Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science

203-212

Authors: CARBOVÁ, Anna; BETÁKOVÁ, Lucie

Integration of information and communication technology into other than Information Technology subjects taught at schools of all levels in the Czech Republic has become of great importance. As schools are equipped with information and communication technology (ICT) much better than ever before researchers have focused on the way they are used in the classes. Development of technology is fast and not all teachers from schools have undergone education on how to integrate technology into the teaching process. These are the reasons why it is necessary to find a system for training teachers in this field. We provided such a training course for secondary school English teachers. This article brings information about the impact of this course on one model teacher’s lessons. A questionnaire, which was specially developed for the purpose of evaluating technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), is introduced in this article. It assesses the TPACK development perceived by the teacher. We describe in detail how the new knowledge and skills reflect in her teaching. The results are demonstrated on the Technological pedagogical content knowledge framework.

232-244

Authors: JEŘÁBEK, Tomáš; RAMBOUSEK, Vladimír; PROKÝŠEK, Miloš

This article examines the issue of augmented reality and possibilities of its application in education. It briefly reports on selected results of a broader survey focused on technological, psychological, physiological and didactical aspects of the issue. It presumes that augmented reality has its unique place in technical teaching tools since it is a technological-perception concept, which in certain didactical situations creates more suitable perceptual environment than real environment itself on one hand, or virtual environment on the other. It focuses on identification of the technological-functional properties and specifics of augmented reality systems and on verification of model examples of augmented reality applications in school practice. It characterizes the course and results of empirical research project based on a descriptive case study exploring the cases of implementing selected application solutions of augmented reality into learning experience in accordance with the model of pro-active action research.

265-280

Authors: FLÉGL, Martin; TICHÁ, Ivana; STANISLAVSKÁ KVASNIČKOVÁ, Lucie

Research results and university performance measures have been frequently discussed topic in the Czech higher education system. Performance can be improved by establishing innovations in education in many areas. At higher education sector the performance within research activities is of the same importance. Various authorities have been making an effort to establish a set of measures to assess research performance at institutional level. This paper focuses on the assessment of research activity within an institution – the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM), Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS) Prague – with the use of Data Envelopment Analysis model (DEA). The measured units (DMUs) are 12 FEM departments. Based on the findings revealed by the DEA model application various measures adopted by the faculty in order to improve research and education performance are introduced. Following the widespread trend in many countries the focus of the effort is in training of university teachers and students. This aim is being partially accomplished by the Project Operational Program Prague – Adaptability (OPPA), which is focused on the innovation of the Ph.D. studies at the FEM. The main project aims are i) to improve students’ research experiences, ii) to provide appropriate conditions for Ph.D. students at the departments/faculty and iii) to launch tools for better communication among Ph.D. students and their supervisors.

294-307

Authors: Zuzana Pacáková

Motivation to study is a topic to be studied on various levels of educational process, although the methods to be used can be very different. We have examined the motivational response of university students on various motivational actions. Credit tests results of a sample of Business and Administration study programme students from the period 2009/10 to 2012/13 were analyzed. During this period several motivational actions were accepted. The most important one was a chance to pass the exam on the basis of credit tests results only, if given 15 or more points from maximum of 20 points. On the other hand the students were given less tries to finish the test. It was found an increase in mean point results especially in the winter term. There is also an increasing percentage of students able to pass the test on the first attempt and increasing proportion of students who are given exam grade on the basis of the credit tests results. Therefore it can be assumed, that motivation in a form of possibility to be given the exam grade on the basis of credit tests, is very strong.

328-335

Authors: MILDEOVÁ, Stanislava

The paper examines the research problem (question) as one of the first methodological steps that has to be accurately and clearly defined. The necessity of modern scientific work is to understand and analyse problems holistically, to see it as a network of interconnected parts. In this sense we show that combination of mental mapping and connection circle may be a way that will be beneficial defining the research problem. There is some evidence from interviews held with PhD students, who were participated in the course Research Methods for Managers at the University of Economics in Prague from 2012-2013.

134-142

Authors: Mohd Khata Jabor, Magaji Ibrahim Sale, Ahmad Aliyu Deba, Aede Hatib Musta’mal, Abubakar Sadiq Bappah

This conceptual reviewed paper looks critically at the trend of information and communication technology especially now that the implementation of e-learning is gaining more relevance in Nigerian tertiary institutions. It discusses the level of preparedness in terms of the required skills by Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) teachers, availability of infrastructures and other constraints in using the ICTs for effective teaching and learning. Beside, leadership strategies ranging from school administration, executive leaders and policy makers roles were also discussed as a vital component in line with the outlined barrier to TVE teacher preparedness to e-learning. Specifically, the study sought to answer four among the most critical questions that need to be addressed for effective implementation of e-learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The paper concluded by making recommendations based on the four questions statedin this study. Amongst the recommendations are that urgent step needs be taken by school and executive administrators and policy makers in the training of TVE teachers in the relevant ICTs areas through in-service training and seminars/workshops.

155-166

Authors: SEDLAČÍK, Marek; ČECHOVÁ Ivana; DOUDOVÁ Lucie

Applied mathematics and English language belong among consequential subjects within the Faculty of Economics and Management curriculum. The authors focused on these two subjects and apart from their description they deal with entrance exam analysis for bachelor degree at the Faculty of Economics and Management, which is a part of the University of Defence. In an endeavour to widen the understanding referring to factors predicting academic achievement in tertiary education, the authors compare the entrance test results and try to find out whether there is an independent relationship between success in the English language test and success in the Learning Potential Test. Exploratory statistics and methods of non-parametric statistics for testing of the hypothesis regarding this relationship is described in the last part of this article.

