Journal of Baltic Science Education

1-2

Authors: Editorial Board

JBSE, Vol. 2, No. 1, Cover page

5-11

Authors: Aarne Tõldsepp, Vilja Toots

In this paper, research and development (R&D) work in the context of the current reforms in science education is analyzed from the perspective of compiling balanced curricula and syllabi for teaching science. We argue that science as a subject taught is not a rigid body of knowledge, rather than a style of life in rapidly evolving society. We consider the ideal paradigm of science education today as well as in the future as teaching balanced science according to balanced curricula in strongly social context based on psychological and didactical treatment. The main aim of science education is to achieve scientific and technological literacy (STL) among the students, to improve public understanding of science, and currently, to prepare future citizens. Compiling of the balanced curricula for science education should begin from establishing balance between educational goals aimed by the formation of STL. Implementing the balanced curricula demands the compiling of the balanced instructional system including balanced strategies and methodology for teaching science.

21-27

Authors: Mustafa Sozbilir

This study is intended to review some of the selected researches carried out on students’ understandings of entropy. The review puts together the important findings of the researches, summarises the misunderstanings identified together with the possible sources of these misunderstandings and new approaches in defining entropy. Therefore, this study would be beneficial for the researchers and lecturers in science and chemistry education area.

36-43

Authors: Juris Porozovs, Janis Gedrovics, Dzintra Porozova

One of the problems of Latvian educational system is teaching students to take care of their health themselves in the view of their professional career. It is necessary to choose a profession that is not only interesting, but also correspond to the person’s state of health. The factors of a harmful job can create a risk to the person’s health. In Latvia young people actually aren’t acquainted with the problems and harmful professional factors which can arise in the professional life in the future. This is why it is so important to include the course of Environment and occupational health in the secondary school teaching programs. The results of the students’ questionnaire indicated their knowledge of professional health being incomplete. Individual discussions with students have shown that students don’t pay much attention to the issue of work environment of their future profession and that their attitude to the problem is not serious. At the same time it was ascertained that the state of health of a number of students may restrict their professional choice. It was worked out the course Environment and occupational health and analysed a possibility of including the topics of the course in other science subjects such as biology, chemistry and physics. Such a course is a good example for enlarged science education at Upper secondary school level that makes science education more attractive.

62

Authors: Editorial Board

End page, JBSE, Vol. 2, No. 1