Turinys / Contents

COVER

Abstract

Cover page, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2007, GU/NSE

CONTENTS

Abstract

Contents, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2007, GU/NSE

TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE

Abstract

Exploring the laws of nature is a fascinating field of study for any child. Unfortunately when growing up, this spontaneous curiosity of the world is replaced by the necessity to memorize many facts, names, and terms which are in many cases abstract or concern the microscopic level that is not seen with the naked eye. Even though it is widely encouraged to reject encyclopaedic study and to focus on problem-solving, in many schools the former model of education is still prevalent. As a result, students are able to discuss a plant taxonomy in detail, but they are not able to recognize trees in the park, they can recite the physical properties of many substances, but they cannot individually forecast whether, in the event of fire, it is better to crawl or jump from chair to chair, they know chemical names of hydrocarbons but cannot see that it is not appropriate to keep milk products in a plastic bottle used for mineral water. It is one of the problems that require constant efforts to be taken by chemistry didactic theoreticians and its practitioners as well.

APPLYING ICT IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION WITHIN TEACHING PRACTICE: THE PRESENT SITUATION AND DETERMINING FACTORS

Abstract

Applying ICT in teaching practice is little researched. The studies focusing on the subjective factors of ICT application in educational practice of natural sciences are very rare. The investigation may include motivation for pedagogical work, the need for continuing studies, different experiences of applying ICT etc. The problem of research has been determined by such preconditions as the present situation of applying ICT teaching natural sciences during pedagogical practice and subjective factors determining the latter educational phenomenon. The goal of research is to analyse the use of ICT in natural science education concerning the subjective factors defining this educational phenomenon. The object of research is ICT application in natural science education. The techniques of literature analysis, questioning and mathematical statistics have been applied to conduct research. 300 students carrying on teaching practice in natural sciences have been surveyed. The following subjective factors marking ICT application in educational practice of natural sciences have been established: the sex, learning experience gained in secondary school, the character of entering the university, the outlooks for future studies and motivation for pedagogical job. The number of male rather than female students using ICT in educational practice in natural sciences is gradually increasing. The students having previous experience gained in the last two years of studies in upper secondary school more frequently and efficiently apply ICT in practice. Professional motivation for pedagogical job has no relations with applying computers in educational practice.

SOME METHODOLOGICAL IDEAS IN THE SPHERE OF HUMAN INTERACTION WITH NATURE

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A human being as biosocial essence is tightly interrelated with nature and society. In the history of relations between human and nature it appeared in different forms and levels – a human being as a child, brother and the lord of it. Qualitatively new relations between the human being and nature must be established in the 21st century. Ecological problems, the expiration of natural resources, urbanization and other major aspects of modern life require a new approach to the relations between the human being and nature. The levels of relations between the human being and nature have always remained different: first, as a child of nature (a primitive man or a child glorifying nature), then as a brother of nature (little understanding nature and communicating with it) and finally, the human being as the lord of nature (trying to rule and change nature). In the 19th and 20th centuries the latter attitude was clearly reflected by natural science positivism, Marxism, technocratic utilitarianism and many other conceptions that preach the use of nature, the reconstruction of natural environment, consumerism with nature. In the 20th century the development of countries overmuch polarized towards technical, manufacturing and consumables enlargement determined a global ecological crisis. Modern science is actively looking for effective ways to solve ecological problems. The scores of the current ecological situation are being revealed. One of the most important reasons of the current situation is the factor that modern human beings have lost spiritual relations with environment. Mainly, the ecological crisis is being described as the crisis of the human itself including his consciousness, thinking, cultural environment and moral. The tendency that is prevailing today shows nature being qualified as a technocratic, urban, pragmatic value, a technological object which is employed in the process of progress. The following propositions can be specified: • Effective natural science education require conformable psychological substantiation; • Interaction with Nature varies and is specific within different periods of life; • The mission of the teacher is to wisely manage a developing process of “true” interaction with nature; • At all levels of the system of natural science education /aspects of the content of education and practical activity/ must continuously be accomplished the comprehension of the unity of living and inanimate nature; • Formation of the personal responsibility of young generation for future our planet /state of environment/- one of the priority tasks in the sphere science and technology education; • The content of science and technology education must include the analysis of reasons and consequences of contradictions in the system "nature-man- society". All our relations with nature turn out to be problematic. Formation of harmonic relations between nature and mankind becomes an important goal. It is obvious that in any activity one cannot exclusively rely on knowledge and mind, because these are not absolute values. It is understood that we cannot become the rulers over nature. A sphere of natural science developing is very wide, complicated and diversed, thus it requires a new point of view and common efforts of professionals from various areas. Rising global problems are general trouble all of us because there isn't any problem isolated from one another. The solution of them is possible when problems are being thoroughnessly analysed closely linking its interpendention.

