Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 1-2
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COVER
Abstract
Cover, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2006, GU/NSE
Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 3-3
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CONTENTS
Abstract
Contents, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2006, GU/NSE
Author(s):
Andris Broks.
Page No : 5-5
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SYSTEMOLOGY AND ONTODIDACTICS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN GENERAL EDUCATION
Abstract
Dear colleagues! Due to serious global and local changes in our modern economical and political life o n t o d i d a c t i c s has established itself as the theory of qualitative changes in modern education. Traditional didactics, following principle of moving from simple to complex, today must be supplemented with ontodidactics, following the principle of transition from complex to simple. It means the step to higher level of generalization when starting new stage of education (like upper secondary after lower secondary education) or starting development of qualitatively new structure of educational content to respond demands from our qualitatively changing lifestyle.
Author(s):
Vincentas Lamanauskas, Rytis Vilkonis.
Page No : 6-16
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THE USAGE OF THE INTERNET IN TEACHING PHYSICS: THE ANALYSIS OF A SITUATION AND PREDICTIONS
Abstract
In the developing knowledge-based society information technologies play a particularly significant role. However, even the most advanced technologies will not give a necessary effect, if their usage (application) in the educational system is not adequate to the current development of technologies and increased educational needs. In the author’s opinion, our epoch is marked with global environmental crisis and the advent of information age. Extensive implementation of a range of information technologies into high and higher school curricula and the emphasis on environmental issues in education are two leading trends in contemporary education. We maintain that it would be optimal if the computer (especially using the Internet) is a natural teaching / learning aids like books and other sources of information. On the other hand, it is necessary to create conditions for teachers to raise qualification. This is emphasized by numerous researchers.
It has to be stated that the Internet possibilities in the teaching process are insufficiently used. On the other hand, in principal there are no reliable studies, which would reveal the actual situation in this field. Therefore, the object of our study is the usage of the Internet for teaching physics. The main aim of the study is to analyse the situation of the usage of the Internet for teaching physics and highlight the hindering/encouraging factors of its usage in the teaching process. The most important study tasks have been formulated:
• To analyse the situation of the usage of the Internet for teaching physics;
• To identify the hindering/stimulating factors of Internet usage for teaching physics;
• To highlight the experts’ opinion about the expected development perspectives of Internet usage for teaching physics in the nearest five years period.
The study employed expert inquiry. The type of expert inquiry – “Delphi study”, containing several experts’ inquiries (stages). The data of every round are generalised and repeatedly submitted to the experts. Such procedure is repeated several times, most often 3-4 times. The study was carried out in September – December 2005.
In the first stage of the study the experts replied to 5 essential questions. In the opinion of the majority of experts (62%) the usage of the Internet during the nearest five years will increase only insignificantly. 31% of experts maintain that the usage of the Internet will increase significantly and 7% think that it will not change at all. Having studied and generalised the first stage results, the new questionnaire for the second stage of the study was prepared.
It was identified that the most important factors, hindering the Internet usage were as follows: poor computerisation of physics rooms and the shortage of the Internet access, poor school technical possibilities and poor funding, shortage of specialized Internet websites and of websites applied for teaching physics, poor knowledge of foreign languages, etc. The most important stimulating factors: the wish to interest pupils and search for more diverse teaching forms, the possibility to present the phenomena to the pupils that they find difficult to imagine, the diversification of the demonstration and laboratory teaching aids, etc.
In the third stage of the study the experts had to assess the generalised second stage results. In many cases the experts approved the generalised assessment of the current situation; however, they noted that the situation in town schools and village schools differed. The experts clearly expressed their concern regarding the immoderate ICT usage in the teaching process and emphasized that the computer will never replace the teacher’s explanation and natural experiments with real physical bodies in the real environment.
Some conclusions were indicated:
• The Internet possibilities for teaching physics are not being fully used both for objective and subjective reasons.
• It is expected that during the nearest five years the Internet usage will increase only insignificantly.
• Higher effectiveness of ICT application for teaching physics can be achieved in the presence of continuous monitoring (how the situation changes, what influences it, etc.), on the other hand, the physics teachers need continuous methodical assistance, independent of their formal qualification. Effective ICT application for teaching physics is one of the composite parts of the competence of physics teachers.
• Continuous studies and in-service training institutions should allocate more attention raising the qualification of physics teachers in this field.
Author(s):
Palmira Pečiuliauskienė, Alfonsas Rimeika .
