 of June 19, 2012, of Academic Council, by means of which it regulates the editorial policy of the University, will ensure that ethical standards and good practices are fully complied with.

Procedures for dealing with unethical behavior

- Unethical behavior identification

Information on unethical behavior should be provided in the first instance to the editor of Góndola, Enseñ Aprend Cienc journal, or failing that, to the editorial committee and, as a last resort, to the publications committee of Sciences and Education Faculty of the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. In the case of these actors do not give a timely response, external involved institutions and competent entities should be informed.

Unethical behavior includes what is stipulated in the declaration of the Góndola, Enseñ Aprend Cienc journal about good practices and ethical standards, regulations of Science and Education Faculty, rules of District University Francisco José de Caldas in this subject and, regulations established in the Political Constitution of Colombia.

 Notification of unethical behavior must be in writing and be accompanied by tangible, reliable and enough evidence to initiate a research process. All complaints will be considered and treated in the same manner until a decision or conclusion is made.

- Investigation and preliminary inquiry process

Editor, who should consult or seek the advice of editorial committee and the publications committee, as the case may be, must take the first decision.

Evidence of the investigation will be kept confidential.

Unethical behavior that Editor deems to be minor can be treated between himself and the authors without the need for additional inquiries. In any case, authors should have the opportunity to respond to complaints made for unethical behavior.

Unethical behavior of a serious nature should be notified to the entities of institutional affiliation of the authors or to those who support the investigation. The publisher, in agreement of the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, must make a decision as to whether or not to involve the sponsors, either by reviewing available evidence or by re-consulting with a limited number of experts. 

- Outcomes

(in increasing order of severity; may be applied separately or in conjunction)

Informing or educating the author or reviewer where there appears to be a misunderstanding or misapplication of acceptable standards.

A more strongly worded letter to the author or reviewer covering the misconduct and as a warning to future behavior.

Publication of a formal notice detailing the misconduct.

Publication of an editorial detailing the misconduct.

A formal letter to the head of the author's or reviewer's department or funding agency.

Formal retraction or withdrawal of a publication from the journal, in conjunction with informing the head of the author or reviewer's department, Abstracting & Indexing services and the readership of the publication.

Carry out an official five-year embargo on the author, during which time he or she may not be published in the journal again.

Reporting the case and outcome to a professional organization or higher authority for further investigation and action.

Journal History

The journal Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias was born in 2006 as part of an exercise of dissemination of works produced by students of the “Didactics of physics seminary”, which is taught in the program of “Licenciatura en física” of the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, under the tutelage of professors Olga Castiblanco and Diego Vizcaíno.

In 2007 the Research Group on Teaching and Learning Physics was founded, which became the editorial technical committee of the journal and, at that time, also served as an evaluation committee. During that year we moved from grouping a set of works published on a page attached to the University to organize a publication with volumes and numbers whose periodicity would be semi-annual.

In 2008, the ISSN is requested for the first time before the Colombian Chamber of Books under the name of Virtual Journal Góndola. Institutional support was also requested for its production, which was granted in recognition of the quality of the work.

In 2010, journal administrative structure was organized. Editorial committee, the drafting committee, and evaluation committee were defined, the latter with national and international members, especially from the Ibero-American context. Simultaneously, all information about the journal in the web page was translated into the Portuguese and English languages and the diffusion was extended to countries like Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and others.

In 2011, we began the process of requesting and obtaining indexation in databases such as Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), E-Journals (Spanish and Latin American Electronic Scientific Magazines), and others.

In August 2013, we obtained formal recognition by Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, as an institutional journal belonging to the Science and Education Faculty, through the Center for Research and Scientific Development (CIDC) of the University. As a result, the journal began to receive support from the editorial team for editing, layout, dissemination and production management, as well as, being migrated to the UDFJC Open Journal System platform.

In November of 2013 the journal name was modified in order to increase the visibility of its scope and action field, for which a new ISSN with the name Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias was requested.

In 2014, we improved the performance of the process of sending and evaluating articles through the OJS management system. We also improved our presentation in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and to expand the dissemination and contributions to the consolidation of the academic community of teachers and researchers in the area of Science Teaching.

In the year 2015, the journal received for the first time the indexation in the database of Publindex in Colciencias (Colombia). It was categorized in C, simultaneously; it was categorized in the Qualis system of CAPES-Brazil in level B1. For that year we consolidated the scientific committee with important personalities of the international academic world in teaching and learning sciences, in addition to enlarging the committee of evaluators and reducing the time of evaluation and edition of articles.

Currently, the journal is projected as an important resource that supports the consolidation of an academic community of teacher-researchers in both training and professional practice at different levels of education in the area of natural science teaching. 

Journal visibility

The journal Góndola, teaching and learning of sciences is related in the following indexes, databases, and directories.

- Databases:

- Directories/Indexes:

Sponsors

Facultad de Ciencias y Educación, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. 

GEAF, Grupo de investigación en Enseñanza y Aprendizaje de la Física, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas.

CIDC. Centro de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Científico, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas.

Sources of Support

GEAF, Grupo de investigación en Enseñanza y Aprendizaje de la Física, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas.

Journal History

 The journal Gondola, teaching and learning of cciences was born in 2006 as part of an exercise of dissemination of works produced by students of the “Didactics of physics seminary”, which is taught in the program of “Licenciatura en física” of District University Francisco José de Caldas, under the tutelage of professors Olga Castiblanco and Diego Vizcaíno.

 In 2007 the Research Group on Teaching and Learning Physics was founded, which became the editorial technical committee of the journal and, at that time, also served as an evaluation committee. During that year we moved from grouping a set of works published in a page attached to the University to organize a publication with volumes and numbers whose periodicity would be semi-annual.

 In 2008, the ISSN is requested for the first time before the Colombian Chamber of Books under the name of Virtual journal Góndola. Institutional support was also requested for its production, which was granted in recognition of the quality of the work.

 In 2010, journal administrative structure was organized. Editorial committee, drafting committee and evaluation committee were defined, the latter with national and international members, especially from the Ibero-American context. Simultaneously, all information about the journal in the web page was translated into the Portuguese and English languages and the diffusion was extended to countries like Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Argentina and others.

 In 2011, we began the process of requesting and obtaining indexation in databases such as: Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), E-Journals (Spanish and Latin American Electronic Scientific Magazines), and others.

 In August 2013, we obtained formal recognition by District University Francisco José de Caldas, as an institutional journal belonging to the Science and Education Faculty, through the Center for Research and Scientific Development (CIDC) of the University. As a result, the journal began to receive support from the editorial team for editing, layout, dissemination and production management, as well as, being migrated to the UDFJC Open Journal System platform.

In November of 2013 the journal name was modified in order to increase the visibility of its scope and action field, for which a new ISSN with the name Góndola, enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias was requested.

 In 2014, we converted all the documents published in HTML format and improved the performance of the process of sending and evaluating articles through the OJS management system. We also improved our presentation in English, Portuguese and Spanish, and to expand the dissemination and contributions to the consolidation of academic community of teachers and researchers in the area of Science Teaching.

 In the year 2015 the journal received for the first time the indexation in the database of Publindex in Colciencias (Colombia). It was categorized in C, simultaneously; it was categorized in the Qualis system of CAPES-Brazil in level B1. For that year we consolidated the scientific committee with important personalities of the international academic world in teaching and learning sciences, in addition to enlarging the committee of evaluators and reducing the time of evaluation and edition of articles.

 As of 2016, the journal is projected as an important resource that supports the consolidation of academic community of teacher-researchers in both training and professional practice at different levels of education in the area of natural science teaching.