BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION POLICY

169-184

Authors: I.B. Ado, A.O. Akinbobola, G.B. Inyang

This study investigates the status of human resources in Bayelsa State of Nigeria and its implications for the implementation of upper basic of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme. A total of 181 teachers were involved in the study. The results of the study show that there are qualified human resources for the implementation of upper basic of the UBE programme in Bayelsa State of Nigeria but they are inadequate in all the three basic subjects (English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science). Also, there is no significant difference in the availability and adequacy of human resources in the three subjects. It is recommended that adequate human resources should be provided by the government for effective teaching and implementation of the UBE programme.

202-215

Authors: Z. Birknerova

Rapid and deep changes in economics and business environment along with the dynamic development of computer art and communication technologies represent the main factors identifying the development in the area of simulation business games. These games may be considered a strange, content-determined group of simulation games. The description of their content specialties, basic elements, and possibilities of their use are the essence of our report. In the conclusion we present a short research carried out at the Faculty of Management of the University of Prešov in Prešov where we made an investigation of the students´ opinions on the use of business games in the university educational process.

236-247

Authors: L. Sagbansua

In this study, information technologies, one of the biggest enablers of the modern supply chain management (SCM), are discussed. Types and ways of information technologies related to supply chain management are analyzed. Material Requirement Planning (MRP), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and electronic trade are discussed to provide an example.

275-310

Authors: M.S. Hamzah, A.N. Md Zain

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cooperative Learning with a Dual Situated Learning Model (CLDSLM) and a Dual Situated Learning Model (DSLM) on (a) conceptual understanding (CU) and (b) scientific reasoning (SR) among Form Four students. The study further investigated the effect of the CLDSLM and DSLM methods on performance in conceptual understanding and scientific reasoning among students with different motivation levels. A quasi-experimental method with the 3 x 2 Factorial Design was applied in the study. The sample consisted of 240 students in six (form four) classes selected from three different schools, i.e. two classes from each school, with students randomly selected and assigned to the treatment groups. The results showed that students in the CLDSLM group outperformed their counterparts in the DSLM group who, in turn, significantly outperformed other students in the traditional instructional method (T) group in scientific reasoning and conceptual understanding. Also, high-motivation (HM) students in the CLDSLM group significantly outperformed their counterparts in the T groups in conceptual understanding and scientific reasoning. Furthermore, HM students in the CLDSLM group significantly outperformed their counterparts in the DSLM group in scientific reasoning but did not significantly outperform their counterparts on conceptual understanding. Also, the DSLM instructional method has significant positive effects on highly motivated students: (a) conceptual understanding and (b) scientific reasoning. The results also showed that LM students in the CLDSLM group significantly outperformed their counterparts in the DSLM group and (T) method group in scientific reasoning and conceptual understanding. However, the low-motivation students taught via the DSLM instructional method significantly performed higher than the low-motivation students taught via the T method in scientific reasoning. Nevertheless, they did not perform significantly higher in conceptual understanding. Finally, the results showed that there were no significant interaction effects between student motivational levels and instructional methods for the scientific reasoning and conceptual understanding scores.

332-353

Authors: V. Lamanauskas, L. Railiene

Various changes are taking place in Lithuanian comprehensive schools in recent years. Not all of them can be considered positive and making the system's work effective. The changes taking place encourage natural interest in them. It is necessary not only to fix the current state, but to search for the ways how to optimize the changes taking place and to control them. Education is a complex, manifold phenomenon, the researches of which are complicated and complex as well. In this article Lithuanian comprehensive school senior class pupils' position on current education questions is analysed: preparation and teaching/learning process evaluation, the identification of advantages and disadvantages of education system and other. It is revealed how Lithuanian comprehensive school pupils value current education system, teacher provided knowledge quality and ability to prepare students for further studies at universities and other higher schools.