Problems of Education in the 21st Century

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Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 69, PEC, 2016

6-21

Authors: Hernan Casakin, Arjan van Timmeren, Petra Badke-Schaub

The studio is the educational setting where architectural students dedicate a large part of their study career working individually and in groups. Supporting students with adequate methods to deal with ill-defined problems in the design studio is a major challenge for design education. Whereas different approaches such as using design patterns and developing scenarios are reported to improve the design activity, they were never investigated in the design studio. An empirical investigation was conducted in order to explore whether and how scenarios and patterns can help students in developing a useful knowledge base and enhance their abilities to solve design problems in the design studio. Students were requested to solve a series of design problems using these educational methods, while working individually and as a team. They were asked to produce as many design ideas as possible, while in the team setting were instructed to think aloud. The data assessed is gathered from surveys, problem solving sessions, and interviews. Thus, qualitative and quantitative analyses had to be done to find out about the different impact of the two methods in design. The results showed that as an educational approach, patterns aided in defining problems and analyzing idea solutions, mainly from a technical and functional perspective. Scenarios, on the other hand, were helpful to generate new ideas, and to enhance design creativity. Independently of the pedagogical method used in the design studio, working in teams showed to be central to enrich and enhance many aspects of the design activity. The findings have important implications for intervention programs in the design studio.

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Authors: Cem Gerçek, Özgür Özcan

This study aims to increase awareness in students in relation to environmental consciousness. Therefore, the prepared presentations and the adapted learning stations were used to create awareness of students in the out-of-the-school learning environment supported by the municipality of a county in Ankara the capital city of Turkey. Learning stations serve to people’s individual study. The basic goal here is to develop higher order skills and to make sure that students work in stations according to their abilities in a pre-determined order. The study group was composed of volunteering 15 fifth graders of a private school in Ankara. Firstly, the content to be applied in the study was developed. Prior to the application, a readiness presentation was made so as to raise students’ interest and awareness in terms of the importance of waste and recycling the waste. As a conclusion of the current study, it may be said that students’ interest in and awareness of the environment and collecting the waste developed. Enlarging this pilot project and applying it to bigger groups is important in terms of the success of the educational activities for separating the waste and in terms of the durability of the relevant behavior.

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Authors: David Pundak

Even though astronomy is the oldest science, it is still an open question how to evaluate students’ understanding in astronomy. In spite of the fact that some methods and evaluation tools have been developed for that purpose, the sources of students' difficulties in astronomy are still unclear. This paper presents an investigation of the changes in conceptual frameworks in astronomy among 50 engineering students as a result of learning a general course in astronomy. A special tool called Conceptual Frameworks in Astronomy (CFA), which was initially used in 1989, was adopted to gather data for the present research. In its new version, the tool includes 23 questions and five to six optional answers to each question. Each of the answers characterizes one of the four conceptual frameworks: pre-scientific, geocentric, heliocentric and sidereal. These four conceptual frameworks act as a taxonomical system that enables us to evaluate astronomical understanding. The paper describes the background of the CFA, its development, and discusses its validity and reliability. Using the CFA we were able to: (1) identify the students’ conceptual frameworks at the beginning of the course and at its end, (2) to evaluate the students’ paradigmatic change following the course. It was found that the measure of the students’ improvement (gain index) was g = 0.37. Approximately 45% of the students in the course improved their conceptual frameworks in astronomy and 26% deepened their understanding of the heliocentric or sidereal conceptual frameworks. The CFA can also be applied as an evaluation tool in all schools and institutions that teach astronomy.

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Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 68, PEC, 2015

6-21

Authors: Kateřina Chroustová, Martin Bílek, Andrej Šorgo

Currently, the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) has been strongly recommended to science teachers. For identification the factors of successful ICT implementation the Unified Theory of Use and Acceptance of Technology (UTAUT) is applied, which works as the theoretical background of planned monitoring of Czech chemistry teachers´ attitudes to this problem. This theoretical review introduces the process of creating the modified UTAUT model serving as the basis for a research tool to be exploited for the future survey. Within this process three sources were exploited: (1) theories dealing with factors which influence user behaviour in relation to the use of modern technologies, (2) the analysis of research results focused on the acceptance and use of ICT in chemistry instruction and (3) results of researches conducted by the authors in the field of the effectiveness of the educational software used in chemistry teaching and learning. The conducted analysis of these three sources resulted in defining the presented survey and designing the appropriate theoretical model and research tool.

