Problems of Education in the 21st Century

169-170

Authors: Editorial Board

Problems of Education in the 21st Century, ISSN 1822-7864 (Print) ISSN 2538-7111 (Online) Vol. 81, No. 2, 2023

172-175

Authors: Ching-Ching Cheng, Kuo-Hung Huang

Globalization has made the world a more interdependent and multicultural society. Global issues, including regional conflicts, pandemics, and climate change, affect human life across boundaries and cultures and require people to collaborate in solving problems. Under this context, teachers with a global perspective and diverse values can enhance students' world views, foster respect for difference, and develop responsibility for a more sustainable and inclusive world. Thus, the need for professional development to prepare teachers to be globally competent has been extensively recognized. Recently, the study abroad program as an effective means of developing global competence has been increasingly researched and implemented in teacher education program (Huang et al., 2023; Okken et al., 2019). Unlike stand-alone training courses, studying abroad provides immersive opportunities for participants to expose themselves to different educational systems and cultures. Such intercultural encounter experiences can broaden teachers’ pedagogical repositories and skills to teach diverse students, enhance understanding of global issues, and facilitate reflection on personal and professional identities.

188-205

Authors: Veronika Havlíčková, Andrej Šorgo, Martin Bílek

Hands-on dissections of animals are traditionally regarded as an essential part of biology education. Nowadays, regardless of the reported educational benefits, there is a gradual change in the concept and acceptance of hands-on dissection, leading in many cases to its abandonment in schools and its replacement with alternatives such as 3D models, figurines, plastination and computer-based alternatives. However, the position of hands-on dissection has recently been challenged, mostly by computer-supported alternatives. The aim of the study was to explore whether teacher self-efficacy can be recognized as a predictor of the application of the different kinds of animals in hands-on and virtual dissections in Biology lessons. Based on responses from 405 Czech Biology teachers there are differences in the acceptability and implementation of organisms for hands-on and virtual dissection. It was established, that self-efficacy is not a predictor of either the acceptability of organisms or actual behaviour in both variants of dissection.

223-243

Authors: Janet Jahudin, Nyet Moi Siew

Diagnostic tests have been developed previously to measure algebraic thinking skills; however, the tests do not specifically address algebraic problem-solving. Thus, an Algebraic Thinking Test (ATT) Instrument was developed to measure algebraic thinking skills in problem-solving involving linear equations. ATT comprises nine open-ended questions with three algebraic thinking constructs: Generalized Arithmetic, Functions and Modeling. Generalized arithmetic involves students in efficient calculation and generalization; functional involves identifying number patterns, while modelling involves solving open-ended problems, identifying similarities, and performing calculations involving variables. This study is meant to determine the quality of ATT instruments through the validity and reliability analysis using the Rasch Measurement Model. The sample consisted of 120 seventh graders aged 12 to 13, selected from two secondary schools in the Tuaran district, Malaysia. The instrument was found to have a strong dimensionality and high construct validity. The reliability of Cronbach Alpha (KR-20) demonstrated a value of .90 (very high), and item and respondent reliability of .98 (excellent) and .86 (good), respectively, with an item separation index of 6.29 and 2.45 for the person separation index. ATT has good validity and high reliability in measuring algebraic thinking skills among seventh graders in secondary schools.

258-268

Authors: Haris Memisevic, Inga Biscevic, Selmir Hadzic, Azur Kuduzovic

Scientific journals play a critical role in disseminating knowledge, and staying up to date with research findings in a particular field can be challenging given the vast number of journals and research topics available. Therefore, there is a need for researchers to occasionally summarize the main research topics in order to help fellow researchers navigate the contents more effectively. In this context, this article aims to review the research topics published in the Problems of Education in the 21st Century journal between 2018 and 2022. A total of 285 abstracts were retrieved from the Web of Science database and analyzed to identify the most common research topics and the contributing countries. The top 10 research topics identified were self-efficacy, distance education, professional development, critical thinking, foreign language, thinking skills, Covid-19, academic achievement, emotional intelligence, and special education. The authors of the papers came from 62 countries, with most of the papers coming from Türkiye, South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Sweden, Lithuania, and Serbia. In conclusion, this study highlights the relevance and diversity of research topics in the Problems of Education in the 21st Century journal, underscoring the need for a nuanced, context-specific approach to education research. The findings of this study have important implications for researchers, policymakers, and educators seeking to address the key challenges and opportunities facing education in the 21st century.

