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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 1-2
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COVER
Abstract
Cover page, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2006, GU/NSE
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 3-3
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CONTENTS
Abstract
Contents, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2006, GU/NSE
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 4-4
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ON THE WAY TO A NEW ROUND OF INTERESTS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
Abstract
Movement along this path will fundamentally change many of the ideas about the possibilities of science and technology that have developed over the centuries and decades. The surge of research in the field of nanometer sizes, the emergence of new directions at the intersection of different sciences (medicinal chemistry, chemical bionics, chemical ecology, mathematical chemistry, chemistry of life) - these are the realities of today. The prospects for the use of new technologies in the future often resemble the plots of science fiction novels, but those whom we teach today will bring them to life.
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Author(s):
Vincentas Lamanauskas, Rytis Vilkonis.
Page No : 5-16
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THE USAGE OF THE INTERNET IN TEACHING GEOGRAPHY: THE ANALYSIS OF A SITUATION AND PREDICTIONS
Abstract
Modern geography - one of the most integrated and systemic spheres of scientific knowledge. On the other hand a subject of geography complex enough, difficultly studied. The basic purpose - to create good conditions the student for successful studying questions of geography at a modern level. One of ways - application of modern technologies. Now it is applied two basic technologies: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Earth Observation (EO). Very good opportunities for studying geography are created with the Internet. It is obvious, that use of the Internet for teaching/learning still on a low level for the different objective and subjective reasons. First of all it is necessary to create conditions for teachers to raise qualification.
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 geography. The main aim of the study is to analyse the situation of the usage of the Internet for teaching geography 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 geography;
• To identify the hindering/stimulating factors of Internet usage for teaching geography;
• To highlight the experts’ opinion about the expected development perspectives of Internet usage for teaching geography 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 opinion of 20% of experts use of the Internet the nearest five years considerably will grow up. Other experts (80%) have expressed opinion, that the increase will be insignificant. Experts are uniform in opinion, that the establishment of computers at schools yet does not solve a problem. Teachers of different subjects should have access to the Internet in classrooms. The opportunity to create search system in the Lithuanian language is important too.
Some conclusions were indicated:
• For last five years a situation in use of the Internet has a little changed. On the one hand on the Internet it is a lot of information on geography, with another - lack of the information in the Lithuanian language is obvious. Moreover the information authentic (valid) only partially.
• It is established, that main hindering factors in use of the Internet are: Lack of computers and connections to a network of the Internet, poor knowledge of foreign languages, poor school technical possibilities, lack of modern techniques (methodics) of use of the Internet for teaching geography etc.
• It is established, that main stimulating factors in use of the Internet are: the opportunity to interest pupils geography, opportunities of an exchange of the modern information, application of different methods of teaching, the possibility to take part in different international projects etc.
• It is predicted, that use of the Internet should grow a little the nearest five years. Positive influence will render change of the content of education and improvement of professional skill of teachers of geography. On the other hand the material resources of schools constantly improves, the level of living standards grows in the country.
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Author(s):
Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė.