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Authors: Ewa Wanda Maruszewska, Aleksandra Szewieczek, Marzena Strojek-Filus

The study was aimed at examining the notion of truth, faithfulness and reliability approaches in chosen social sciences, and accounting theoretical foundations among them. In order to explore whether accounting conceptual framework together with accounting theoreticians have developed a satisfactory understanding of the notion of truth, faithfulness and reliability, a literature review was undertaken seeking the definitions and classifications of truth that might be useful in business practice, especially in accounting preparation of financial reports. The main method used in order to achieve the aim was a critical analysis of the contemporary English and Polish literature on accounting, philosophy, as well as psychology and sociology to go to the comparison of the truth and reality perception from various perspectives. The results have shown that the recent changes made in foundations of accounting theory did not provide a satisfactory solution to the problem. The researchers contribute to the existing literature as there is an on-going debate on the direction and extent of changes in the international harmonization and standardisation of accounting that is focused on the problem of faithfulness of the information disclosed in the financial reports. It is argued that the understanding of truth is a key to an understanding of accounting theory and an inevitable factor of proper practice of accounting. Considering accounting teaching process, there was a qualitative analysis conducted based on accounting curricula of Polish public university with long tradition in accounting undergraduate and graduate education. With regards to the accounting curricula of a chosen university, it has been observed that there is an urgent need for a discern of accounting curricula in order to make substantive contents corresponding with developing economic surroundings of business entities preparing financial reports. Moreover, the importance of non-algebraic approach is stressed as a result of the study.

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Authors: Marcelo Gouveia Nascimento, Gabriel Nicolas Garcia Alves, Marco Antonio Bueno Filho

The purpose of this research is to access data related to how College students collectively develop structural schemes during the resolution of experimental problems of investigative nature. This research included two situations presented to six students in the Undergraduate and Teacher’s Licensure Chemistry Course at the Federal University of ABC (Brazil) involving Liquid Chromatography contents. The students were divided into groups and asked to make a decision about the best experimental conditions to separate a mixture of chlorophyll, xanthophyll and -carotene in spinach extract. They possessed different stationary phases and elements. The students’ explanations were recorded on an audio-visual device and analysed via computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) supported by the Transana software. As a result, evidence of the collective development of a scheme characterized by conceptual relations pertinent to the structural field was identified; however, such evidence was incomplete. The interference of the teacher in the students’ decision making was a relevant factor during the resolution of the problems. Conceptual and logical operations of thinking (operative invariants) gaps may be an opportunity for a pedagogical intervention during the resolution of problems in the classroom.

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Authors: Maarika Veigel

Youth field has been in constant evolution during the restoration period of Estonian independence, since 1991. The theoretical overview is about youth worker professionalism, associated with the developments in the European and Estonian youth field and in the context of the Berliner competency levels development model. It explains the expectations set for youth workers, to teaching and youth field institutions. Youth work is expected, like formal education, with more clearly defined educational goals, and it is emphasized that it is a non-formal education. An important aspect is enjoying of the activities and its educational elements. The National Curriculum for Basic Schools and Gymnasium (2011) sets the expectations that the non-formal education will give more support to students to complete the curriculum of formal education. Youth work in Estonia is an essential component of the educational system. Therefore, the professionalism of youth workers and their coping with new challenges is very important. Over the last ten years, major changes in the Estonian youth worker professionalism and in the aspects of professional development haven’t been mentioned. The answers are briefly: in Estonia youth worker profession has been associated with the development of youth field, but the staff preparation is very different and characterised by low working experience. Berliner presented development model of competency levels, treats the professional development as long-term, complex process, distinguishing between the five stages of development of the professional staff, which are also regarded in the context of the professional development of the youth worker. Youth work quality is dependent on the availability of professional youth workers and in order to gain it, the high mobility inside the sector should be reduced, a better situation and more support should be created for the formation of youth worker professionalism at the various levels of the professional growth.

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Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 67, 2015, PEC

7-16

Authors: Hakan Aydoğan, Azamat Akbarov

General intelligence is a good predictor of academic achievement. However, according to Howard Gardner, there are several types of intelligence. They have to be considered in the educational context because education requires various skills and abilities to be employed so that students could be successful. The main aim of our study was to examine subjective assessments of multiple intelligences among adolescents as well as to investigate possible gender differences. The questionnaire called 'Subjective assessment of multiple intelligences' (SAMI) was applied, which serves us to collect data from the targeted sample of 162 participants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Firstly, the results showed non-significant gender differences. Secondly, only verbal/linguistic ability significantly correlated with the age of participants. Lastly, almost all correlational coefficients calculated between different types of intelligence were statistically significant. For example, subjective assessment of logical/ mathematical intelligence correlated with intrapersonal abilities/skills, verbal/linguistic intelligence correlated with visual/spatial intelligence, and musical abilities correlated with visual/spatial intelligence as well.