179-189

Authors: VNOUČKOVÁ, Lucie

The primary goal of all organisations is efficiency of human resources. Therefore activities as HR controlling, performance management but also cutting costs are the main theme. Current organisations need to monitor human resources to keep their competitiveness. Thus paper describes the key factor of organisational efficiency - employee education, talent management and the necessity to retain skilled employees. The aim of the paper is to reveal the current approach in organisations to education and learning based on primary survey of employees. The data were collected using quantitative primary survey in Czech organisations across sectors. The questionnaire was compiled based on the theoretical background. The paper has been processed based on the analysis of secondary sources, outcome synthesis and the evaluation of results of a questionnaire survey. The data were analysed using descriptive statistic, correlation analysis and factor analysis. The SPSS programme was used for the analyses. The outcomes were categorized and the analyses revealed the main factors affecting organisational approach to employee learning and development. The results identify three possible approaches in organisations to employee learning and development. The first type of organisations educates employees by their own rules, second type does not support education of employees in any way, it is only an interest of employees themselves and thirdly knowledgeable employees were identified as those employees do as much as possible to learn and grow and they choose job position in order to develop constantly. The results can be taken into account in further analysis and in organisation of adult education.

61-70

Authors: KÖPRÜLÜ,Özlem

This article focuses on action research study which was conducted with the third class students of English Language Teaching Department ,which was completed in four weeks.The aim was to introduce action research to teachers-in-preparation and encourage them to use it after their graduation to help them to become reflective teachers..Before this action research began,teachers-in-preparation had been tutoring for five weeks.In the first week of the action research study,in the classroom, students tried to find common teaching problems they had while tutoring and they used data collection techniques such as video-taping and peer observation, and in the second week they shared what they had learned about their problems and what their action plans were.In later weeks they shared the results of their the action plans and how successful their plans were.It was hoped that teachers-in-preparation would become more flexible in their thinking,be more open to new ideas and would learn to develop professional autonomy.

84-104

Authors: KOTEKOVÁ, Daniela

The aim of language learning is not only to achieve an academic success carried out by a fluent speaking; mastering the grammar and vocabulary but it should also focus on the psychological comfort and the intrinsic readiness of the students to participate in their education - to receive and perform. The learners’ self-esteem plays the fundamental role in any language classroom but gaining it is the task on its own and can be quite a challenge for the teachers. How students feel is closely related to their ability to learn. Teachers’ task is thus not only to provide knowledge and information but first of all they should immerse themselves into the student’s mind and discover the best way to awake learner’s will to communicate. This paper focuses on two kinds of aspects participating on the emotional state of the learner, academic and psychological. The students of two different levels of English have answered the questionnaire, assessing their attitude, anxiety and motivation towards learning English. Each opinion has been evaluated and put into relationship with the ability to relax, understand, learn and enjoy at the same time. Their analyses have become the base of several teaching techniques that would build and encourage the students’ confidence as the main condition to start any cognitive process. If confidence is the cause or the outcome of mastering a foreign language was the question asked and answered in this work. Confidence mastery has thus played the fundamental role in the present survey.

1-13

Authors: TURČÁNI, Milan; KUNA, Peter

Nowadays, quality Mathematical basis - Informatics is an inherent part of study. Mathematical basis is provided by Discrete Mathematics that is taught as a compulsory subject in stated study program in the Department of Mathematics. Authors clarify significance and importance of simple thematic units of subject Discrete Mathematics in teaching technical-system subjects in study programme Applied Informatics. Mentioned subject is being taught in first year of University study and knowledge that students acquire during the study of this course are the "cornerstone" for their further development in technical-system study. Justness and importance of individual topics were analysed based on the evaluation of questionnaires, in which pedagogues teaching professional IT subjects alloted weighted coefficients to individual thematic units. Weighted coefficients were alloted based on the significance of the given topic of the subject Discrete Math, with regard to the IT subject they are teaching. Upon designing the e-course, experience with the creation of linear and branch teaching software were used. For the simulation of the transition of students through individual lessons as well as the whole course, authors employed the method of the teaching process simulation using Petri nets.

24-33

Authors: PROKÝŠEK, Miloš; RAMBOUSEK, Vladimír

The article deals with the issue of the impact of spatial visualization on education. It reports on some of the findings of a research project focused on defining the correlation between components of spatial intelligence and absorbing the information presented by planar or spatial visualization. The research examined educational impact of differences in mental models of lower-secondary school students watching spatial visualization in relation to mental models formed through watching planar visualization and also a level of cognitive strain of learners perceiving spatial and planar visualization in relation to their specific predispositions, namely to various components of spatial intelligence.

46-60

Authors: RAUCHOVÁ, Tereza; HOUŠKA, Milan

Texts are an important way to share and transfer knowledge. In this paper we analyse the impact of a specific form of texts, so called “knowledge texts”, on the efficiency of knowledge transfer. The objective is to verify or reject several hypotheses on the relationships among the style of educational texts (standard or knowledge styles), learning outcomes (performance of the students after learning) and subjective evaluation of conformity of working with individual styles of the texts. For this purpose, we carry out experiment with a homogeneous group of the students (n = 41) divided into an experimental group and a control group. We use statistical methods to process the results of the experiments; ability of the students to solve specific tasks and their opinions on readability and understandability of the texts subject to the time spent for learning. Even if we determine statistically significant relationships between the style of texts and accuracy of the problem solving in the experimental group only, the results allow us to improve the experiment and apply the methodology developed in a less structured branch than the Operational Research (Graph Theory) is. The methodology is another benefit of the paper, because it can be applied independently on a particular domain.