Problems of Education in the 21st Century

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Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 53, PEC, 2013

7-21

Authors: Kenneth Adu-Gyamfi

This study investigated the factors that contribute to the non-science students’ lack of interest in school science through the use of a 27-item questionnaire. This assisted in comparing the male and female non-science students’ lack of interest in school science. There were 259 male and female students from three senior high schools in three District Assemblies of the Ashanti Region of Ghana who participated in the study. Quantitative data were collected from the 259 students through a cross-sectional survey. The research questions were answered with mean, standard deviation, percentage, boxplot, and independent-samples t-test. The results of the study have shown that the factors that contribute to students’ lack of interest in school science include as higher demands of students’ time in learning science, less practical nature of science teaching and learning, failure of science students with larger aggregate from high school to gain admission into tertiary institutions, too broad nature of science content, lack of sponsorship for science students, school science as difficult subject compared to others, and teaching of science is a transmission of knowledge from science teachers or textbooks to students. The results of the study have further shown that there was a statistical significant difference between the mean scores of male and female non-science students’ lack of interest in school science. Science teachers are therefore encouraged to adopt strategies that could encourage students to develop and show interest in science related subjects and courses.

40-50

Authors: Peter Hidvegi, Reka Racsko

In people’s life their job takes a very important place which cuts across exist outside of work as a whole. The health status of the Hungarian population is among the worst in Europe. High mortality and morbidity rates of non-infectious diseases are mainly due to lifestyle factors, and job stress is a significant risk factor. Being an officer of the Customs and Finance Guard is a specific profession, the job stress is significant. If our aim is prevention, we have to start by evaluating the health status of the vulnerable population, and intervention can be designed in view of the results. Aim: A national context to explore about the customs and finance guard and teachers of police training colleges their stress level, and their chance of their advancement In view of the result, we would like to develop a health promoting project for this population with special profession. Sample: The study population consisted of 122 employees who have been working for the Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard for more than one year, 481 workers who have been employees of the Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard for less than a year, and 99 teachers of law enforcement schools. We used an impersonal style should be used self-report questionnaires for evaluation. The job stress questionnaire showed that the stress level of officers was significantly higher than that of teachers. The vulnerability of officers of the Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard is significantly higher than that of teachers, therefore, it is imperative to accomplish a health promoting project and burnout intervention.

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Authors: Laszlo F. Mucsics

The effects of global crises and the unique Hungarian economic difficulties render more and more hardships for non-full time students of higher education. The aim of this study twofold. It gives insight into how the ICTs are spread among the students of Karoly Robert College between 2006 and 2012 and examines the economic effect of private internal rate of return (IRR) by launching a form of online education in the changing environment of Hungarian tertiary education. In general, the study found that the student population is equipped with the proper up-to-date technology that enables using online education. In addition, with launching online education the students’ private IRR may also be increased significantly by reducing the cost of indirect cost. With the technological inventions and applications of the 21st century the Karoly Robert College designs and introduces a new learning environment for non-full time students since 2013.

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Authors: Darinka Sikošek, Mateja Žuželj

Chemical models are indispensable tool in chemistry class and enable secondary school pupils to develop complex thought processes and spatial concepts, both of which are necessary to improve their understanding of chemical concepts. In this research, special emphasis is given to complex competencies not only their acquisition, but rather how pupils develop them. For this purpose, a learning strategy has been developed, called learning by self-generating chemical models. Pupils learn individually on their own models, which are made from easily accessible, low-cost materials. The impact of workable models was investigated (assembly of commercial models and production of self-made models) on the (1) learning success using simple molecule shapes and (2) the degree of competence development which realized through the implemented activities. The study involved first-year secondary school-pupils, defined as self-creators of paper- and -wire models (experimental group) and assemblers of commercial models (called the control group). The appearance of the molecules being studied took the form of geometric shapes and structures, which pupils present by making of ball-, called wire-models from plasticine and wire or paper created, called paper models. Based on the results of statistical processing of the data, we found that self-creation of models (as an innovative approach) leads to better understanding and to subsequently sustained knowledge for the pupil. It should also be noted that pupils who were self-generators in comparisons to those who merely assembled the models, generally developed many complex skills in the areas of problem solving, practical competence, mathematical competence and critical thinking skills. The knowledge so acquired was also better understood.

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Authors: Dan Soen

Between the years 1990 and 2007 about one million immigrants entered Israel from the FSU (former Soviet Union). They constitute roughly 20% of the Jewish households in the country. Israel benefitted greatly from the high human capital of this mass migration: 38.8% of the immigrants had higher education, in contrast to 27.8% of the indigenous Jewish population. Taking into consideration the cultural background of FSU immigrants, this study explores whether the elite-traditional influences their offspring who graduate from high schools in Israel. This study is based on a survey of a sample of 80 high school students – 40 FSU immigrants and 40 Sabras (Israeli born). Contrary to the hypothesis, findings indicate no significant difference in attitudes towards higher education between the two groups

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Authors: Editorial Board

End page, Vol. 53, PEC, 2013