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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 1-2
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COVER
Abstract
Cover page, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2011, G/NSE
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 3-3
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CONTENTS
Abstract
Contents, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2011, GU/NSE
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Author(s):
Vincentas Lamanauskas.
Page No : 4-7
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THE PARALLELS OF TRADITIONAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION
Abstract
It is obvious that the constructivist perspective is becoming a dominant paradigm in the field of the natural science education. “Constructivism” is not a specific pedagogy but a psychological theory of knowledge. The main idea of this theory is that humans construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. Central to constructivism is the notion that learners play an active role in ‘constructing’ their own meaning. In general it is true. However, this theory can not be against the traditional way of teaching and learning. Constructivist approaches require learners to be active and confident in themselves and their abilities. However, learners may not always be active in the teaching and learning process. Quite often, learners` abilities are quite limited. In this situation, a constructive approach is hardly effective. Why we want to have a behaviorally active learner? According A. Mayer (2004) educators produce materials that require learning to be behaviorally active and not be "cognitively active." Is it constructivist approach is OK nowadays? Are we sure? Who can deny that the traditional teaching / learning is wrong? Science curricula and teaching methods are changing continuously. Traditional teaching has also changed. Such teaching is fundamentally different compared to the teaching of a few decades ago. Both the curriculum and the context are different. Teaching and learning process is unthinkable without modern ICT. This itself requires a qualitatively new approach in science teaching from the teacher`s side. Our imagination that traditional education is the same as one hundred years ago is incorrect.
Is it reasonable to promote ‘constructivism’ as a theory appropriate for science teaching in an uncritical way? There is no universally correct theory. This question should be discussed as large as possible in different context by scholars and teachers.
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Author(s):
Dalia Prakapienė.
Page No : 8-17
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THE POTENTIAL OF THE USE OF EDUCATIONAL TOURISM IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION
Abstract
Practical training is very important the modern society. Therefore it is recommended to study Natural Science in different environments through observing, exploring, comparing, experimenting and verifying one’s own hypotheses, etc. These activities can be realized not only in the traditional classroom, but outside class as well. Educational tourism is a educational activity which is implemented through excursions, tours or trips, and helps to acquire knowledge and skills. One of the most popular forms of educational tourism is the educational excursion, whose importance in education is emphasised in general education programs.
In pursuance of reasoning for the potential of educational tourism in Natural Science education, a research was carried out. The subject of the research was educational excursions in the national and regional parks of Lithuania. The aim of the research was to identify the educational activities in the regional and national parks of Lithuania and to establish the areas of Natural Science education in which the aforementioned activities could be applied. In total, 92 educational excursions, which develop skills in Natural Science education, were analyzed.
The results of the research suggest that not all the national and regional parks in Lithuania have designed educational excursions and defined specific educational activities. The largest choice of educational excursions is in the national parks of Aukštaitija and Dzūkija, and in the regional park of Kurtuvėnai. The educational excursions implemented mainly focus on Natural Science and Biology subjects, with little emphasis on Physics. In terms of the Natural Science education areas, the largest number of the educational excursions are designed for Continuity and Diversity of Life and Organism and Environment; Biosphere and Man; however, only a few focus on Movement and Cognition of Force and Energy and Cognition of Physical Processes. The most popular activities offered by the educational excursions are discovering, observing, identifying and exploring.
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Author(s):
Vincentas Lamanauskas, Jūratė Armonienė.
Page No : 18-29
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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS A FACTOR DETERMINING HEALTH: SOCIOEDUCATIONAL ASPECTS
Abstract
ES citizens’ life expectancy has never been so long and it is still getting longer. Howe-ver, their health is far not as good as it could be. Unfortunately, there happen to be a lot of cases of illnesses and of early death, which could be prevented. Health is influenced mostly by social, economic and other living and working conditions. The questions associated with them are included into ES economic and social policy. Smoking, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol, people’s attitude towards themselves and others have also a great influence on health. The main premature causes of death and disability are accidents and injuries, psychic disorders, cancer diseases, blood circulation disorders and respiratory diseases.
It is obvious, that person’s physical activity usually positively affects health. Good he-alth is a significant complex part of the life’s quality. Active physical activity at leisure time enriches person’s self-expression, reveals the content of new educative values, creates new behaviour and communication forms, develops the culture of motions. It means that it is very important to propagate the importance of physical activity, especially among the youth. On the other hand, it is also not less important to know different society group opinion on this question.
Thus, the aim of the carried out research is to investigate Lithuanian comprehensive school senior class pupils’ opinions about healthy way of living. This article presents research results related with the physical activity problems. The research was conducted in January-February, 2011. 1256 Lithuanian comprehensive school 9-12 form pupils participated in this research.
