Problems of Education in the 21st Century

7-14

Authors: Olga V. Balachevskaya, Nikolay V. Sheldeshov, Tatyana N. Litvinova

The main objective of the present study is the statistical processing of the results of the examination how effective was the integration of the introductory block into the module structure of physical and colloidal chemistry course. To get reliable results of the level of mathematical material mastering the control test which consists of the fundamental elements of the mathematical processing the results of chemical experiments was carried out. The students of pharmaceutical department from Kuban State Medical University as well as the students of four departments of two other universities and one academy took part in this experiment. The outcome variable was completeness of student’s answers. The results of the research were treated by component analyses. Nonparametric criteria were used for statistical estimation. The number of tested students in a single group were from 27 up to 60. The statistical results processing of empirical research proves the efficiency of introduction of mathematical block into module structure of the physical and colloidal chemistry course.

21-30

Authors: Renate Kalnina

The competitiveness of young people in the labour market is determined by the level of their education or a set of competencies satisfying modern requirements, and objective assessment methodology is needed for the identification and monitoring of students’ ability to master the quality, growth dynamics and improvement of this set of competencies. The improvement of organization management system that is aimed at excellent and efficient management makes use of RADAR assessment methodology. The Article deals with the learning achievement assessment model in the chemistry-teaching course that has been synthesized on the RADAR assessment concept basis. The developed model is based on four priorities: 1. Assessment is transformative – it is carried out individually and collectively to stimulate students to develop the adequacy effect aimed at becoming aware of their learning abilities. 2. Assessment can be reviewed – the set of criteria provides information on improvement possibilities and harmonization that would promote formation of continuous improvement spiral. 3. Assessment can be deployed – the acquired information is applied, planned and used in experiments to promote changes in learning activities. 4. Assessment is successive – elements of assessment process promote successive assessment during learning process.

37-44

Authors: Libor Kvitek, Jana Soukupova, Ludmila Zajoncova, Tana Stosova, Petr Tarkowski, Ales Panacek, Marta Kleckova

The presented research educational project is aimed on search of new forms of competitive activities that would support the interest in natural sciences as such. For school collectives there were suggested topics for the scientific competitive work in good accordance with their age group. Fundamentally the topics had to correspond with the pupil’s and student’s request to work on a serious scientific problems. In the first year of the project there were involved 29 pupils from three primary schools, 38 secondary school pupils from four schools and 81 students attending high school in eleven different institutions. In the course of the first year of the project it has been proved that especially the pupils from primary and secondary schools are enthusiastic and eager to work and participate on the solution of some “semi-scientific problems”. For this age group there were chosen two themes - “Water and Milk” (primary school) and “Honey, the Gods’ Dish” (secondary school). First mentioned topic undoubtedly fulfilled all the requirements for the great experimental potential but the topic for secondary school involving experiments with honey has proved not to convey such variety of impressive experiments as it had been expected and calls for optimalisation. High school students have already obtained sufficient knowledge from natural sciences. Moreover, teenagers want to be treated as adults and therefore they feel the need to work on “real” research topics. This kind of approach was offered by the finally chosen theme “Plants, medicinal plants, and drugs” which was very well received by the newly established groups of young scientists. The schools were offered the background support from the university, which was highly praised especially when the realization of more complicated experiments were required.

54-58

Authors: Liudmila Maisenia

The article is about the modification of the main educational aim, which is urgent for Belarusian colleges nowadays: integration of general education, technical education and higher professional education. Diversity of set tasks and multilevel character of educational system distinctive for colleges imply quite complex pedagogical problems. Success in tackling arisen problems depends on success of realization of systemic approach that directs pedagogue-researchers on disclosure of object’s integrity, on detection diverse types of ties in it. In terms of increasing requirements to level of mathematical education in technical college, modeling of integrated mathematical course, which creates the basis for permanent education and for achievement of a key goal – mathematical training of professionally competent graduates becomes issue of current importance.

67-72

Authors: Vladimír Rambousek, Pavel Beneš, Martin Adamec

Contemporary society is witnessing changes and processes triggered by the groundbreaking development of humankind’s technical capacity, especially in the area of informational and communication technologies (ICT). In this new society, learning and a continual educational process constitute basic preconditions for the success of individuals as well as for the entire society. In this context, information literacy is becoming increasingly important. Informational literacy is generally understood as the ability to use information sources and communication technologies in order to solve problems in one’s everyday activities, or to increase one’s labour efficiency or the quality of life, respectively. The Faculty of Education at Charles University in Prague is currently dealing with a research project entitled “Changes in education reality in conditions of developing information society”. The research focused on five thematic fields: Education reality, the dynamics and connections to the spheres of knowledge and the ICT; curricular and procedural aspects of changes in context of the integration of the ICT into schools and of the training for life in the knowledge society; information and communication technology as the component of educative environment of the knowledge society; models of the support of learning and instruction via the ICT and their evaluation; preparing the teachers for educational tasks in the knowledge society and the integration of ICT into education. Teacher-training colleges should consistently and purposefully prepare would-be teachers for education that encourages functional literacy, or for the implementation of a broadly defined information-based education that transcends the constraints of a specialized subject. These are the most relevant focus areas: gathering, analysing and organizing information; disseminating ideas and information, and understanding an entire complex interconnecting system; planning and organizing one’s work activities; adopting teamwork and cooperation; using systemic procedures, terminology and methodology; developing the ability of logical reasoning and strategies aimed at dealing with problems; being able to use technical equipment; cultivating a spirit of solidarity and cooperation among students; using active learning methods; providing quick feedback and testing one’s knowledge by means of ICT; emphasizing the deadline by which the assigned problem task has to be solved; taking into consideration the diversified talents of individual students and various ways of teaching. This paper deals, in general, with the consequences of deep impact of the new information and communication technology on the society and describes its characteristic features and contributions for education. It also offers the characteristics subject of the one of meaning longitudinal research orientation of Faculty of Education of Charles University in Prague.

