Problems of Education in the 21st Century

9-14

Authors: Nitza Davidovich, Yutri Ribakov

A required course on programming in MATLAB has been included in the undergraduate programs at Ariel University Center of Samaria since 2000. In the Department of Civil Engineering, students attend a one-semester course in MATLAB in the first year of the program. The course syllabus includes 26 hours of lectures and 26 hours of tutorials. The students learn elementary mathematical commands, functions for vector and matrix operations, logic operators, methods for solving systems of linear equations, graphics, symbolic operations, input-output functions, and other operations. In the MATLAB course, which is taught by a faculty member of the department, students master the methodology of using MATLAB for solving real engineering problems. Throughout their undergraduate studies, students apply their skills in programming to topics related to structural engineering subjects. MATLAB has proved itself to be a very effective tool in the educational process because it offers a simple and powerful tool for analyzing and visualizing results of numerical simulations and measurements. Its universality allows easy understanding of complicated processes in different fields of engineering, forming a basis for greater success in education.

20-26

Authors: Zita Jenisová, Martin Bílek, Mariana Šranková

The paper deals with an example of the project oriented instruction. The described school project "Healthy and Non-healthy Nutrition" ran at Basic School Jarok, Slovak Republic. In the first part of the article, authors analyze the theoretical background of the project instruction, its advantages, disadvantages, threads and limits. In the second part, the entire project is described. It is structured into two phases. The first one involves project work of pupils, i.e. searching, collecting, processing information on the topic; in the second phase results are introduced to other pupils, teachers and the public. The materials were presented in the form of workshop which was attended by both active participants (i.e. pupils working on the project and their teachers) and visitors (i.e. other pupils, teachers, parents and guests). The project covers five topics (Vitamins, Carbohydrates, Cereal products, Lipids, Drinks). Materials relating to each topic were presented by pupils in attractive ways at separate checkpoints, being supported by competitions and games. At the final checkpoint the feedback (participants´ opinion) was collected from all participants and visitors in the form of questionnaires. They aimed at three groups: pupils, teachers and visitors. Totally 186 pupils, 27 teachers and 67 visitors participated in the project or attended the workshop. The questionnaires monitored the attractiveness of the project instruction for pupils and teachers, evaluated the suitability of the project method for teaching Chemistry and other subjects, etc. Generally said, the topic and method were highly appreciated by the participants and visitors, they supported motivation and created positive image of the school. The project instruction was recognized to be suitable for extended application in the future.

36-45

Authors: Hants Kipper, Tiia Rüütmann

Questioning is one of the essential teaching strategies or basic skills of teaching engineering, ensuring that all students learn as much as possible, think critically and acquire deep and thorough understanding of the topics they study. The role of teaching is to bring the knowledge to consciousness by asking questions. In the present article research findings are cited about questioning. Reasons are listed why sufficient wait time is important, appropriate questioning behaviours are described, examples are provided of different levels of questions and questioning practices to avoid are presented. Questioning procedures are described. The basic questioning strategies and prompting techniques used at Estonian Centre for Engineering pedagogy are described in the article. It is also discussed how questioning can create a dynamic learning environment in teaching engineering, based on the practice of Estonian Centre for Engineering Pedagogy.

55-62

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Renata Bilbokaitė, Janis Gedrovics

A number of the latest investigations specify the necessity of improving science education at all levels of the education system. A decreasing interest in sciences is one of the most acute problems of present education. The purpose of this research is to analyse how students evaluate the current situation on using different teaching/learning methods and means in the process of science education. Research was carried out in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia (Lamanauskas, Vilkonis, 2008). This article presents more exhaustive research results, which were obtained after carrying out comparative analysis between the respondents of two countries – Lithuania and Latvia. It is very important to compare the evaluation, attitudes of the students belonging to the same region country, because earlier carried out researches show that in spite of common natural science education tendencies, rather significant differences exist between countries. It is believable, that they are predetermined by various educational approaches, teachers’ competence and other different reasons.