ANALYTICAL REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN HAPTICS TECHNOLOGY RANGE

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The technologies are expanding their possibilities in the global information age. The scholars aim to explicate perspectives of human power practice. Haptics technology is one of the ultimate technological trends. Visual culture and technological progress had speeded up the researches in this area. When possibilities to organize constructs of virtual reality have sprung up, the scholars had started discussion about the integration of haptic sense into information reception, conveyance and soak processes. It can be as the facility of studying and some performance of actions, to speed up technological progress. There are analyzing explorations in haptics technology trend (medicine, science education, robotic researches, computer science and experimental brain researches) in this article. The author is searching for connections between haptics technology ranges trends and technology adaptation for educational quality development. The subject of the research – researches in haptics technology trend. Aim of the research – to explore researches of haptics technology. The tasks of research are to single out the ranges, where haptics technology is generating in practice, to single out education range, where explorations and achievements of haptics technology is the most relevant, to ascertain the importance of haptics technology on the international ground aspect in science education context. Methods of research: metaanalysis, systemic structural analysis, comparative analysis. Results and conclusion: • Accomplished analysis shows that haptics technologies are generating practically in 5 ranges: medicine, science education, robotic researches, computer science and experimental brain researches. • It is ascertained, that the most achievements of haptics technology researches are in science education range. It is important to make more qualitative science education. The researches from Lithuania in this range are one of the leaders in the world (together with JAV, Korea). • Tactile is very important to visual-spatial perception development, this conditions haptics technology to give and to activate modulations in the human mental structure. The information and mental models are memorizing for longer period.

AIR AND WATER IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION – SELECTED TASKS AND ACTIVITIES FOR REVISION LESSONS

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A need to combine school knowledge with everyday life knowledge, skill of understanding of natural world already exists during lessons of science nature at elementary school. To show to pupils, which information, news, skills are particularly important, useful and indispensable for far education, revision lessons be led. Teachers know that these lessons play an important role in process of teaching. All exercises should have definite content-related and didactic value. Taking into account the natural children’s knowledge, the amazing curiosity of world, spontaneity, passion for asking, teachers should prepare exercises in a proper way. Child’s creative abilities from literary, artistic, theatrical ones and its actual knowledge should be also used to prepare some selected activities.

MICROORGANISMS IN PROGRAMMES OF NATURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION

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Plenty of factors occurring in human environment can influence the activities and health of people, damage the produced goods and inevitably destroy plans of future. Microorganisms that surround people should be treated as an active component of human nature. Majority of them are invisible to men, their activity is not felt and the significance is underestimated until one meets with the consequences caused by microorganism action: plant yield destroyed, carefully fostered animals suddenly die, children or other close people get sick. Here one encounters a vast, hardly familiar and hazardous world of microorganisms, which has been heard of, but has received little attention. Due the immense diversity and versatile possibilities of action microorganisms acquire outstanding power and significance in the permanent processes of mater turnover, draw attention and enable to include this issue into programs of public education.

INCREASING INTEREST OF STUDENTS IN CHEMISTRY TROUGH SELF-DEPENDENT STUDIES BY USING MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

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It can be observed that student’s interest in chemistry has a tendency to decrease in the schools of Latvia. As information technologies in the world develop possibilities to use computer and Internet in everyday life are increasing. Internet is becoming an integral part of daily life not only for adults, but also for school children. It should be mentioned, that appropriate information technology equipment is lacking in many natural science classrooms of schools in Latvia. Schools are trying to solve these situations by equipping chemistry classrooms with at least one computer and projector. Therefore, teachers have a chance to obtain skills for working with IT. The use of Internet and IT is stimulating factor to raise students’ interest in chemistry, therefore a method was developed which is based on enhancing students’ interest in chemistry by using Internet and IT at home. Under students’ extracurricular activities students search for information about a chemistry topic in Internet and prepare a presentation on it. Student’s attention and thoughts are concentrated on chemistry at full scale. The obtained information, impressions and memories are long term and enable to maintain interest in students. The students’ finished work is evoking interest in chemistry and a motivated attitude is formed against the subject, accomplished work and mainly against oneself. The method takes into consideration individual personal traits and expressions of students. Since the self-dependant work of students is fulfilling educational and developmental function it is also recommended to be used for teaching other school subjects.

CHEMICAL EDUCATION OUTSIDE A CLASSROOM – STEP BY STEP

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Typically, chemistry lessons unlike e.g. biology classes or environmental education are conducted solely within the four walls of the classroom or the chemistry lab. The outdoor activities are usually more difficult for a teacher to conduct compared to classes performed at school laboratory. Many difficulties can be avoid by detailed preparations. The step-by-step approach is presented. Limitations and profits of field trips are discussed also.

END

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End page, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2007, GU/NSE