Page No : 17-24
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THE ANALYSIS OF PUPILS’ PRE-SCIENTIFIC NOTIONS AND SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS ABOUT MOTION AND FORCES
Abstract
The issue of the study. Our precondition was that non-scientific notions formed by pupils affect concept teaching. If non-scientific notions are in conformity with the content of scientific concepts the teacher should rely on them forming new concepts, explaining natural phenomena, etc. It contributes to the concept comprehension efficacy. In case non-scientific notions are in collision with the content of scientific concepts they should be corrected as in that case they interfere with the formation of scientific concepts. The goals of research. The goals of the research were: 1) to clarify the interaction of pre-scientific notions and scientific concepts about motion and forces; 2) to evaluate the comprehension of concepts by those pupils who had studied physics and to clarify changes in concept understanding and typical errors that had remained after systematic study. Methodology of research. The research was carried out in year 2004. 700 pupils of 7th and 9th forms from the schools of Siauliai, Kaunas, Telsiai district, Kelme district and young physicists’ school “Fotonas” have been involved in the research. Group I included 7th formers (265 pupils), who had not studied physics as a separate subject but had elementary knowledge of physics from the course “World Science” (1st – 4th forms) and the integrated course of natural sciences “Nature and Man” (5th – 6th forms). Group II consisted of 9th form pupils (540), who have been studying physics for three years. The same questions and tasks adapted to the pupils’ age and previous knowledge were given to each group. The concepts from the topics “Force” were included. The tasks included elementary knowledge of the researched concepts familiar to pupils from both groups, but exact and correct answers were given by the 9th formers who had already analysed the topics. Besides, aiming for better evaluation of knowledge in physics, pupils of Group II answering the questions had to formulate proper definitions of the concepts or laws. A discussion method was used to clarify pupils’ thinking procedures. The received data was processed using statistical research methods. Results of research. It was stated during the research that before starting a systematic study of physics pupils had had pre-scientific notions. A number of incorrect notions on motion and force were revealed. In many cases pre-scientific notions were typical and in a way understandable for pupils. Pre-scientific notions often are retained even after purposeful teaching, and in some time or situations they turn out to be even more distinct and convincing than the scientific ones. It has been stated that pupils reproduce concept definitions without any efforts, but in a definite situation they base solutions of a definite task on misleading notions. Very often pupils understand the content of some concepts in a wrong way, do not make distinction between concepts and confuse functional relations of concepts. They are already able to indicate the features of a concept, but are not able to separate essential and inessential concepts.
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Author(s):
Gedas Batulevičius.
Page No : 25-29
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RESEARCH WORKS IN BIOLOGY AS A TOOL FOR PREVENTION OF HARMFUL HABITS
Abstract
School curriculum introduces pupils to some aspects of the pattern of life, science and culture, which, in the society’s opinion, are a very important part of the educational process. One of the aims of school is to prepare pupils for life. Knowledge is essential, but skills and attitudes are not less important in the educational process and we can develop them by preventive research works.
Preventative research works at Vilnius Jesuit Gymnasium have been included into the course of biology. The aim of the research was to demonstrate the effect of some chemicals on a living organism practically. The article presents the methodical instructions for the following research works:
• The effect of the cigarette smoke on the germination and development of plants;
• The effect of the cigarette smoke on the vegetation of plants;
• The effect of inhalants on the germination, development and vegetation of plants;
• The effect of alcohol on the germination and development of plants;
• The effect of alcohol on the vegetation of plants.
The research work is a very effective part of the prevention programme because students analyse final results with great interest, get involved into discussions, try to find causes, search for information and ask questions. This type of research work is very convenient because it is possible to carry it out in the classroom, it is not necessary to have sophisticated laboratory equipment and the results are seen in short time. The research works are integrated into the curriculum and help to achieve the goals set in general programmes and educational standards.
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Author(s):
Vilhelmina Lukavičienė, Dalia Urbonavičienė.
Page No : 30-36
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
The paper deals with the conception of sustainable development, its aims and tasks, which orient teachers towards the analysis of environmental problems and their links with economic and social progress. Such approach serves as a starting point formulating and conceptualizing the reasons of the rise and spread of these problems. A definite model oriented towards sustainable development is described and educational experience in the analysis of environmental issues in the aspect of sustainable development is presented. The history of environment provides an opportunity to identify when environmental problems arise and how they vary under the influence of socio-cultural, economic and political factors; it is one of the means studying the basics of sustainable development. Teaching to understand and solve problems in the aspect of the history of environment adds significance to a teacher's activities, which include consistent stages of schoolchildren's practical activities and development of their abilities to analyze and solve environmental issues (problem identification, analysis of its formation and development, understanding the urgency of its solution). Studies of the history of environment in the aspect of sustainable development enable teachers to implement the strategic conception of integrated teaching and national sustainable development in practice. The paper presents integration opportunities of various teaching subjects and the studies of various environmental issues (objects, localities). The described methods give an opportunity to develop various competences of schoolchildren and to stimulate changes in their lifestyle.
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Author(s):
Asta Kuckienė, Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė.
