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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 1-2
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COVER
Abstract
Cover page, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2008, GU/NSE
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 3-3
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CONTENTS
Abstract
Contents, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2008, GU/NSE
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Author(s):
Lyudmila Korozhneva.
Page No : 4-5
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STUDENTS RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AS A BASIS OF NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION
Abstract
Currently, many scientists and teachers ask themselves the question: "What can be changed in the process of science education so that students become active creators of their own knowledge and actively act in the environment?" Over the past several decades of the twentieth century, the main form of organizing education in the field of natural sciences was a lesson at a school desk, the main method was the teacher's word and the main tool was a textbook.
The need to organize research activities is explained by the orientation of education towards the development of the student's personality, his cognitive and creative abilities and the acquisition of experience of independent activity in various areas of the surrounding world.
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Author(s):
Darinka Sikosek.
Page No : 6-14
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HOW CAN STUDENTS-TEACHERS ACQUIRING COMPETENCES FROM LECTURE AND SEMINAR ACTIVITIES BY PROMPTING DIDACTIC PRINCIPLES
Abstract
This study is focused on the curricular innovations of methodological subjects for acquiring of teachers competences at undergraduate education where students as prospective chemistry teachers serve as a goal group. The redesign of the curricular forms thus introduced (such as Lectures, Seminars, Didactic /Laboratory Practical Courses and Mentor work) is based on consistent consideration of topical didactic principles. Research into the optimal forms for curriculum performance focuses particularly on their organisation, methodology and evaluation. These three model parameters serve to implement student activity and autonomy, goal-oriented process learning and democratic relations to ensure realisation of the competences necessary for carrying out the teaching and learning model. The active development and acquisition of subject didactic competences is accompanied by three issues: “What? How? Why? and the following infinitives: “to preserve, to innovate and to abandon”.
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Author(s):
Vincentas Lamanauskas, Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė.
Page No : 15-22
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UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ BIOTECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE
Abstract
Biotechnology has made remarkable progress in recent years, and caused a revolution in different sciences. It is obvious, that the advance of modern biotechnology will have a great influence on the world. On the other hand, some ethical problems have emerged. The arguments about ethical and social impacts of biotechnology made clear that not only getting basic knowledge about biotechnology and genetic engineering, also ethical and social issues must be thought in the schools, because the level of knowledge and the attitudes of new generation is very important for the society, and for the future of our world. It is obvious, that students should know about modern biotechnologies more.
So, in this study it is tried to determine the university students’ knowledge towards biotechnology. This research is carried out in January, 2008. Sample was made by students of two universities of Lithuania in total 287 respondents. In sample students of biological and non biological programs are selected. Our research was conducted in educational faculties mainly where a strong female bias in Lithuania historically exists, it was impossible to adjust the female to male ratio more accurately. The age of students ranged from 18 to 29 years (M = 20.41 years, SD = 1.45). A 16-item Likert-type Biotechnology Knowledge Questionnaire (BKQ) was used to examine students’ knowledge in biotechnology.
The results have shown that students do not have sufficient knowledge about biotechnology. Knowledge of students in the field of biotechnologies is very weak and inconsistent. Knowledge mismatch to modern achievements of a science in the given area. The answers given to the statements do not differ significantly between the biology students and the students who do not take any biology courses (non-biology programms). This result shows that education at the university level does not focus enough on biotechnology and its implications. In the opinion of researchers university students need to learn more facts and issues related to modern biotechnology. Also we need to find some approaches to improve non-biology students knowledge about biotechnology.
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Author(s):
Irina Barabanova.
Page No : 23-27
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THE PERFORMANCE OF LABORATORY WORKS IN BIOLOGY LESSONS USING CONNECTORS OF THE MICROSCOP, VIEW CAMERA AND TELEVISION
Abstract
There is arising several problems doing the practical or laboratory works at school. One of them is that there are no laboratories fitted separated from classes. If the teacher wants to do practical or laboratory wok he must ask the pupils to do a part of work at home. This separates the lesson; there are no possibilities to compare properly or to generalize the results of the work. The problem can be solved connecting the lessons; also, this is not always possible because of the elements of the education process organization. My experience shows that there are possibilities to do enormous spread of independent or exploratory work properly organizing the lesson, giving a chance to generalize the work and to make conclusions.
When the school got the cameras for microscopes and when all of them were connected with computer the new possibilities have been arisen for education process (1 picture). There are possibilities to show microscopic objects exploring them during the lesson when computer is connected with television. This expands the possibilities of the lesson, saves the time, the work is getting more consequent (3 picture). I am presenting the one version of the lesson using the microscopic camera, computer and television in education process.
The chosen structure and the methods of the lesson permit to use productively the time in the lesson. Even if there are no laboratories still there are possibilities to do and to generalize the work. The work groups having less practical working skills are doing their work properly because the information is public. There are enough time to divide the results of the resource and to compare them among the work groups. The data of the research are straighter because the micro-preparations and measurements using for counting are equal. The counting is very comfortable, undemanding for special efforts. The disadvantage of the lesson is that the lesson can be organized only when the equipment is prepared and for this teacher must spend the time. It is easier to do the work with the salt soak than with the sugar soak and this is not mirrors exactly the features of the osmosis.
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Author(s):
Onutė Gervienė, Aistė Florentina Kantautienė.
Page No : 28-35
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TCP / TEACHING COMPUTER PROGRAM/ “HEALTHY LIVING IN THE PROCESS OF EDUCATION DURING BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS LESSONS”
Abstract
New possibilities for a teacher as well as a student occur when modern informative technologies are used during the lessons. This phenomenon has become logical and inevitable. Physics, Chemistry and Biology are taught as separate subjects at our school as it is in all educational institutions, but there is no doubt that they have much in common: conception, methodological principles, the way the practical problems are solved. That is why we look forward for a deeper content integration of the subjects of natural sciences. Aim of the project: To share personal experience in the process of education while teaching Natural sciences, to link the content of the subjects with the usage of technology and problems of Healthy living.
