Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

46-48

Authors: Eleonora Melnik

The last decade for the Russian school and high school education was the time of reforms. At school new training programs and variety of textbooks appeared, for senior students the unified state examination was introduced. All these innovations are still discussed by students’ parents, scientists and the public. Opinions are ambiguous. The main problem of pedagogy always was: what and how to teach? Knowledge of various subjects has to be available to all students, and their text interpretation is clear to them. There were also important discoveries and innovations in science. All of them, anyway, will affect school knowledge. One of important statements of the last time is the recognized fact that our Planet passed into a new era. It was called an anthropocene. It is obvious that it is necessary for comprehensive schools, higher education institutions, other educational institutions to pay more attention to the teaching/learning subjects, to reconsider their qualitative part, and to think of what outlook and relation to nature they could offer to young people.

67-80

Authors: Angelija Mačiukaitė

Changes in educational paradigms are directly connected with changes in educational goals, attitudes towards the organisation of educational process and teaching and learning methods. At present, methods stimulating students’ activities are applied to various topics and cycles in natural sciences classes, when students with special educational needs are educated in inclusive or segregated environments. Modern stimulating methods are very different, and some of them are of a particular importance while educating students with special educational needs to reveal the content of natural science classes. These include discussions, group work, project activities, concepts and definition scheme, pair work, structured notes. Stimulating methods are attractive for the students, to those with moderate and severe learning difficulties among them, when they correspond to their abilities. These methods make the process of education more varied, they provide conditions for better learning for students with various abilities, they help the students to apply their knowledge and educate them.

4-6

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Science and technology education remains very important educational areas. In recent years, we can observe quite a big concern related to the science and technology education in Lithuania. High quality natural science and technological education of the younger generation is indisputably important both economically and socially. It is also clear that more and more emphasis on STEM education issues can be observed. 24th annual conference of the Southern African Association for research in mathematics, science and technology education (SAARMSTE) took place in 12-15 January 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. The conference main topic was “Researching a sustainable environment and sustaining research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education”. During this conference an experience of the international MaT2SMc project was presented. The project idea, the essential developments and the results and benefits for the educational practice were discussed with colleagues, researchers from the countries in the South Africa region. In addition, the prepared book entitled “Materials for Teaching Together: Science and Mathematics Teachers collaborating for better results“ was presented. Conference reports thematic overview is given here. It is obvious that the conference was considered relevant STEM education issues.

15-26

Authors: Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė, Vincentas Lamanauskas

In order to develop students' holistic concept of natural phenomena, the process of education must adopt a systematic approach to the integrity of the natural sciences. Such a systematic approach creates preconditions for understanding of educational content and training components in close interaction and for the consistent formation of a holistic understanding of the world. Interdisciplinary integration is realized through inquiry-based teaching/learning method. Scientific investigation is usually associated with knowledge of different subjects, so usage of interdisciplinary relations is indispensable for the full justification and explanation of the phenomenon or process. While analysing natural phenomena and regularities, it is important to find common points, using existing and new knowledge from physics, chemistry, biology, ecology and others. Only in this way will be developed a holistic conception of the world. This article presents the interdisciplinary links by experimentally exploring the phenomenon of osmosis. Giving one research example, Natural science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Maths subject relationship realisation didactic possibilities are revealed in the presented analysis. The research organization and methodology of its performance, the essence of the practical work, results and conclusions are discussed. The research is proposed to to carry out in a few different lessons (physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics), which enable a systematic and integrated way for students to convey the essence of the phenomenon. Osmosis research and analysis organization scheme is presented. Wide and deep osmosis process interdisciplinary links are distinguished. How osmosis phenomenon can properly understand and master by the stages in each subject lesson are shown in. The research is carried out during implementation of the international project „Materials for Teaching Together: Science and Mathematics Teachers collaborating for better results“. Number of the contract: 539242-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-COMENIUS-CMP/.