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Authors: Agnieszka Kozerska

From the perspective of adult education, the engagement of older people in developing relationships with other people is related to their learning and creating their identities. The research conducted in the areas of various countries shows a relationship between a social participation of seniors and their well-being. Moreover, participation in rich social networks, composed of many people, coincides with a high quality of life. The article focuses on senior citizens functioning in restricted networks (less numerous social networks, consisting of several people).The study is to serve three purposes: firstly, to identify determinants of a subjective assessment of own life of senior citizens living in restricted networks; secondly, to analyse a relationship between seniors’ subjective, general assessment of life and their opinion on what determines a successful and happy life; thirdly, to analyse the relationship between seniors’ subjective, general assessment of life and the ways they handle problematic situations. The analysis has been conducted on the basis of the data collected in 2013, available to the general public on www.diagnoza.com. The data was collected within the Social Diagnosis (Diagnoza społeczna) project. The objective of the Social Diagnosis is an investigation of the conditions and quality of life in Poland. It is based on panel research. A questionnaire has been used as a research tool. The article presents information regarding 5623 individuals, aged 60+functioning in restricted social networks in Poland. The Mann-Whitney U test and the two proportions test helped to analyse the differences between variable distributions. The results show that a poor social life of the elderly does not have to be linked with a feeling of loneliness. The group of individuals with a high level of general satisfaction is more satisfied with a relationship with the family (especially children) than the group with a low level of life satisfaction. The analysis confirms that good relationships with family and friends are an important predictor of life satisfaction of the elderly. Health is considered to be a condition of a successful life by seniors with a high level of life satisfaction, as well as relationships with close family members: with children and a spouse. This group of respondents shows more confidence in other people, by whom they feel loved and confided in. In difficult situations people with a high level of life satisfaction turn to others for help, but they also act themselves. Seniors with a low level of satisfaction differ from the previous group in these terms. These are people who do not feel confided in by others and they also hardly ever turn to others for help. In difficult situations they are more often passive. In conclusion, the author highlights the significance of informal learning occurring in families to enhance older people’s quality of life. It is important, especially in case of poorly educated persons with low incomes who often function in small social networks.

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Authors: Hadassah Littman-Ovadia, Aryeh Lazar, Tamar Ovadia

This study focused on the manner in which a sense of calling - presence and search - is perceived by first- and final-year male and female medical students. Differences in level of calling between first-year students and last-year students were predicted, more so for women than for men due to gender bias and family-work integration challenges. A total of 192 medical first and sixth (last) year students at the five Israeli medical schools filled-out a short self-report measure of calling and recorded demographic factors. Discriminate function analysis resulted in one significant discriminate function weighted positively on presence of calling and negatively on search for calling. Group centroids indicate that male medical students perceived presence of calling and search for calling as two poles of a bipolar continuum, whereas first-year students had a distinct feeling of the presence of calling coupled with a low need to search for calling and final-year students had a low feeling of presence of calling coupled with a distinct need to search for calling. In contrast, female medical students - both first-year and final-year - perceived presence and search as two independent dimensions that can coexist. Understanding these differences may be important in helping medical educators find gender-specific ways to maintain and enhance feelings of calling among tomorrow’s male and female physicians.

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Authors: Thomas McCloughlin

The objectives of this research are to provide the theoretical basis for the analysis of qualitative data, such as teachers' responses to reflective questions using quantitative methods such as multidimensional scaling. The starting point is Estes' assumption that classification is basic to all intellectual activities, and since reflections are artefacts of intellectual activities, they should be amenable to classificatory methods such as multidimensional scaling. Similarity relates to distance between perceptions and MDS can utilise this feature. By way of example, N=29 teachers - graduates, experienced primary and experienced secondary - were probed for reflections on a science lesson and the results reflections analysed by the application of a scoring rubric and subsequent MDS - they were compared to a hypothetical 'ideal'. This method is discussed and future possibilities for analysing teachers' perceptions and reflections. The results of this method provide a valuable means to adapt a standard classification tool to involve a comparative element thus moving beyond mere representation of data.