289-292

Authors: Editorial Board

Problems of Education in the 21st Century, ISSN 1822-7864 (Print) ISSN 2538-7111 (Online) Vol. 81, No. 2, 2023

1-2

Authors: Editorial Board

Problems of Education in the 21st Century, ISSN 1822-7864 (Print) ISSN 2538-7111 (Online) Vol. 81, No. 1, 2023

4-8

Authors: Boris Aberšek

According to these two assertions, one may ask the ultimate, though simplified, question: From whom will this artificial intelligence (AI) or artificial life form (ALF) learn, from whom will it receive human knowledge (or knowledge in general), and, in terms of simplified ethical norms – whom will the ALF believe if it has two possibilities, Asimov, or Tilden (Aberšek, et al., 2023)?

27-43

Authors: Gökçe Demiryürek

Values education is an accepted field of study in the world today. The cultural ties that values education has due to its nature are also reflected in the studies carried out. Based on the necessity of determining the trend of values education studies in the world, this research aims to bring a bibliometric view to the field. For this purpose, 256 articles indexed in Web of Science from 2005 to 2021 were analyzed. As a result of the analysis, the distribution of the articles by years and journals, the prominent articles, authors, institutions, and the links between them were mapped. It has been observed that the journal "Educational Sciences in Theory and Practice" stands out in terms of the number of documents in the journals, and the journal "Teaching and Teacher Education" ranks first in terms of the number of citations it receives. The most influential authors are Thornberg, R., Lovat, T., and Clement, N. Among the countries, it has been determined that Australia ranks first in terms of both the number of documents and the number of citations it receives. The expression “values education” is the most preferred keyword. It was followed by the words “values” and “moral education”. It has been observed that the cooperation networks between the authors, institutions and countries are weak.

66-89

Authors: Marika Kirvalidze, Sofiko Lobzhanidze

Studies confirm that professional development at the school base through the teachers’ collaboration is the most result-oriented outcome among the alternative ways of teachers’ professional development. One of the declared goals of the centralized system of teachers’ professional development and performance assessment operating in Georgia is to facilitate teachers’ collaboration. However, the contribution of the mentioned system in strengthening the teachers’ collaboration has not been studied so far. The purpose of the present research was to study the impact of the centralized system of teachers’ professional development and performance assessment on teachers’ collaboration at general educational institutions. The issue was studied using the qualitative methods - focus group, interview, and content analysis of documents. Eight schools were selected for the study. Two focus groups were conducted with teachers and one interview was recorded with a school leader at each school. Furthermore, Interviews with ten experts in the field were recorded. It was demonstrated that the centralized system of professional development and assessment focused on developmental assessment helps to strengthen the teachers’ professional relations. Activities closely related to the teacher's work, the correct attitude of the school leaders, teachers’ involvement in making decisions, the existence of preset goals, working schedule and space are important for collaborative relations. Existence of unified mechanisms for professional development, mistrust among colleagues, changes being constantly introduced to the education system, shortage of time were revealed as hindering factors for teacher collaboration.