33-39

Authors: Angela James

In South Africa, Education policy documents abound with statements promoting scientific and technology literacy (DoE, 2002). In spite of this demand, a global trend is developing which reveals a sharp decline in students who are interested in the natural sciences (Areepattamannil, Freeman & Klinger, 2010). In an effort to increase students’ interest in Science, various mechanisms are employed both nationally and internationally. Also, the effective, contextually related implementation of Natural Sciences in the Foundation, Intermediate and Senior schooling phases is a problematic that is presently being researched, and programmes for the professional development of student teachers are being revised to respond to this issue. The re-curriculation of all programmes at UKZN, School of Education re-focuses our efforts in curriculum design on how to teach Natural Sciences in schools, in preparing learners for the 21st century. Our current countries’ responses to external testing TIMMS bears strong evidence for a need to intervene and explore avenues to effectively engaging Natural Sciences teachers and researchers in tertiary institutions on actions to be planned and implemented. In these initiatives an important aspect to consider is the role of teachers as they are regarded as the change agents in any education system. In exploring teacher intervention initiatives, Dr Angela James applied to the National Research Foundation for funding to invite Prof. (HP) Dr. Vincentas Lamanauskas, Director of the Scientia Socialis, Chairman of the Scientific Methodical Centre “Scientia Educologic, and Professor and Head researcher at Šiauliai University, Lithuania to South Africa.

124-126

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

In recent years, both in Lithuania and in other countries, natural science and technology development is given emphasis to. Decreasing youth interest in natural sciences and/or technology has become a big concern. On the one hand, such concern is reasonable, because youth motivation choosing the studies at universities is usually directed to social and humanitarian sciences. Such a situation is determined by a number of reasons. Anyway the choice of a further way is closely connected with the values of the younger generation. Progress in science and technology is very high. Progress in the sphere of formation of values of society sharply lags behind. So, value component of natural science and technology education should become a priority in all education system, at all its levels. Values should be systematically inoculated, directing young people to become mature personalities. This means the ability to apply the acquired knowledge and abilities practically, to solve everyday life problems, to educate self-confidence, feel responsibility and be able to adapt to the changing environment and seek to save the environment, suitable for the man’s existence. Values are formed not adapting to the situation “here and now”, but orienting to future perspective “there and then”. Value component of natural science and technology education should occupy a proper place in educational practice, and should be more exhaustively examined in a scientific sense.

138-146

Authors: Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

All vision therapy techniques are not medical. It's more like psychological-educational methods. Prophylaxis and vision therapy all around the world is primarily used by psychologists and educationalists not doctors. There is no healing in improving person’s vision, it is teaching. Eyes are the same part of the human body as other parts, and you should take care and rest. Pupils' education on eyes care should be one of the tasks of general education schools. Attention needs to be paid to the quality of pupils' vision at school. Must be time to develop pupils need to take care of our own vision. Schools community should decide during witch classes and lessons vision therapy should be done. The starting point should be at kindergarten or in primary school. The sooner children adopts appropriate eye care skills, the more it becomes a habit and the less valuable time will take in older age. It is important for students to learn to love their eyes, remember to take care of them, to rest and relax them. Exercises for eyes should be prepared and given to pupils as their obligation for the eyes. The memos should be included with: relaxation exercises, solarization, massages, imaginational exercises, exercises for eyes muscles and for accomodation.

156-162

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

This year, on June 15th-18th, the 1st international Baltic Symposium on Science and Technology Education „State-of-the-art and future perspectives“ (BalticSTE2015) took place. The symposium was organized by the scientific methodological centre “Scientia Educologica” and Šiauliai university, Lithuania. The symposium on this topic in the Baltic States was organized for the first time. It is a unique opportunity for the scientist of the Baltic States to show the achievements in the sphere of natural science and technology education. On the other hand, it is an opportunity to examine the latest researches in the world, to come into business contacts etc. This kind of symposiums is held regularly in Asia, Africa, South and North America and is primarily intended to facilitate the development of science and technology education in the region. This symposium attended by guests from Taiwan, Brazil, Canada, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, and Poland. The symposium proceedings were prepared and published. Totally 34 short papers are published in which various natural science and technology education problems are discussed. So, 1st International BalticSTE2015 symposium is a history already. As always, not everything was successfully recorded, not all interesting questions discussed. One has to believe, that natural science and technology education movement will continue and develop. The 2nd symposium is expected to take place in Šiauliai, in June, 2017.