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Authors: Aina Strode

The research problem is determined by involvement and competitiveness of young designers in the labour market that is related to the opportunities of gaining professional experience within independent professional activities during the design studies in higher education. The aim of the research is to determine development of the formation of students’-prospective designers’ professionalism in the study process. Literature study, questionnaire and interview included in mixed methods design. Qualitative and quantitative data collected from six 4th year students of Rezekne Higher Education Institution Bachelor program "Interior design". The research results show the opportunities for independent professional activities during the design study process in the context of interaction between personality and professional abilities.

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Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 66, PEC, 2015

7-17

Authors: Samson Onyeluka Chukwuedo, Anthony U. Ainetor

As the world experiences changes in all facets of life, it is equally expected that the school curriculum should not remain static but change in the same direction. The electronic technology workshop practice in technical colleges in Nigeria has overtime been dominated with the teaching of practical skills in radio and television that are gradually phasing away in the electronic world, hence the need to upgrade it by integrating the practical contents of modern digital electronics, of which DVD home theatre sound system is one of the electronic gadgets. This study therefore determined the corrective maintenance skills requirements in DVD home theatre sound system necessary for improving the workshop practice of electronic technology via curriculum innovation in technical colleges. Three research questions were raised and answered using mean statistic, while one hypothesis was formulated and tested using t-test statistic. The descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. A five point scaled questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The sample size was 164, comprising electronic technology teachers in universities and technical colleges and DVD home theatre sound system technicians in Edo State. The instrument was validated by experts and its reliability coefficient obtained using Cronbach’s alpha formula was 0.876. It was found that the corrective maintenance skills requirements in DVD home theatre sound system necessary for integration into technical college curriculum for electronic technology workshop practice are skills in the use of tools and equipment to perform such maintenance, fault diagnosis skills in order to carry out the maintenance and the actual repairs (corrective maintenance) skills. It was therefore recommended that electronic technology teachers should be trained in the teaching of practical skills in maintenance of DVD home theatre sound system for capacity building.

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Authors: Kaarina Määttä, Satu Uusiautti

Caring research is a new concept that is discussed and defined from two supplementary perspectives: (1) as research aiming at promoting well-being and (2) as a caring research community that cares for the researcher well-being and reciprocal relationships between colleagues and between supervisors and students. These dimensions are discussed in the light of the latest findings and theories of positive psychology as well as based on the authors’ studies in the field. The caring research ideology contributes a comprehensive viewpoint to the world of academic research because it also pays attention to the actual research process within the research community. This well-being focused approach can serve as a means to flourish within the ever-increasing demands of the academic world.

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Authors: Şenol Şen, Ayhan Yılmaz, Ömer Geban

Teaching and learning trend has shifted gradually from a teacher-centered approach to a student-centered approach. Many educational researchers have suggested that teachers must use student-centered learning approaches, such as Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL). POGIL is an instructional approach combining guided inquiry and cooperative learning in which students are involved in the learning process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of POGIL method compared to traditionally designed chemistry instruction (teacher-centered approach) method on 11th grade students' Self-Regulated Learning Skills. The study was conducted during 2014-2015 spring semester. Participants were 115 students from one high school in Turkey. Non-equivalent control group design was used. Two experimental groups and two control groups were randomly selected. Experimental groups were instructed with POGIL, while control groups received traditionally designed chemistry instruction. Achievement Goal Questionnaire (AGQ) and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) were administered to both groups as pre-test and post-test to determine students' self-regulated learning skills. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to investigate the effect of POGIL on the dependent variables. Results revealed that POGIL improved students' mastery approach, task value, control of learning beliefs, self-efficacy for learning and performance, critical thinking, help seeking, peer learning, metacognitive self-regulation, effort regulation, time/study environmental management. The results showed that POGIL was superior to the traditionally designed chemistry instruction on students’ self-regulated learning skills. Thus, POGIL is helpful for development of students’ self-regulated learning skills.

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Authors: Natalia Zamkovaja, Irina Moissejenko

Create a text filled with personal meaning, designed in according to the norms of the Russian literary language – a task that must be put and solved in the lessons of the Russian language as a native language and a foreign language. Human communication – is the exchange of texts is not by chance in the national curriculum for native and foreign (Russian) language is said that in the process of learning language student must master his verbal communication skills, learn how to express thoughts and feelings, analyse, heard and read summarizing information. Since the text activities – is one of the learning activities in its organization must be taken into account patterns of natural speech activity, are well known. This are motives, purpose of the activity, structure and its stages; availability of productive activity. The organization of educational process must be oriented to the natural patterns of speech communication, as students create products of speech as a result of interaction with each other. The authors of this article have tried to consider all this creating textbooks for students of different age groups, who study Russian language as native and foreign.