82-88

Authors: Ivona Trejbalová, Eva Stratilová Urválková, Petr Šmejkal

The education of physical chemistry at Czech schools is rarely supported by corresponding experiments and hardly any of them reflects the real-life laboratory and industrial practice, where a large scale employment of devices and applications based on physical chemistry methods and phenomena is typical. For example, various types of methods based on interaction of light and matter are widely used for analysis in science and industry (UV VIS, Infra-Red, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy etc.) and in various commercial applications (optical devices). Plenty of analytical and commercial applications are based on electrochemical phenomena (pH measurements, ion selective electrodes, dry cells etc.). Therefore, it is necessary to introduce the physical chemistry phenomena and related experiments supported by appropriate devices and methods in high schools chemistry curriculum. However, for majority of high schools in the Czech Republic, the price, space requirements and necessity of trained staff are limiting factors for employment of these devices and experiments in physical chemistry education. Solution of the problem is searching for such devices which are relatively cheap, modular, multifunctional and user-friendly with cheap and easy servicing and creating the experiments and educational materials which reflect the phenomena and applications mentioned above. To fulfill the task, spectrometer Ocean Optics USB 2000 and multifunctional device Pierron Infraline Graphic have been employed as suitable devices for preparation and testing of variable educational materials and experiments which are focused on introducing the spectroscopy and spectroscopic methods as well as other methods based on physical chemistry phenomena (pH, conductivity) into high school chemistry curriculum. There have been proposed, prepared and tested the educational materials suitable for high school, including PC presentations (MS PowerPoint, OOo Impress), educational texts and work-sheets describing experiments. These are, for example, qualitative and quantitative analysis of dyes in various foods and drinks, natural dyes in herbs, shortened analysis of water (Cl-, NO3-, pH measurements, and conductivity).

95-100

Authors: Inara Dunska

Many students do not hide their desire to leave the country to study or work. There is a sufficient outflow of perspective human resources abroad, from villages to bigger cities. Present times offer many perspectives to make these plans come true, the youth does not feel any responsibility for „the small motherland”. The efforts in the youth patriotic education field represent the opportunity for improvement of the situation at present. High schools along with schools always carried out state-forming function. If there is a decrease in the patriotic attitude towards the country, it means, that the crisis has come. Nowadays it is very important to educate the patriotic attitude in students towards their native city, settlement and preparing them for performing a civic duty in relation to the motherland. If the high school successfully carries out educational duties the state has an opportunity to become stronger and more economically stable. It gets personal value for each young man, who has been brought up with the patriotic attitude towards „the small motherland”. Many students from rural areas remain in cities and the connection with their native places gradually weakens. To prevent this, it is necessary to bring up and support the feeling of respect towards history, culture, the nature of native land. It is possible to support many high school courses with regional components and thus to promote the feeling of pride for native land, develop interest to independent studying of materials about native land, communicate with compatriots. The method of study about native land lead students to studying of human resources of „the small motherland”, natural resources and historical values.

111-116

Authors: Tatyana L. Mazurok

On the modern stage there is strengthening of integrative processes in science and in education. Forming of integrative abilities is extraordinary important for preparation of specialists in the conditions of informative society. One of the most effective forms of the integrated teaching is intersubject connections. Efficiency of their use depends on the great number of factors, but depends mainly on qualification of teacher, its ability and desire systematic to use intersubject connections. In order to promote objectivity of factors, influencing on quality of teaching, and also to help a teacher in planning, organization and realization of network of intersubject communications it is necessary to develop programmatic tools, allowing carrying out intellectual support a teacher at a decision-making about the choice of elements of intersubject connections. A decision set the problem is possible on the basis of the use of modern of informatively-communications technologies. Because the process of exposure, establishment and introduction of intersubject connections is badly added formalization, as a suitable tool for the decision of task it is suggested to use consulting models. Basis for a decision-making is a base of knowledge, which consists of rules of production. Rules are made on the basis of questioning of experts - lecturer of high qualification, possessing abilities and skills of realization of intersubject connections. The conducted computer experiments confirm a capacity offered approach. The editor of intersubject links is realized, the control the base of these attributive tasks system is developed on an informatics and economy for the students of physic and mathematical institute of South-Ukrainian Pedagogical university named after K. Ushinsky. By neural networks models possibility of management the integrative function of intersubject connections is got. Taking this approach served basis for development of computer-aided technologies of preparation and realization of intersubject connections. Such technology can be applicable both in the automated teaching and in traditional. However expected most efficiency is at introduction of it in methodology of creation of the controlled from distance teaching courses.