117-129

Authors: Okan Sarıgoz

Whether assessment-evaluation, which is one of the most critical elements of the teaching process, is carried out according to the requirements and conditions of the age poses an important problem for both teachers and students. How digitalization is reflected in the assessment and evaluation part of teachers' lessons in today's schools is a question that needs to be answered in the light of this problem. This research aims to examine the opinions of teachers about web-based e-assessment and evaluation applications based on digitalization. The research was carried out with a phenomenological design within the framework of qualitative research approach. The study group consists of 44 teachers working in state high schools in Hatay, Turkey. The data were collected face to face through a semi-structured interview form consisting of 5 questions. Data analysis was performed with content analysis method, which includes coding, categorization, and theming processes. As a result of the analysis, 4 different themes (advantages, disadvantages, teacher efficacy, suitability of the program) were obtained. As a result of the research, it was concluded that digital e-assessment evaluation applications, which are web-based e-assessment evaluation tools, have advantages such as being time-independent and practical, and storing, as well as disadvantages such as technical problems, preliminary preparation and not being suitable for every course. In addition, results were obtained in the research, such as that the curricula are suitable for web-based e-assessments and evaluations and that various technological or hardware deficiencies in the school make digital e-assessments and evaluations difficult. It was revealed that eliminating the inadequacies of high school teachers in e-assessment and evaluation practices is also related to eliminating the deficiencies in the dimension of schools and students. Suggestions were made for practitioners and researchers to identify and remedy these deficiencies.

144-164

Authors: Üstün Türker, Özgür Bostancı

The learning styles of students vary both among individuals and across different disciplines they choose to study. In higher education, academic discipline appears to be a key factor influencing students’ distinctive learning styles. This study, which aims to determine the dominant learning styles and models of talented pre-service teachers, was designed with the survey model. The study group research consisted of 1019 volunteer pre-service teachers who continued their education in Physical Education and Sports, Music, and Arts & Craft Teaching departments. In the study, the VARK Learning Style Inventory was used as a data collection tool; students were asked to answer questions in a digital environment through Google Forms. According to the research results, kinesthetic style is the dominant learning preference for pre-service teachers in the visual arts and sports sciences, and both kinesthetic and aural styles are the dominant learning preferences for pre-service teachers in music education. Although talented pre-service teachers tend to learn predominantly kinesthetic and aural styles when evaluated, 61.2% of pre-service teachers prefer to learn with a Multiple Learning Model, which covers the entire instructional diversity, rather than sticking to just one learning style.

741-742

Authors: Editorial Board

Cover page, Problems of Education in the 21st Century, ISSN 1822-7864 (Print) ISSN 2538-7111 (Online) Vol. 80, No. 6, 2022

744-749

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Systemology of education is the field of general systemology. On the other hand, systemology of education can reasonably be considered a structural part of contemporary education. There are many different arguments to substantiate such a position. For example, during the last two decades, educational (pedagogical) terminology has changed extremely rapidly. Education science has become more diverse than ever. Such branches as cooperation pedagogy, nonviolence pedagogy, pedagogy of the oppressed, peace pedagogy, success pedagogy, career pedagogy, theatre pedagogy and many others have appeared in educational scientific literature, not to mention the level of education. On the one hand, we do not deny the existence of these branches, on the other hand, the question arises about the scientific system in education in general (Lamanauskas, 2012). It is obvious that the development of education is characterised by two opposite trends – differentiation and integration. In such an abundance of currents, branches, directions, etc., it is not only easy to get lost, but it is even easier to lose the ability to identify mutual relations and define the place of each of them in the common stem of education science.

765-776

Authors: Menşure Alkış Küçükaydın, Çiğdem Akkanat

Computational thinking is recognized as a vital skill related to problem-solving in technological and non-technological fields. The existence of different sub-domains related to this skill has been pointed out. Therefore, there is a need for tools that measure these different sub-domains. Because of its structure that includes different skills, computational thinking has a structure different from that of the tools used to measure academic skills. Moreover, no special programming knowledge is required for tools that measure this ability. In order to measure this skill in younger age groups, it is possible to apply the measurement tool without adult support. At this point, it is aimed to reveal the computational thinking skills of Turkish children by adapting a test developed for the 7-9 age groups into Turkish. For this purpose, an adaptation research study was performed for TechCheck-2 developed by Relkin et al. (2020). In the study, a total of 372 primary school students studying in Ankara were contacted. Item and test analyses were performed on the data obtained as a result of the application of the test. The distinctiveness and difficulty values of the items making up the test and Kuder Richardson-20 scores were calculated. At the end of the analyses, it was seen that the test could be used as a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish children.