It has been stated, that physical activity concerns the greater part of the respondents. 64,3% of the respondents are in favour of this. One third of the respondents assert that they only partly care about physical activity. However, the research results show that boys are more concerned about physical activity than girls. Also, it has been stated, that boys pay more attention to additional physical activity than girls. Even 35,4% of boys allot more than 4 extra hours per week for physical activity while there are only 10,6% of girls who allot more than 4 hours. Senior class pupils allot the least amount of additional time to physical activity. Summarizing, we can assert that 9–10 form pupils are more active than 11–12 form pupils.
More than one third (35,7%) of the respondents think that spreading of bad habits (e.g., smoking, using alcohol and so on…) have the greatest negative influence on pupils’ health. A big learning load is in the second position. The respondents think that teaching programmes are overloaded. Basically, the respondents don’t think that physical activity is a significant factor determining health’s deterioration. The most important factors determining health’s deterioration are bad habits and overloaded teaching programmes.
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Author(s):
Ramunė Švedaitė, Sigita Švedienė.
Page No : 30-37
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THOSE DEPENDANT ON THE DRUGS DO NOT SIT AT AUDITORIUM’S DESK
Abstract
The authors‘ of the article assumption that the majority of traffic accidents are caused by drivers – drug and psychotropic substances abusers – is based on the findings of the European Union DRUID Project. Drug addiction is spreading rapidly in Lithuania. The statistical data of the Drug Control Department under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania prove that the majority of drug abusers are young people of 20–39 years of age. Young people whose efforts and time should be directed towards education and studies. The authors focus attention on the increasing delinquency among drug abusers and the lethal outcome of the drug overdosage. However, it is not a specific national feature. This phenomenon is widely spread from both time and geographical perspective. The established in vitro methods of detection at major extent facilitate the struggle against drug abuse and distribution. In many European cities this method is already being applied when detecting islands of cocaine abusers by the chemical analysis of communal sewage, thus quantitatively identifying the concentration of benzoilekgonin - the stable cocaine metabolite. The article provides a description of the SYNCHRON CX test for identification of cocaine in urine produced by „Beckman Coulter“.
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Author(s):
Irena Čerčikienė, Jolanta Jurkevičiūtė, Dalė Židonytė .
Page No : 38-43
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COHERENCE OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM CONTENT AND MATERIAL FACILITIES
Abstract
Nowadays biochemistry is the fastest growing industry in the world. Biochemical ana-lyses are being carried out in different scientific institutions and enterprises; biochemical met-hods and products are being used in various areas like medicine, pharmacy, chemical industry, agriculture and environment protection. To make this process more successful specialists from different areas have to participate in it. UAB „Fermentas“ has invited Chemistry Department of Vilnius College to participate in one of 10 national integrated programmes – National Integrated Programme of Biotechnology and Biopharmacy (BBNKP). That gave a perfect chance to integrate into the project, to renew Chemical Analysis Technology study programme and the subjects’ content of its specialization – Biochemical Analysis Technology, to get methodical material ready, to perfect teachers’ qualification and to equip a laboratory of educational chromatography. Vilnius College trains specialists of higher college education in chemical engineering. After the completion of the study programme they acquire Professional Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and are able to join labour market of biotechnological industry. The article contains information about experience of good practices in BBNKP and shows what has been done and plans for the future activity.
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Author(s):
Irmeli Palmberg, Gunita Praulite, Janis Gedrovics.
Page No : 44-54
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THE LATVIAN 12TH GRADE STUDENTS` UNDERSTANDING OF PARTICULAR ISSUES OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Abstract
Students after graduating school must have both, knowledge and basic skills for active life-action, which includes their ability to evaluate their knowledge and skills for usability both in everyday life and in future. In this article knowledge of different problems within science education and its usability for future life, evaluated by the Latvian 12th grade students, has been analysed by using a poll, which has been previously approved in Nordic countries.
Results show that Latvian students’ knowledge about different problems of human bi-ology is relatively higher than in other fields of science. On the other hand students demon-strate a lack of skills for generalization, therefore knowledge is sometimes insufficient. Only slightly more than half of students recognized their knowledge in science, obtained at school, as suitable for their future life.
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Author(s):
Iwona Maciejowska, Malgorzata Krzeczkowska.
Page No : 55-63
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ANALYSIS OF FEEDBACKS OF CHEMISTRY TEXTBOOKS USERS IN POLAND
Abstract
As a result of restructuring of the education system in Poland in 1999, a number of new textbooks have appeared. Textbook optimization involves familiarization with the feedback of students and teachers regarding the publishers. In the presented research, this method has been used, involving the feedback from the users. The questionnaire for the teachers at the lower and the upper secondary level in various regions of Poland has been prepared. The examinations have shown a need to create detailed standards regulating the suitability of the textbook in the process of teaching-learning.
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Author(s):
Editorial Board.
Page No : 67-68
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END
Abstract
End page, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2011, GU/NSE
