Journal of Baltic Science Education

3

Authors: Andris Broks

Editorial, JBSE, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002

19-30

Authors: Eve Kikas, Triin Hannust, Hele Kanter

The investigation was aimed to study the influence of age and experimental teaching conditions on the learning of the concepts of the earth and gravity. 47 kindergarteners (age 60-69 months) and 56 first graders (age 85-95 months) were assigned into three groups: model-based, verbal-individual teaching and control groups. Three topics, aimed to treat children’s preliminary notions and to change children’s entrenched beliefs, were covered in teaching: the spherical shape of the earth; gravity; the relativity of up-down direction. The results showed that both 5- and 7-years-old children’s astronomy knowledge was improved due to teaching, regarding of which teaching method was used; however, the condition x age interaction was not significant. Difficulties that occurred during learning and their sources are discussed and conclusions for education are drawn.

40-49

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Natural Science education is important for all stages of the human’s ontogenesis. Besides, it carries a diverse and specific character throughout different age periods. Therefore, the opinion, that primary school doesn’t play a significant role guarantying Natural Science technological literacy, arises as the wrong one. On the contrary, most of the researches indicate that this stage of Natural Science education is of great importance. Moreover, the situation discloses that Natural Science education at primary school is indispensable and the most complicated one. The gaps in knowledge of the discussing subject left within this period of education can be hardly restored in the future. It has been accepted that the 21st century should be called a century of modern biology. And it concerns not intellect only. Moral issues, such as respect for nature and harmony with it, have become very important. Finally, the human should understand his inability of becoming the Lord of Nature. Thus, Natural Science Education should somehow support this idea. Theoretical analysis allows to maintain existing various typologies of motivation. 307 primary school teachers and 257 students have participated in the research. The research indicates that the practical type of motivation of interaction with nature predominates among the primary school teachers and students while the esthetic type of motivation is in the second place. The cognitive type of motivation appears as the weakest one.

59-66

Authors: Andrejs Geske, Andris Kangro

The article deals with the two largest international comparative studies in science, the first cycles of which took place in the last years of the previous century and which go on today as well - IEA TIMSS (Trends in Mathematics and Science Study) and OECD PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment). The average achievements of Latvia’s students in science in each of the studies are different but the general situation of science education in Latvia is satisfactory and corresponding to our economic situation. We support the opinion that improving of Latvia’s economics and correct developing of the country’s educational system will advance students’ achievements. At the same time there are several spheres, which need immediate improvement. Especially, it concerns our students’ skills to apply the knowledge gained in science lessons to real life situations.

75-81

Authors: Miia Rannikmäe

The paper describes the effectiveness of the intervention training and draws attention to the most important factors to be considered in developing service programmes for the promotion of STL teaching skills. STL is taken to mean developing the ability to creatively utilise sound science knowledge in everyday life to solve problems, make decisions and improve the quality of life. The STL study was divided into three phases: teaching based on STL materials supplied to teachers, a six month active involvement through workshops where teachers developed and tried out their own STL materials and a follow up allowing the application of the skills acquired during the intervention. STL materials were defined as materials, of social issue, based, student-centred decision-making, and/or problem-solving units, within curriculum topics (Holbrook&Rannikmäe, 1997). Altogether, 45 science teachers and 1163 students were involved in the study. As a result of the 6 months intervention period it was found that the major factor illustrating effectiveness of a teacher developed STL materials was their ownership of STL teaching, expressed in terms of the ability to develop consequence maps. The structure of the consequence maps was used to distinguish three categories of teachers: subject learning activity based, with dominance on facts and concepts; sequenced activity based, with emphasis on process skills; social issue based, including problem-solving and decision-making strategies. Data collected 10 months after the intervention had indicated the need for re-categorisation of teachers, because the extent of the teacher change was not sustained and ownership of STL decreased. Three new categories were found based on teacher’s perception of relevance of science education: motivational relevance, skills relevance and social relevance. The effectiveness of the intervention programme was obvious: teachers who acknowledged the need for teaching social skills in conjunction with science concepts and process skills, continued to embed these ideas into their teaching ten months after the intervention. The sustained change was illustrated by phenomenographical outcome space (Marton, 1981).

3

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Editorial for JBSE

7-15

Authors: Aadu Ott

A conceptual matrix for science education is presented. It contains nine matrix elements, metaphysics, epistemology, ontology, praxis in classroom, content, theories of learning, teachers teaching, students learning and students preconceptions. These elements are linked to each other and constitute a didactical web. The elements in the matrix are regarded from three aspects, philosophical, operational, and interactive. The elements in the matrix and the aspects are discussed from a point of view in which the sociocultural perspective challenges the scientific paradigm of learning. The resulting standpoint is that it is fruitful in science education to utilize the sociocultural perspective in interaction with a constructivistic way of creating knowledge in order to extend the scientific paradigm for teaching and learning in science.

25-35

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Some aspects of Natural Science Education at Lithuania’s Basic School are being researched in the article. It is being introduced a part of the survey “Situation and peculiarities of Natural Science Education at Basic School”, that took place in 2000/01 and was addressed to the essential didactic features. Particular attention is being paid to the analysis of the views and opinions of the teachers of Natural Science Education. Also, the view of teachers to the structure of Natural Science subjects, teaching methods, standardization and other questions, connected with Basic School, is being analyzed in the article.

44-54

Authors: Elena Popkova

In article the problem of the scientifically proved approach to selection of the contents of an educational material in conditions of a computerization of training to naturalscientific disciplines is staticized and the ways of its decision are offered. In work have found reflection results of the ra-ther-comparative analysis of the literature, the specificity of the computer aided training of chemis-try, biology and geography at school revealed, the essence and structure of a phenomenon of infor-mation-computer culture of the person is determined. The allocation of ideal model potential of the person, information-computer culture and in-formation-computer activity in quality a determinant of information-computer preparation of the schoolboys that are carried out during their training to naturalscientific disciplines is proved. The system of principle formations of structure of the contents of an educational material is described at the computer aided training to naturalscientific disciplines. The necessity of inclusion in this system of principles of double entry of components, continuity, functional completeness, differentiation and integration is opened. The system of principles of selection of the contents of an educational material is submitted as over-system, which includes system of principles of selection of an invariant nucleus and system of principles of selection of a varying environment of the contents of an ed-ucational material. Is proved, that the invariant nucleus of the contents of an educational material should be selected according to principles of scientific character; unities of the substantial and re-medial party of training; structural unity; of giving humanitarian and entering fundamental; it is necessary to select conformity of the basic components of the contents to structure of culture of the person, and varying environment of the contents proceeding from principles of integration of the contents of disciplines, introductions of a history and introduction of methodology, socialization, practical importance, optimum combination of an educational material of regional and global char-acter, conformity and necessary sufficiency.

71

Authors: Editorial Board

End page, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002