792-810

Authors: Ayşegül Aslan

This study aimed to examine the opinions of the instructors who work at GUHEM (Gökmen Space and Aviation Training Center) on the exhibition's content, how the exhibition spaces contribute to science education, especially astronomy and aviation, and the types of visitors who frequently visit the center. Nine instructors from GUHEM's science centers participated in the study. Data were gathered using the "Instructor Opinion Form," with nine open-ended questions. The data elicited from these questions were subjected to content analysis. The findings showed that children aged 6 to 11 made up the majority of visitors; the fascinating exhibition areas focused on the Solar System and planets and interactive workshops with space and aviation themes, like those involving paper airplane construction and rocket competition, were very popular. In terms of the contribution of this center to science education, it was found that the GUHEM exhibitions played an active role in teaching the solar system, planets, and pressure. Although astronomy is the discipline with which the exhibition areas are most closely associated, it can also be linked to other disciplines like astrobiology, mathematics, and aviation. Instructors shared their worries that they won't be able to meet visitors' expectations and occasionally struggle to understand the subject during activities held at GUHEM. These findings led to the opinion that GUHEM and other science centers will function more effectively if schools and science centers collaborate more, the curriculum and exhibition content are improved, and the instructors receive professional assistance from academicians who are subject-matter experts.

823-835

Authors: İzzet Kaplan, Celal Teyyar Uğurlu

The effect of toxicity on satisfaction with life at school affects many variables. As parts of school culture, satisfaction and toxicity are related concepts. This study aims to determine the predictive effect of toxicity on satisfaction with life at school. In Turkey, no study has been found to be conducted about the relationship between organizational toxicity and satisfaction with life. Method of the research: This was a descriptive study based on the correlational survey model. In this study, it was supposed to determine the effects of teachers’ demographic characteristics (gender, alma mater, professional seniority, and number of teachers in the school) and toxicity perceptions on satisfaction with life. The study group consisted of 1600 teachers working at 54 secondary schools in Sivas city center. Based on the calculation made, a sample of 223 teachers representing the population was created. The dependent variable of the study was teachers' satisfaction with life. Stepwise regression was used as a multiple regression analysis technique. In this regression analysis, a linear structure of the relationship between one dependent and more than one independent variable was tested. The results showed that the toxicity avoidance behaviors of teachers positively affected their perceptions of satisfaction with life. It was teachers' displaying conflict behaviors (β= -,226) regarding toxicity. There was a decrease in the satisfaction with life of teachers who ventured conflict. Likewise, there was a negative effect (β= -184) between the level of narcissistic behavior in the organizational environment and the level of satisfaction with life. The satisfaction with life levels of teachers who thought that narcissistic behaviors were exhibited in the organizational environment decreased. A positive relationship was found between the fourth ranked variable resistance (β= ,149) and satisfaction with life. Teachers' resistance to painful toxic situations increased their level of satisfaction with life.

851-864

Authors: Mona Fawzi Sulaimani, Najwa Bakr Mursi

It remains unknown to what extent mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are stigmatized. Children with ASD require special care to increase their attention and master the necessary motor and behavioural skills. In most society, particularly Middle East and Africa, mothers are largely the care providers for children while their partners concentrate on financial provision. Therefore, mothers experience a lot of challenges and stigma from some partners, family members, and the society. This qualitative phenomenological research examined the experiences of 15 mothers regarding the stigma associated with their children autism in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The research examined mothers' beliefs about the positive and negative roles that culture, education, and health institutions play in this regard. Five broad themes emerged from the analysis: mothers' concerns; reactions to the child's diagnosis; difficulties obtaining an ASD diagnosis; difficulty accessing resources; and cultural stigma (people's reactions). The researcher explored the themes and challenges of ASD through literature review and field Research (interviews). Findings showed the need to change structural and societal approaches toward ASD to share the burden among all stakeholders alleviating pressure on mothers.