Page No : 17-23
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ELECTRONICALLY-BASED TRAINING AIDS AND INFORMATION SOURCES ADOPTED BY THE WOULD-BE TEACHERS OF SCIENCES
Abstract
The issue of the study. The alterations in society and development of technologies require a new approach to teaching and training aids. Modern information systems and technologies are promoted teaching and learning different subjects at all levels. Along the increase of information technology importance and impact, the educational and teaching system, its major alteration and spread of new training aids becomes an underlying field of society building. It frames a question of the study dealing with how the would-be teachers of sciences adopt and most frequently use electronically-based training aids. The goal of research. The goal of research is to establish the types of electronically-based training aids and information sources used by the science students. Methods of research. The object of research is the employment of electronically-based training aids and information sources used by the science students. Research was conducted applying the methods of reference analysis, surveying and mathematical statistics. The students studying physics, chemistry and biology participated in the survey. Two targeted groups were formed the first of which included 250 a first university degree (a Bachelor’s degree studies, 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of studies) and the second one - 105 a second university degree (a Master’s degree studies) students. Results of research. During the studies, the science students most frequently apply the electronically-based paper databases while the databases of research data and scientific articles are rarer. The students regularly search the Internet to work with the required lecture syllabi, computer-based dictionaries and reference books. The findings indicate that the above mentioned training aids cannot be adopted by almost one fifth of the surveyed higher school students. The students feel lack of information on traditional training aids placed in the electronically-based sources. Qualitative research further revealed the qualities of traditional and electronically-based training aids. The electronically-based training aids are more effective in retrieving and adopting information. The traditional training aids are not supposed to be very efficient and visually perfect. Moreover, the Internet rather than the course books presents more precise and up-to-date data. The traditional training aids are more comfortable, user-friendly and adjusted to making marks with a pencil.
Author(s):
Onutė Gervienė.
Page No : 24-31
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WAYS OF USING DRAMA METHOD AND PRECONDITIONS TO REALISE THEM AT BIOLOGY LESSONS
Abstract
Self-expression is characteristic to any student and planning a drama lesson a teacher’s task is to make it very important for the student. If it turns out to be a success students will have an inner wish to improve their knowledge. The method of drama is one of the means to educate students seeking positive changes. The essence of this method is to feel the interrelation with the technology, the process of changes by means of drama signs. Drama method enables to develop abilities giving special tasks to the students with individual character and aptitudes. Each student has an opportunity to improve and seek higher level at a certain pace. Drama method is based on differentiation, the students have excellent possibilities to evaluate themselves, make conclusions, suggest technologies and make decisions. This article is an attempt to touch upon some examples how the method of drama helps to arouse students’ motivation for a peculiar subject. Besides, a teacher always tries to find links between students’ personal experience and the topic of the lesson so that the students could demonstrate their knowledge, attitude, thinking and opinion by means of drama method. All things considered, it is possible to state that the use of drama method in any lesson is a powerful tool to improve knowledge, feel open to cultural variety and establish social relations.
Author(s):
Rasa Kučinskienė.
Page No : 32-36
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RESEARCH ACTIVITY ON BIOLOGY IN PRIENAI „ŽIBURIO“ GYMNASIUM AND THEIR RELEVANCE
Abstract
Research is such organisation of the teaching process when pupils get familiarised with main research methods master research method elements that are easily understood to them, and acquire abilities and skills to study natural and social life phenomena independently (Šapokienė, 1994). Since 1999 various type annual papers have been prepared in Prienai “Žiburio“ gymnasium (Lithuania). Research has been most widely applied in natural science lessons and annual papers. This article aims to evaluate the benefit of research for pupils in Prienai “Žiburio“ gymnasium. The research was conducted using inquest in 2006. Eleven pupils who wrote research papers on biology, thirty randomly chosen pupils, methodologist teachers and deputy director were questioned. Pupils stated that the most difficult task was to analyse the results, follow the research paper structure and phrase the conclusions. The most interesting part was the very process of testing, observation and problem search though this took the most of the time. The pupils chose annual papers on biology because they found the topic interesting and they wanted to acquire more knowledge in biology rather than any other subject as the respondents had already decided to study natural science. It can be stated that the pupils of the third gymnasium form are subject-orientated and relate their choice to the future profession, which is not the case with the pupils of the first gymnasium form. Lower form schoolgirls wrote the papers because they wanted to participate in the competitions. The respondents state that research provided them with research fundamentals, which they successfully apply at the university. The students maintain that research assists the pupil to acquire independent work skills, select the most important points, discover topical problems and solve them, acquire self-confidence, use various research methods, analyse data and acquire deeper knowledge in the subject.
Author(s):
Daiva Paškevičienė, Algimantas Paškevičius.
Page No : 37-42
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METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT “EVALUATION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL STATE IN SCHOOL PREMISES”
Abstract
The article presents methodological recommendations for the implementation of the project of a microbiological nature. The urgency of the project is undoubted, as it has been noticed that school classes were overcrowded with pupils and almost not ventilated in winter, thus, schoolchildren often suffered from respiratory illnesses. Besides, secondary school programs include many themes in which the concept of microorganisms is used, however, pupils usually lack practical knowledge about isolation of microorganisms in a laboratory and their distribution in the air.