In the course of teaching natural sciences and integrating Healthy living into them we faced the problem of the lack of teaching material about healthy living. This fact inspired us to diversify the lessons adding more topics on healthy living. In order to achieve the result it was settled to create an attractive teaching computer training appliance for the students and teachers as a means to help to prepare for the lessons, self-education, additional work so as it would be possible to improve students’ knowledge in learning healthy living. Besides, the community members are going to be informed and motivated more lively to take care of health and protect the environment, to develop the ability to live healthy and share personal experience about the process of integration using informative technologies. It stimulated us to create electronic HEALTHY LIVING training appliance as a help to teach Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
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Author(s):
Loreta Ragulienė, Violeta Slekiene.
Page No : 36-42
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POPULARISATION OF PHYSICS AND THE KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION AT THE EXTRA-EDUCATION SCHOOL “PHOTON”
Abstract
Analysing extra education much attention has been given to its general activities and results by various researchers. However, no research has been made on influence of extra education in natural sciences on developing schoolchildren’s knowledge acquisition so far. This article deals with extra education at junior physicists’ school “Photon”. “Photon” was founded in 1973 at Siauliai University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Physics. Every year 800–900 9th form schoolchildren from various secondary schools in Lithuania enter this Junior Physicists’ School. The studies last for four years. The pupils have to solve 60 different problems every year. The pupils send the solved problems to the "PHOTON" Council, which sends them back after the correction of mistakes together with the booklets of the correct solutions. “Photon” school is an extra educational institution, so schoolchildren continue their studies there until their needs and interests are satisfied. 17300 schoolchildren have completed their studies at “Photon” school. The aims of this article are: to present the tasks, principles and activities of extra education junior physicists’ school “Photon”; to research schoolchildren’s learning motivation and needs for extra education; to analyse the abilities of popularisation of physics and the acquisition of knowledge at this school. Methods of research: analysis of cumulate experience, survey of schoolchildren and physics teachers, systemic, comparative analysis. The research has been carried out in 2002–2007 year. 1460 young physicists school “Photon” – schoolchildren of 9th–12th forms and 180 teachers of physics from the various schools of Lithuania have been involved in the research. The received data was processed using statistical research methods. For analysis of the research data software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) has been used. Research has showed, that „Photon“ school is a good form of deepening and expanding knowledge and raising interest in Natural sciences. The main factors defining preferential studies at “Photon” school are needs for knowledge, self – development and novelties. Those factors are directly connected with future plans, ways of overcoming difficulties and opportunities to get good results. “Photon” trainees are highly self – motivated, their need for knowledge and novelty is very strong and long – term. Leisure activities at “Photon” summer school foster positive emotions and creative favourable environment to reveal needs and aptitudes and to educate a creative personality. Schoolchildren appreciate activities there in the following way: “made new friend”, “interesting activities”, “got acquainted with famous Lithuanian scientists”. Educating factors are being stressed at “Photon” summer school. Trainees were enthusiastic experimenting in laboratories and participating in seminars. A 35 year activity of “Photon” school, active schoolchildren‘s and teachers‘ participation have revealed significance of its existence educating harmonious and creative personalities.
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Author(s):
Rita Štaupienė.
Page No : 43-50
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DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE „FROM THE CELL TO THE ORGANISM“
Abstract
After analyzing the possibilities of Moodle surroundings, there was a biology course established for the students of the 9-12th classes, called „From the cell to the organism“. There was also prepared a theoretical material for studying, as well as illustrations, models and examples, individual tasks and tests based on the Lithuanian common programmes of secondary schools and educational standards.
The distant course of biology in virtual surroundings is meant to cause an interest in learning process, understanding and enriching the knowledge, as well as self educating and achieving high results. It may be used by biology teachers, explaining the new material, revising and summarizing. Analyzing the course material students may choose the appropriate time and study individually enriching their knowledge and doing individual tasks consulting the teacher. Individual learning allows students to choose individual learning speed and time and be undependable from the other students in a group.
Integrating and connecting the basics of several subjects, the possibility of enriching students’ abilities to learn and develop their skills gets higher and the learning process becomes more attractive with the possibility to use various methods of teaching and learning.
The aim of distant learning course is to involve students into learning process, using different ways of understanding, improving their abilities to use their knowledge solving the given tasks, communicating and co-operating. The program is directed towards the sphere of problem solving and application of knowledge.
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Author(s):
Olga V. Sergeyeva.
Page No : 51-60
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SMALL PARTICLES WITH LARGE PERSPECTIVES: II. HOW TO OBTAIN?
Abstract
The second article of the series deals with the main trends in the development of the methods to obtain nanoparticles – so called “bottom-up” and “up-bottom”. In the first case small particles are formed as a result of combination of the smaller ones (atoms as a limit), in the second – as a result of dispergation of the bulk matter. The electronic structure and the properties of the particles therewith could be different in the dependence on the way they were obtained (by means of dispergation or the atomic aggregation). Atoms and very small clusters can be stabilized by methods of cryochemistry discussed in the article. Nanoparticles formation by means of chemical and radiochemical synthesis, synthesis in the heterophase systems, providing the effective control of particle size and shape, the ways to obtain core-shell and hollow particles are considered next as well as the principles of the mechanical and chemical (redox) dispergation of the solids, leading to the ultradispersive and nanosized particles formation.
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 63-63
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END
Abstract
End page, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2008, GU/NSE