621-622

Authors: Editorial Board

Cover, Vol. 80, No. 5, PEC, 2022

624-629

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Postulates and axioms have been used as a means of knowledge since ancient times. The well-known ancient Greek thinkers Aristotle, Plato, Euclid, and others used this cognitive tool. As an example, we all know – Euclid’s postulates. Although mathematicians consider him the pioneer of mathematics, one of the most famous mathematicians, nevertheless, it is more appropriate to consider Euclid as a Greek philosopher, who presented the most important postulates and axioms in his book "Elements". The prevailing opinion is that in essence it is exactly enough to prove all mathematical statements. Even though that the most perfect axiomatics is classical Euclidian geometry, there is an alternative here, i.e., modern non-Euclidean geometry.

652-678

Authors: Mona Abdullah Alzahrani, Faizah M. Nor

Teachers who teach English as a foreign language (EFL) should constantly develop their skills and knowledge by taking part in professional development programs (PDPs) which keep them aware of the most recent teaching trends. This mixed method study seeks to explore how PDPs influence EFL teachers’ teaching practices in activating 21st century skills, and therefore their students’ acquisition of these skills. It also examines the correlation between EFL teachers’ activation of 21st century skills and their students’ acquisition of these skills. The study used a sequential explanatory research design by utilizing questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that the two dimensions of 21st century skills that got the highest level of activation were the collaboration and communication skills. Furthermore, the results showed that the students acquire all 21st century skills with different levels of acquisition. Finally, the results showed that EFL teachers’ activation of 21st century skills had no significant direct correlation with students’ acquisition of these skills. These findings could provide insights on the area of PDPs that need to be researched more in different contexts. They also suggested that PDPs designers should incorporate all dimensions of 21st equally to be activated accurately by teachers in higher education institutions.

693-707

Authors: Mehmet Ersoy, Miray Dağyar

Determining students' perceptions of problem-solving is an important step to improve their mathematical problem-solving skills. For this reason, the aim of this study was to develop a scale to determine secondary school students’ perceptions of mathematical problem solving. In the study conducted in a basic research model, a scale application, one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The sample of the study consisted of 325 secondary school students. Validity and reliability analyses were made with the data obtained on the sample. Five sub-dimensions of the scale were determined through exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed for these 5 sub-dimensions, and the fit indices were found to range from acceptable to excellent. The explained variance of the “Mathematical Problem-Solving Perception Scale” was 66.15%, and the Cronbach alpha value for the whole scale was .93. It was concluded that the scale would reveal the perception levels of secondary school students towards mathematical problem solving in a valid and reliable way.

724-736

Authors: Costin Pribeanu, Gabriel Gorghiu, Elena-Ancuța Santi

With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic period, the need to continue the educational process imposed the exclusive move to the online environment - a new and insufficiently prepared experience, which generated controversies, but also reflections, and adaptation for teachers, students, decision-makers, and even parents. The major concern of the academic community was related to the quality of the educational process and how the student-centered education paradigm can be introduced in the online environment. The students and teachers of the post-pandemic generation are no longer the same, this period has strongly impacted society, mentalities, and the school's future. Analyzing online education from multiple perspectives, the advantages, and opportunities generated by the integration of ICT in the teaching process are obvious. However, many variables have an impact on the effectiveness of e-learning, and many unanswered questions, yet. This research aims to analyze the key drivers of technology acceptance and the role played by three external variables: content adaptation, facilitating conditions, and ease of access in the context of exclusive online education. For this purpose, an extended technology acceptance model has been conceptualized and tested on a sample of Romanian university students. The results illustrate that content adaptation represents an important predictor of both the perceived ease of use and usefulness. The model explained a lot of variance in the continuance intention which is due to the positive attitude towards using the online learning platform in the future.