The main aim of this work was to evaluate microbial contamination of school premises as well as to provide pupils with knowledge about biological peculiarities of various systematic groups (bacteria, micromycetes and yeast-like fungi) and their macro- and micro-morphological peculiarities. To achieve the aim, the following tasks were set: 1) to develop pupils’ abilities to make experiments and develop their initial skills in research; 2) to form their cognitive experience of the surrounding world while performing team tasks; 3) to develop pupils’ creative-organizational abilities as an integral process of theoretical and practical actions.
Due to lack of equipment and conditions, it is not easy to perform microbiological projects in schools. Furthermore, a teacher should have competence, though due to this, in the article much attention is paid to the methods of project performance. Necessary labware and nutritive media for project implementation are indicated. Possible variants of an experiment scheme are discussed and the stages of the experiment are presented coherently. Preparation of microscopical mounts and microscopy methods are described in detail. It is pointed out that the identification of microorganisms is a very hard work, so teachers should be trained in microbiological methods. Handbooks, which can be used for the identification of some microorganisms, are indicated.
Much attention is paid to the presentation of experiment results, as pupils participating in the project get much information about microorganisms. Participants get familiarized with the size and shape of bacterial cells and fungal macro-morphological (colony colour, shape, size and colour of colony reverse) and micro-morphological (a shape of conidia and mycelium) peculiarities. Pupils observe reproduction ways of yeast-like fungi (budding and binary fission) and determine yeast cell shape, size and other characteristic properties. While describing microorganisms isolated from school indoor air, pupils indicate a systematic group to which a microorganism (a bacterium, micromycete and yeast-like fungus) belongs. When the opportunities to identify microorganisms exist, pupils point out a genus and a species to which a microorganism is ascribed. Possible variants of systematizing the obtained results (tables and pictures, etc.) are discussed.
The implementation of the project in schools has undoubted theoretic and practical significance, because pursuing the project the pupil’s abilities to make an experiment are developed and initial skills in research and cognitive experience of the surrounding invisible world are formed. Execution of the project induces pupils’ creative-organizational abilities as an integral process of theoretical and practical actions. Later the pupils willingly participate in competitions and conferences of young researchers – naturalists, write papers, prepare a wall newspaper about microbial contamination of school indoor air and give recommendations about improvement of school sanitation. While performing team tasks, participants get knowledge about microorganisms of various systematic groups (bacteria, micromycetes and yeast-like fungi), their isolation under laboratory conditions and distribution in the indoor air. Pupils can use obtained knowledge in the lessons of the course “A Man and his Health” (9th grade) as well as in ecology and general biology (11th – 12th grades) lessons.
Author(s):
Margarita Vilkonienė.
Page No : 43-49
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INTEGRATION OF NATURAL SCIENCE AND LINGUISTIC EDUCATION USING NATURAL SCIENCE INFORMATION SOURCES
Abstract
The requirements of Lithuanian Natural Science Education standards for a primary school are quite difficult to implement. The conducted research has demonstrated that natural science education of the primary school graduates in Šiauliai city and Šiauliai region did not correspond to national primary natural science education standards (Vilkonienė, Vilkonis ir Lamanauskas, 2005). Some researchers (Klimienė, 2001; Lamanauskas, 1996) maintain that the planned results can be achieved through integrated teaching. In their opinion the objectives and the tasks of natural science education can be implemented through regular and optimal usage of the content of various teaching subjects. The content of native language education contains the activity called subject text reading. Choosing subject texts it is purposeful to consider their content. It is an excellent possibility to integrate the knowledge of natural science into the content of native language education. Reading, discussion and the analysis of the writings presented in the article during the classes of native language would enable effective integration of the points of natural science education. The article also contains the fragments of natural science education standards, which could be purposefully used as a basis for organising integrated education/self-education, and the proposed information sources, which could be purposefully used by pupils and teachers, searching for the answers to the arisen questions.
Author(s):
Vasilij Krasitski.
Page No : 50-56
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SCHOOL CHEMICAL EXPERIMENT: SAFE, SIMPLE AND VISUAL
Abstract
School chemical experiment plays a very important role in the process of chemistry teaching. It increases learning effectiveness of teaching material, develops pupils’ cognitive activity and forms interest in the subject. Some teachers, however, decrease the share of the chemical experiment in the teaching process, motivating this by the lack or absence of the necessary reagents at school, and for the reasons of safety and responsibility for pupils’ health. Therefore, the problems of supplying school laboratories with reagents and the safety of chemical experiment are topical.
This article describes original simple and safe methods of preparing some important reagents from the substances and materials that are available in school laboratories. The proposed methods will assist teachers, when necessary, to solve the problem of the lack of some reagents independently. Safe method of obtaining ethylene can be also successfully used in pupils’ experiments.
Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 60-60
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END
Abstract
End page, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2006, GU/NSE