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Authors: Editorial Board

Contents, Vol. 65, 2015, PEC

6-17

Authors: Parvin Bazghandi, Saeid Zarghami-Hamrah, Yahya Ghaedi, Alireza Mahmudnia, Khosrow Bagheri Noaparast

The present study seeks to explain the implications of triple levels of the complex systems theory, as a theory about nature, science, and education, for teaching science. The study has been conducted within a philosophical approach. On the first level, the characteristics of complex systems theory about nature including: top-down character, non-linear interactions, emergence, irreversibility, self-organization, modularity, hierarchy, adaptation and bifurcation are explained. In this regard the point to be mentioned is that the teachers could facilitate the students' understanding from the fundamental features of nature by offering diverse and suitable examples. On the second level, the complex systems theory mainly addresses the nature and methodology of science. Regarding the nature of science, scientific knowledge is defined as condition-structured knowledge and regarding the methodology of science, this theory highlights the features including condition-dependent generalisation, condition-dependent laws, condition-dependent explanation, condition-dependent confirmation, and the limitations of model-centered confirmation. The implications from this level of complex systems theory for teaching science encourage the teachers to clarify the methodology of science for the students. Regarding the third level, Complex systems theory orients attentions toward dynamic, complicated, and integrated levels, including the neurological, the experiential, the contextual/material, the symbolic, the cultural, and the ecological levels of education. So teachers might explain the basic features of the natural events through non-linear and holistic methods in teaching science.

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Authors: Andrea C. Burrows

While it can take different forms, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) K-12 teacher professional development (PD) is important around the world. Though all stakeholders play critical roles in PDs, the author focuses on the larger system that supports the PDs. As such, this research study focuses on the PD results, but also on the explanation of the systemic nature of the PDs studied. Partnerships, including building of relationships, are explored in that system. In this mixed methods study of two K-12 teacher PDs (n=31 and 19 total PD days), conducted in the western United States, the author utilizes quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to reinforce quality PD practices and suggested strategies. Results indicate that 90% of the K-12 teachers were highly engaged in the STEM content and partnership building. Pre to post K-12 teacher perception scores regarding astronomy use in STEM content courses showed noteworthy improvement from 16% to 84%. Furthermore, K-12 teacher perceptions regarding creation of partnerships and collaborations rose from 26% to 90%. Other findings showcase themes of reflection, collaboration, STEM integration, and inquiry as well as a need for partnership building time. Overall, when the K-12 teachers worked together in a structured PD over an academic year (2014-2015) for a selection of 19 days (13 summer days and 6 Saturdays during the academic year) partnerships were formed and provided added organization for the PD system. Faculty/PD team communications and continuous K-12 teacher support were also critical factors for systemic PD success. Access to K-12 teacher created lesson plans that use astronomy as a vehicle for STEM lessons can be accessed free of charge at the following websites: http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mike/workshop/index.html and http://www.physics.uwyo.edu/~aschwortz/LASSI/

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Authors: Geert Franzenburg

Jewish-christian tradition is memory-tradition. Just from the beginning, people are confronted with the God of Abraham, Isaak and Jacob and with particular situations, which are worth remembering (Exodus, Ten Commandments). Because the Bible combines remembering and teaching („When your son”... (Dtn 6, 20)), religious education means memory-education. Like Israel in real Exile and Diaspora, young pupils and students suffer from „virtual Exile or Diaspora“, when they are dwelling within their digital global village, and in „patchwork-families“, often without real home-experience and without any sense of belonging. Suffering from such experiences of missed orientation and belonging, they feel – as discussions in schools and groups underline - unsatisfied and uncomfortable, and look for authentic coping-models. Therefore, the study emphasizes – based on narrations of elder people - on a particular religious education-approach, which facilitates life-satisfaction by memory-learning from other experiences. The focus of research is on the question, whether memory-learning, combined with religious contents, rituals and/or metaphoric, could encourage life-satisfaction, and whether there are significant differences between East (Latvia) and West (Germany).

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End page, Vol. 65, 2015, PEC