491-492

Authors: Editorial Board

Cover page, Vol. 80, No. 4, 2022, PEC

494-498

Authors: Boris Aberšek

Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. Science includes scientific methods such as objective observation, which refers to measurement and data (possibly, although not necessarily, using mathematics as a tool), evidence, experiment, critical analysis, and verification. The four major branches of science are: mathematics and logic, biological science, physical science, and social science. The key words that best define science are thus: objective observation + evidence-based approach + application of scientific methods = general truths The basic problem of such an explanation of science lies in the very definition of what general truths are, what kind of evidence is required to prove them, and how to arrive to this kind of evidence through objective observation. The simplest premise to answer these questions would be: through logic and critical thinking.

516-530

Authors: Necati Çobanoğlu, Selçuk Demir

Education continues to be an area that is likely to completely affect the future of humanity. Countries are trying to raise the level of education and increase the quality of the education provided as much as possible. To ensure that the quality of education is improved, many studies look from the perspectives of educators and officials who determine education policies. This study examines teachers' classroom management and approaches to justice in the classroom through the eyes of students. This study aims to shed light on the relationship between educators’ justice in classroom management and students’ school engagement based on the perceptions of university students. The study is based on a correlational design that examines the relationship between variables. It was conducted with 283 students at Şırnak University. The sample was determined randomly. The data were collected via the "Perception of Justice in Classroom Management" scale and the "School Engagement of University Students" scale. As a result, there was a moderately positive and significant relationship between the perception of justice in classroom management and school engagement. Besides, as a result of the regression analysis, it was revealed that the perception of the educators towards justice in classroom management predicted students’ school engagement. It was observed that 19% of students' school engagement was explained by educators’ perceptions of justice in classroom management.

547-564

Authors: Tanja Maltar Okun, Majda Rijavec, Marko Ćaleta

The students’ attitudes towards school subjects may influence their behaviour and various educational outcomes. The research aimed to test students’ attitudes towards the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and to examine the associations between those attitudes and students’ learning strategies and grades achieved. The study included 245 eighth-grade students from five schools in Koprivnica-Križevci County in the Republic of Croatia. Attitude scale towards science subjects and Learning strategies scale were employed. The results of the analysis of variance showed a significantly higher assessment of interest for Biology and Physics than for Chemistry, while the assessment of importance for Biology was significantly higher than for Chemistry and Physics. Attitudes toward Biology, Chemistry, and Physics were positively correlated with the grades achieved in those subjects. Results of the mediation analysis indicated that the learning strategies were mediators between the attitude towards the science subject and the grades achieved in those subjects. Students with a more positive attitude towards a subject employ a deeper approach to learning, which ultimately results in a higher grade.

588-601

Authors: Najwa Bakr Mursi, Mona Fawzi Sulaimani

The complexity of special education and the variability among students Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) require special education teachers to make a concerted effort to provide validated supports that contribute to their students’ learning outcomes. Among the most important considerations for teachers is the use of teaching practices supported as effective by evidence. There is a broad consensus that the use of Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) can lead to significant improvements for students with ASD and their families. The research to practice gap is widely recognised in special education in relation to the selection and implementation of EBPs, with several studies finding that teachers used unsupported teaching practices as frequently as those supported by empirical evidence. Thus, in order to utilise EBPs, teachers must first understand what EBPs mean and how a particular practice comes to be evidence-based. Aligning with this emphasis and the increasing introduction of EBPs in special education globally, this study explored special education teachers’ understanding of evidence, evidence-based, and EBPs in one centre of autism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In this study, a qualitative approach was used. Within this approach, a single case study design was adopted. The data were collected from six special education teachers of students with ASD using interviews. The findings revealed that teachers referred to their own individual experiences or the experiences of other teachers as evidence. In addition, they referred to their superiors’ advice as being evidence-based and the perceived EBPs as technical tools handed to them by the Centre. This indicated that teachers’ understanding of evidence-based, and EBPs was constructed based on the culture of the Centre. The findings of this study suggest several courses of action for future research, and policymakers and teacher education.

617-620

Authors: Editorial Board

End page, Vol. 80, No. 4, 2022, PEC