60-64

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Natural science and technology education is an inseparable part of general education. It is obvious, that this process embraces a rather wide group of people, according to the age – from the birth till the completion of general education. It is a very important period, during which a certain natural science and technology education is acquired. It might seem that rather many scientific, methodical, didactic and other articles, books have been written, analyzing NSTE problems. On the other hand, NSTE process continues, (has to be continued) further on. Of course, speaking about university and other level studies, a further education is different both according to the size and length and the other parameters. Though natural science and technology education is reformed in Lithuania, however, the results are not very pleasing. An urgent task remains for the whole educational community, how to achieve that natural science and technology subjects were attractive to the pupils that they tried to relate their future career with natural sciences and technology. It is understandable, that only school is not capable to solve that complex task. The situation is determined by the country’s common political-economic and, of course, social situation. However, properly organised natural science and technology education in comprehensive school can significantly change the situation. So, I think, and I hope, that natural science and technology education professionals, researchers, teachers, practitioners not only perceive science and technology education "resetting" meaning and necessity, but also will stay in continuous search of rational methods in the field of education change and innovation.

75-86

Authors: Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė, Vincentas Lamanauskas

One of the natural science education aims is to help students understand what is going on in nature, how and why? In other words, how natural phenomena function. Quite often, going deeper into natural phenomena, seeking to cognise them, we split the cognition process itself into separate spheres or parts. In this case we have separate teaching/learning subjects, such as Biology, Physics, Chemistry and other. It is understandable in itself, in order to sufficiently exhaustively perceive and understand the analysed spheres. On the other hand, it is equally important to integrally perceive the phenomena and/ or processes going on in nature. In the second part of the 20th century, the developing synergetics states, that everything in nature is integrally interrelated. Education science and practice constantly search for the ways how to realise transdisciplinarity in natural science education process. Integrated education programmes are created and improved and the other teaching/learning devices. However, integrated natural science education content is the only one from the system elements. Integral and transdisciplinary should be the process itself. One of the ways to realise such process is Natural science and Maths teachers’ cooperation. In this analysis, relationship realisation didactic possibilities between the subjects of Natural science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Maths are analysed, analysing heat transfer model. Giving one lesson example, Natural science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Maths subject relationship realisation didactic possibilities are revealed in the presented analysis. Specimen scenario of the heat exchange research Water containing a clay jug is presented. The pupils, having performed the experiment in Natural science lessons, draw the graphs of temperature and humidity change in time, integrally analyse the results obtained during the experiment. For the result analysis they apply Mathematics knowledge about dependent and independent variables, remember how the relationship between two variables is expressed by graphs. The lesson’s structural parts are presented: discussion of theoretical material, explanation of practical work meaning and experiment procedure, the experiment and the task performance, discussion of the obtained results and their meaningfulness will enable natural science teachers to give a lesson about heat transfer, using integration possibilities. The research is carried out during implementation of the international project „Materials for Teaching Together: Science and Mathematics Teachers collaborating for better results“. Number of the contract: 539242-LLP-1-2013-1-AT-COMENIUS-CMP/.