Page No : 37-44
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ELEMENTS IN TEXTBOOKS IMPLEMENTING EDUCATION CONTENT OF THE 1ST FORM
Abstract
Environmental protection is one of the most topical spheres in natural science education. Problems regarding integration of environmental protection into the content of education have been broadly analysed by E.Šapokienė, V. Lamanauskas, etc. Environmental protection education is emphasised in universal programmes, general programmes, other education documents, the Public Environmental Education Strategy of the Republic of Lithuania and Action Programme. It is not surprising that one of the goals of general education school is to convey the system of environmental knowledge and skills and to form value principles of environmental protection in a democratic school environment, which promotes students’ initiative.
The aim of this article is to present the results of research – the analysis of the 1st form textbooks which allowed to identify the number and the particularity of environmental elements in them.
The results revealed that the biggest number of environmental protection elements was in the textbooks of environment cognition (‘Aš ir pasaulis’ (Me and the World) – 10 topics, ‘Raktas’ (Key) – 18 topics which integrate environmental knowledge, develop skills, abilities and value principles). Environmental protection was integrated into 7 topics of native language textbook ‘Šaltinėlis’ (Springlet). The textbooks of mathematics, fine arts and technologies included 1-3 environmental elements integrated into their topics. Though the subject itself is very favourable for environmental education, no elements of it were observed in the textbooks of music education.
It is obvious that the authors of the textbooks for 1st forms demonstrate a holistic approach to education and environment. The range of environmental activities in the textbooks prepared by them is wide.
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Author(s):
Vasilij Krasitski.
Page No : 45-50
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FROM SHERLOCK HOLMES RECORDS: SYMPATHETIC INK
Abstract
The entertaining chemical experiment is an effective way to increase pupils’ interest in chemistry; it helps to study and realize the subject, and to learn the material more deeply. The entertaining experiment may be successfully used during the lesson and after it as part of different activities – conferences, disputes, etc. Besides, this experiment is limited by few well-known and safe school laboratory experiences. The article presents a detailed description of the entertaining cryptography experiment and corresponding methodical recommendations.
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Author(s):
Elena S. Tselesh, Tatyana N. Vorobyova .
Page No : 51-57
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DEMONSTRATIVE, LABORATORY AND RESEARCH EXPERIMENT ON THE REACTIONS OF METAL REDUCTION FROM SOLUTIONS IN CHEMISTRY COURSE IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
Abstract
The methods of realization of chemical experiment dealing with the reactions of metal reduction from solutions by electrolysis and cementation are discussed. Teachers can use the presented experiments in such sections of school chemistry course, as "Metals", "Electrolysis", “Oxidation-reduction reactions”. It is shown that given chemical experiment can be realized at various levels of pupil cognitive activity, including demonstration and laboratory experiments, facultative and practical works in chemistry and school research projects.
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Author(s):
Rytis Vilkonis.
Page No : 58-59
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LEARNING GEOGRAPHY THROUGH PLAY
Abstract
In modern world geography becomes an integral part of mankind’s culture and everyday life, and the significance and topicality of geography teaching in a secondary school increases. However, anyway geography as a subject is not particularly favourite to the Lithuanian pupils and this is easy to explain – conveying, oral methods of teaching dominate at school, the educational process is mainly concentrated not on the quality of knowledge and the ability to apply knowledge in practice but to quantity, often ignoring the development of pupils’ favourable attitude to geography. The evaluation of the ability to orientate on the map often reminds of physical education classes when attention is concentrated on seconds, i.e. the time factor, and not on the sense and practical value of orientating on the map. Meanwhile the modern conception of education emphasises meaningful learning, the wish to learn, satisfaction with the learning process, the ability to apply knowledge and use it in daily life. On the other hand, methodical aids, assisting teachers to change geography lessons currently are not numerous in Lithuania. Considering the existing situation the new book by Dr. L.Railienė and Dr. V.Lamanauskas for primary class and geography teachers “Mokomės geografijos žaisdami“ (We Learn Geography through Play) is topical and useful methodical publication to be used in educational practice. The authors present a particularly large variety of geographical games. These include communication games, labyrinths, rebuses, tasks-tables, code tasks, etc.
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 64-64
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END
Abstract
End page, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2006, GU/NSE