125-132

Authors: Tatyana V. Masharova, Elena L. Syrtsova

Disclosing essence of concept "intelligence" it is necessary to consider concepts "morality", "education", "breeding". Historically there were two directions in understanding morality: religious and secular. The religious consciousness saw in spirit of the man a part of the God, which comprehension is impossible with the help of reason. The difference of a secular approach on morality from religious one is that in the second approach there is no idea of connection of morality with the God, as determining beginning of life of the man. Morality is shown in need of self-perfection, rising of the man above himself. The intelligence, as property of the man, is based on morality, activity of spirit. The intelligence includes a conscious part of activity of spirit, reasonable, intellectual, rational. The intelligence is a part of morality in cognitive understanding. The basis for intelligence is education. Education includes the sum of knowledge received during training, information about changes in this science in time, and also aspiration and need in development, increasing of this knowledge, skill to take new possessions. The man educated should have the opinion about the new scientific data and be able to prove it. The man cultured constantly improves the intelligence, as the flow of the information is huge and never comes to an end. The intellectual perfection has no borders. The intelligence understood through breeding, assumes presence of an internal core of the person, a certain code of honour, decency and nobleness. Along with the listed qualities, the intelligence includes politeness, tact, fidelity and compassion. This is the modern conception of the brought up man. Breeding is characterized by the set of socially qualities generated enough, which reflect the system of man's attitudes to a society, people, activity, nature, art. It is possible to tell, that it is the certain level of culture of the person, one of which parameters is the skill to carry out search and to make a moral choice in non-standard situations. In modern interpretation the intelligence is understood as integrative quality of the man, which includes the harmonious advanced spiritual-moral, professional-labour and civil culture. So, a modern intellectual is a tolerant and responsible person having large internal culture, recognizing self-value of a personality, respecting his rights and advantages, guided in the acts and actions by conscience and validity, able and aspiring to work at a high professional level, keeping an active civil position.

141-154

Authors: Artūrs Prauliņš

The article is dedicated to problems and possibilities of development in terms of realization of Academic and Professional Master’s Degree program in Accounting at the University of Latvia. Carrying out continuous comparative analysis of Master’s program at different foreign Higher educational establishments (University of Saskatchewan in Canada, Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, Tallinn Technical University in Estonia), as well as using the references of accreditation expert group, the author identifies plenty of weaknesses appropriate to programs of University of Latvia and has elaborated a range of suggestions, which will provide the better programs conformity to the standards, established for Master‘s Degree achievement in the states with developed market economics. The main recommendations for program improvement are as follows: increase of specific weight for the subjects referring to accounting and audit decreasing general studying course scope (micro economical and macro economical analysis, demography); elimination of program subjects doubling between the list of studied subjects before the start of Master’s Degree studies and the list of Master’s Degree subjects; updating of studying subject „International Financial Reporting Standards” content, further studying of only the most complicated and problematic standards; implementation of new studying subjects („Foreign Language for the Needs of Scientific Research” and „Research Methodology in Accounting”) and „Research Seminars”; inspiration of Master’s Degree students to work independently in the library; extension of Master’s thesis elaboration period up to 2 semesters instead of existing 1 semester. The suggested innovations not only increase the competitive ability of the mentioned before programs in Latvian Higher Education Market, but also can improve the status of Master’s Degree in Accounting. Though implementation of innovations requires essential investments and labour force (including involvement of new qualified staff), attempt to ignore the necessity of changes may have an extended harmful effect, in particular, loss in competition for potential students (as their quantity decrease due to demographic crisis in the beginning of 1990’s) is expected in the nearest future.

161-165

Authors: Aleksey S. Chernyshov, Sergei V. Sarychev, Jury L. Lobkov

The paper deals with the problem of elaborating psychological means of personal development of socially gifted teenagers (youth leaders) in changing social milieu nowadays. Teenage leadership is supposed to be learnt and formed within the framework of specially organized social environment – social oasis. The process of social oasis design based upon social learning and working out adequate social technologies makes it possible to improve gifted teenagers motivation. Combination of social cognition and social action makes it possible to perform social renovation of youth personality and reach higher level of small groups’ social maturity. The tools to design social oasis suggested by paper’s authors are: forming of mental culture of youth groups; inclusion of educational specialist into joint action with alumnus; engaging all participators into highly organized commonality; introduction of democratic organizational procedures in small groups; aggregative spatial organization of joint actions; social, mental and objective enrichment of activities; strengthening of intellectual, emotional and behavioral component joint activities in small groups.