Displaying mental powers: the case of VirtualMente

VirtualMente is a Web-based scenario for displaying the cognitive processes of university graduates. The name VirtualMente was coined by combining the two words "virtual" and "mente" (mind). The name stresses its virtual nature, a Web scenario targeted at cognitive competences. It is based on selected parts of the triarchic theory of human intelligence (R. Sternberg, 1985). It focuses on meta-components and insight processes. The structure consists of three dimensions: minds in action (problem solving, illustrations, self-assessment and collaborative glossary); minds in communication (horizontal interaction between participants through e-mail, Internet chat and forums); and aids for the mind (suggestions for searching and selecting information and frequently asked questions). It includes materials coming from the local context and culture (songs, icons, words, cartoons), proposed by designers and participants. It promotes a collaborative atmosphere and demands continuous action from the participants. Content validity controls involve face validity and ecological validity. The procedures used are content analysis and expert judgement. The available data came from a graduate-level course on cognitive processes developed at the University of La Plata, Argentina. A demonstration version of VirtualMente and some data are presented