95-103

Authors: Eleonora L., Melnik, Alla Y. Gudym

The article analyses the processes of transformation that have taken place over the past decade in environmental education; it also contains philosophical views and ideas on the problem of human interaction with nature. The article underlines necessity of developing a new mindset for the successful existence of humans and the environment in a changing world. The National Park "Vodlozersky" provides environmental education for the local population and visitors to the park. Worldview concept of V.S. Stepin is accepted as a foundation of environmental education in the park, which based on prognostic features of philosophical knowledge in the evolving culture of the society. This concept states that any change in the cultural life of the society determines the changes in relationships with the environment. The cultural life of the inhabitants of Vodlozerie has always been connected with nature. Old traditions as relict programs continue existing in the park. Involvement of youth in various activities for the conservation of nature and traditions of the region acted as a basis for the development of several forms for the future modern program that will ensure reproduction of the variety of activities that are vital for the population with its peculiarities and which are demanded nowadays. Environmental education is carried out in several directions: • Family, morals and manners of the population living in the park. As a rule, these are situational activities, which are based on household customs and traditions that are used by adults; children also get acquainted with them in the course of life and assimilate observed actions or words; • Implementation of the system of the work of the staff of the park's environmental department, who together with the teachers and school staff in the Kuganavolok House of Culture (the main town of the park) maintain and develop traditions of the region, organizing thematic festivals, summer natural and cultural expeditions, trips with children, etc. Festival "Otzhinaha" is very popular among the population. In terms of importance it serves as a "bridge" between the old traditions of the population of Vodlozero and their modern life; • Work with the creative teams. Folk Band "Toive" of Petrozavodsk State University and the expeditions of students of St. Petersburg State Art and Industry Academy named after A.L. Stieglitz became part of the cultural life of Vodlozero Park. Many years of creative activity of these groups in the park are regarded as one of the trends of contemporary sub cultural program, which is capable to ensure the reproduction of forms and kinds of life-sustaining activities of the population of the region under modern circumstances, maintaining its specificity. In this context, we can speak about the phenomenon of sublimation of past traditions of Vodlozerie population and their transition to a new level with the help of modern forms - art objects, representing nature and the world by various means from the standpoint of the real spiritual inner world of youth demanded nowadays. The interaction of art and environmental activities of youth groups, art groups and individuals involved in communication, preservation and promotion of the park, nature, as well as its cultural heritage, act as the foundation for the development of modern programs, reproducing new activities of the park population.

112-117

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

This year, on April 24th-25th, the 21st National Scientific Practical Conference “Natural science education in a comprehensive school - 2015” took place. This time the participants of the conference gathered at Lazdijai district, Veisiejai gymnasium. The conference was organized by the scientific methodological centre “Scientia Educologica”, and the most important conference partners were - Veisiejai gymnasium and the weekly “Žaliasis pasaulis”. Traditionally, on the first day of the conference two plenary reports were made. Prof.dr. Vincentas Lamanauskas presented a report on the achieved results of the International project “MaT²SMc, Materials for Teaching Together: Science and Mathematics Teachers collaborating for better results”. There are prepared 33 integrated natural science education topics. The material will be presented in the project internet café http://www.mat2smc-project.eu/index.asp?lang=en. Lithuanian Educology University associate professor Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė spoke about the importance of learning in nature. Speaking about primary class pupils’ natural science education, the speaker emphasized, that more possibilities should be made for the pupils to learn world cognition in natural surroundings, because this is the way to their better natural science competence. The colleagues from St. Petersburg made a historical report in which they discussed the questions of chemistry teaching methodology history in Russia. In the afternoon the work went on in two sections. In the first section the reports were mostly devoted to pre-school, primary and general natural science education problems. This year, the same way as every year, conference article collection was prepared and published. It is worth to mention, that since 2013 this publication has been serial. Totally13 articles are published in this year edition, in which various natural science problems are discussed. One can dare assert that a certain conference ideology has been formed already. On the one hand, conference is a nice connection “bridge” between academic and pedagogical (teacher) communities. Teachers share their experience, raise important problems, find out certain new information and so on. So, 21st national conference is a history already. As always, not everything was successfully recorded, not all interesting questions discussed. One has to believe, that natural science education movement will continue and develop. 22nd conference is expected to take place in Jonava, in April, 2016.

4-6

Authors: Elena Vasilevskaya

The development of the natural sciences in the XXI century is characterized by the need for a comprehensive solution of fundamental problems shared by experts in various fields. Advances in science are reflected in the content of modern education. Science in school education most often represented by a set of individual academic disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, biology, geography. Interdisciplinary communication is a reality expression of the integration processes in the study of these disciplines. Illustration of the material unity of the world around us, to demonstrate the possibilities of science to explain, modeling and reproduction of natural processes in the laboratory have a priori that the difference. In the practice of school education widespread the integrated courses of natural science too. Described trends in the development of science education in good agreement with the economic development strategy "Europe 2020: a strategy for intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth", one of the activities of which is to enhance the performance of education systems and to facilitate the involvement of young people into the labor market.