70-83

Authors: Felisbela Martins

In 2001, the Currículo Nacional do Ensino Básico. Competências Essenciais [National Curriculum for Primary Education. Essential Competences] was published in Portugal. This document reorganizes basic level education from a curricular point of view. It is a fundamental reference document for curricular management in Portuguese schools and outlines guidelines for educational experiences as well as the essential competences, both general and specific, that students are to develop in each subject or subject area throughout their primary education. Since its implementation until today, at initial teacher education level, working documents were produced by the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto reflecting the interpretation of the documents issued by the Ministry of Education. These documents were shared by students, future teachers and also supervisors in the training sessions. This article aims to contextualize the National Curriculum for Primary Education in Portugal, Curriculum Guidelines for Geography, present guidelines for the initial training of Geography teachers at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto, as well as to introduce the empirical study that aims to identify (re)interpretations carried out by teachers at schools within the scope of the National Curriculum for Primary Education and the Curriculum Guidelines for Geography. The adopted stance, in light of Ball’s policy cycle, aims to analyze academic discourses and documents produced at initial teacher education level of the Department of Geography of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (context of influence and text production) as well as the contexts of action carried out in schools by teachers (context of practice).

94-102

Authors: Ioan G. Pop, Vistrian Maties

Education and training with specific procedures and techniques are crucial in continuously economic and social changes. The vocational educational training systems (VETS) together with industry are confronted with the need to develop theoretical sequences integrated with practical learning sequences, as well, all participants being determined to acquire key competences and update their skills as a continuous process throughout their lives. These objectives can be achieved only by sustainable long term effort raising skill levels with lifelong learning and knowledge triangle, education, research and innovation strategies. The VETS have to contribute efficiently and equitable to the modernization of education at all levels. Lifelong learning is imposed as a necessity in the new emergent knowledge based economy, supporting creativity as a contextual innovative process enabling full economical and social participation, teachers and trainers been challenged by a lot of problems. Technology education holds the potential for teaching all the people involved in the VETS as lifelong learning apprentices to get ability in problem solving, being considered as only logical system based on a new, synergistic education. The new profession, mechatronician, as a technology education job profile, has to be made more attractive, only the quality of teacher education being able to influence the performance of the apprentices.

113-118

Authors: Yordanka Stefanova, Maria Minevska, Svetla Evtimova

This article presents the results of a theoretical study, which purpose is to identify opportunities to update the learning process. Subject of study is the formation of scientific literacy among students in Bulgarian schools. Our study has two aspects: scientific literacy in the normative documents regulating the teaching of science in the Bulgarian school; approaches, methods and tools for the formation of scientific literacy. The analysis of normative documents is discussed in relation to scientific knowledge and scientific processes for the formation of scientific literacy among students in secondary schools in Bulgaria. Need for changes in science teacing is discussed in terms of: the choice of approaches, methods and tools for the formation of scientific literacy among students, the creation of appropriate tools, including questions and problems, case studies pertaining to specific situations and require event critical attitude towards the statements and opinions expressed and decisions on important life issues, creating the right environment in which students work together as active learners and that could lead to the development of student's knowledge necessary for life.

128-133

Authors: Boris Jarinovskis

In the course of study in high school students write scientific papers, developing coursework, undergraduate, qualification, post-graduate works. Performance by students of research work (SRW) has specific features. Each type of research has a purpose. Almost - it complex usage of theoretical and practical solutions, the corresponding specific speciality. The main problems in carrying out research students are: lack of experience in conducting research, the difficulty in generating and processing of scientific information (SI) of speeches and prepare it for printing or the defense, etc. The studies were conducted in the Engineering Faculty of Rezekne Higher School during the academic year in the past 5 years. Follows up on research results ready for publication or protection. Revealed the complexity of the choice of subjects of research, analysis and synthesis of materials. Much of the information students are using Internet resources. In addition, a number of students showing disrespect for intellectual property, violating copyrights, quoting long texts (over 300 words). Recommendations are made for students and heads of scientific works to implement SRW in terms of training, protection, or print study works, dissertations (projects).