20-31

Authors: Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė Vincentas Lamanauskas

One of the main natural science education aims is the integral perception of the phenomena occurring in nature. Therefore, teachers have to be able to find and convey the pupils the links between separate natural sciences. For this, it is necessary to specially organise the teaching process itself, to prepare the teaching material. First of all, the material has to be distinguished which reflects interdisciplinary links, to choose the teaching forms, methods and ways. In the renewed natural science general programme, seeking to bring secondary education nearer to present day requirements and to improve pupils’ learning motivation, one of the most rapidly spreading science fields in the world – nanotechnology – is included. To what extent and how deep to analyse nanotechnologies, decides the teacher himself. Therefore, it is necessary for the teacher to be prepared to work in the constantly changing teaching environment, to be able to realise the newest interdisciplinary didactic principles, to use information communication technologies. By giving a sample lesson, natural science (physics, chemistry, biology) informatics and mathematics subject relation realisation didactic possibilities are revealed in the article. A sample scenario of the lesson Nanotechnologies: we produce a fullerene model, is presented. The lesson course is described, the tasks, integrating natural sciences, information technologies and mathematics are presented, extra tasks and the tasks for homework are foreseen.

45-54

Authors: Eleonora L. Melnik, Alla Y. Gudym

Content - analysis of scientific literature conducted in the frameworks of the research and method of observation on life and work of Vodlozero residents in the national park "Vodlozersky" in the context of environmental education, showed that the style of their relationship with nature is built not only on the knowledge of modern science of nature and society, but also on regulations, standards, patterns of behavior and activities, as well as various beliefs that have their roots in the past of the society of this region. Relict programs are an objective reality of modern life of residents of the National park and are still rooted in their minds, coming out in the form of individual customs and traditions in agriculture, farming, fishing, gathering mushrooms and berries, cooking, home furnishing. The process of "relict memory" functioning among people is supported at different levels of social activity: communication between social groups of different ages in areas of their compact settlement, attributive means - dances, roundelays, songs on national festivities and holidays. An annual celebration of "Otzhinaha", which takes place in the central village Kuganavolok becomes a phenomenon linking the old traditions of Vodlozero residents and contemporaries. Residents of the former villages, previously located in Vodlozerye also take part in it. "Otzhinaha" is associated as a kind of folk festival in this region. Nature and activities in it is subject to its rhythm - the change of seasons: transition of the sun from winter to summer, the end of winter and beginning of spring, blooming plants and harvesting. The content of lyrics sung at the festival reflects the nature of human work in the fields, hayfields, its labor inputs and dependence on nature, "there will be bread, and there will be song." Orthodox holidays are an important part of spiritual life of the villagers. Modern secular program that could ensure the reproduction of forms and types of activities that are vital for the area and determine the specific character of the community, that are working currently and influence their future, are demanded in a lesser degree. The reasons for this phenomenon lies in partial or complete loss of the true bearers, guardians, and reproducers of forms and types of former activities, the complexity and long duration of the process of reproduction of a particular type of craft. Certain activities were typical only for a limited part of residents living compactly in the area away from the center. This fully applies to the issue of the revival of ancient shipbuilding technology - an ancient lost skill of "sewing" typical for this region boats - "vodlozerki." The craft is in demand, boats are sewed, and people buy them. But awareness of the kinds of crafts demanded in the region is low. Most often in everyday life villagers use the traditional beliefs, signs and custom suggesting the emergence of negative consequences for people. Working in the human mind as a taboo, they serve as a talisman for life and that is why they are stable in memory. Based on our observations, we can say that the superstition or fear of being punished (by water spirit, wood spirit, etc.) has played and continues to play a significant role in behavior of people.