Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

8-16

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

Usage of social networking websites is getting more intensive. This is determined by various reasons. However, ICT rapid spread is one of the most determining factors, firstly. New technologies provide various possibilities. Speaking about social networking websites, it is worth to emphasize their diversifiable possibilities. The functionality of social networking websites is increasing, diversifying and this in its own way opens different possibilities for the consumers, also serves as a factor encouraging the usage of social networking sites. It is especially important to understand the essential motives of using social networking websites, to analyze their probable advantages and disadvantages. Educational research was carried out in 2012, in which participated 918 university study 1st–4th course students. Using open questions, qualitative analysis of the obtained data was carried out. Students like SN websites because in them there is a possibility to communicate with acquaintances, with friends and relatives living abroad, to get acquainted with various people not only from Lithuania but also from the whole world, to find useful, suitable information, to share it with the other participants of the portal, have entertainment, i.e. play games, listen to music, look through the photos and so on. SN websites is a joyful way of spending time. To create SN website personal profile(s) was encouraged by friends, relatives, especially those living abroad, the desire to find out how everything is going on, the wish to broaden one’s outlook, not to stay behind the others, to follow the novelties. The creation of the profile was also determined by the possibility to get in touch with somebody very quickly, easy and visual communication with portal participants, the wish to make acquaintances and show oneself, also different games. Students point out the following SN website advantages: the possibility to communica-te with many people at one time, to get in touch with the people seen long ago also with the friends and relatives living abroad, the possibility to find proper information and share it, self-realization possibility, because one can freely express ideas, improve English language know-ledge and virtual communication abilities, there is a possibility to find friends and new acqu-aintances. Respondents notice SN website disadvantages too, such as information publicity, lack of privacy, insecurity of presented data, possible lies, deceptions, there is a lot of inaccurate information, a possibility arises to get acquainted with bad people. The participation in SN websites takes a lot of time and this already hinders concentration to studies. Immoderate SN website visit not only increases addiction, but also distracts from real life communication. The communication abilities in real life diminish, it leads to alienation. It is noticed, that unsuitable information for children, teenagers might be found in SN websites which makes the youth dumb and doesn’t encourage improvement. It is noted, that long sitting at the computer is harmful for health and negatively affects general condition of a person.

27-34

Authors: Laima Railienė

Nowadays school training process faces different changes. This changing is influenced by various factors: economical, political, social, people’s life changes and others. Teaching contents must give students some certain knowledge and competence in the lessons. One of the most successful lesson’s aspects is suitable teaching style’s and method’s use. There are lots of teaching strategies which helps students to achieve higher results if compared with usual teaching methods. It is necessary to choose the method which could be most useful. It is important for students to acquire subject and common competences in geography lessons. Every lesson, geography as well has got some certain specifics and structure. It depends on the lesson’s topic, aim and resources. Student’s preparation for work and motivation are of great importance too. The article introduces geography lesson in 6th form when students work individually and in groups.

41-60

Authors: Sergey Teleshov

History school textbook on chemistry in the Russian Empire beginning in the first half of the 19th century. Which textbooks in chemistry were the first? Who were their authors? What do You know about first stable tutorials in 1930-ies? All of this is briefly reflected in proposed to Your attention. You will learn about the first criteria that guided the first authors of textbooks in 1803 and 1840 уу. You can read also about the pedagogical censorship, which appeared in 1869. Finally, You will be offered to current approaches to assessing the quality of the texts. The first formulation of this issue was started in the last decades of the 20th century. The author presents a comparative description of modern Russian textbooks, performed on the basis of the proposed criteria. Any teacher can evaluate themselves in accordance with these views and, on that basis, selective tutoring for his school. Seemingly has everything You need to create the ideal textbook, but it has not yet been established. At the same time in education appeared e-learning tools, including e-learning textbook. In addition to traditional types of information - text, tables, pictures etc. - electronic textbooks may use and new – speech, music, movie videos, animations and other colored. It is possible to use multiple document, presenting system information, hypertext links. Now, authors and consumers will face two challenges: the quality of these tests and their correlation with classical, i.e. paper. Thus arises the question of creation of ergonomic tutorial of the twenty-first century. All of these issues are also being addressed in the proposed below.

7-19

Authors: Angelija Mačiukaitė

The aim of the present research is to examine the attitudes of students with special educational needs (SEN) towards the study subject of “The World Around Us” and educational environment. Research subjects were 370 mainstream primary school students. Primary school students more often like than dislike the examined subject. Preferred activities during classes are a conversation, group work and games; however, even in the pre-ferred activities the students with SEN participated less often. The majority of the students like the topics about nature, plants and animals, while in the sphere of social environment they are more interested in the topics about the past and traditions, about their native land and foreign countries. The research demonstrated that provided with comprehensive and sincere support, students with different kinds of SEN can take an active part in the lessons and in extra activities, they are able to work next to their peers.

32-38

Authors: Laima Railienė, Rasa Baltušytė

The article provides the advantages and disadvantages of the use of Smart board in the integrated lesson of geography and biology. Some problems are discussed, related with the recent new teaching device at school. The evaluation and possibilities of usage of the Smart board are provided in the article as well as the methodology of the integrated geography and biology lesson in the 11th form. A Smart board is an instrument to make the teaching more interesting, faster and simpler whereas the knowledge of the pupils‘ becomes deeper and more generalizing. The basis of this work is curiosity of the pupils, and the help to satisfy this curiosity on the teacher‘s side. However, it should be mentioned, that the process of preparation for the lesson due to realise the teaching process discussed, is prolonged but this is justified by the increased teaching motivation of the learners. The pedagogical technology includes the sequence of operations, which provides a possibility to achieve high results while using low input; introduces the way of systematic thinking in education, what provides a possibility to thoroughly manage the teaching process.

49-57

Authors: Eleonora L. Melnik

Realizing existing environmental problems the contemporary humanity is seeking new ways of interaction with environment. On the one hand it lies in development of innovative technologies in manufacturing process which reserve natural resources and focus on enhance-ment of environment. On the other hand it implies introduction of environmental knowledge into all spheres of education. Psychological science claims that a person of postindustrial soci-ety is spiritually distanced from nature and the increasing formal religiosity doesn’t prevent them from developing a pragmatic view on their being. Striving to take everything from life “right now and right here” has made an impact on development of values. They have changed for the worse. The process of human mentality change is long-term. It requires organization of special institutions which would study these issues from the early childhood to make a child understand the role of environment as the most important value needed for preserving the life on the Earth. That is why it is very important for children to want and for teachers to able to carry out this process jointly. World viewing component of environmental education is intended to find out human’s belonging to the world – whether a person is “in” the world, “out” of world or “above” the world – and to organize the system of knowledge which would correspond to this understanding of human’s place in the world where envi-ronment would act as the main value of life and work. It is significant to change the character of relationships between the contemporary society and the environment; it should be developed on the basis of such principles as subordination, coordination and correlation. It is necessary to research the order of interrelations, the character of interrelation of elements and transformation of elements in the environment. Supporting the statement that knowledge is the basis of any education we claim that the content of environmental education being a part of general education with its complex and integrated character can provide comprehensive study of the environment to students. Nature, human being and society - biological and social – genetic unity of existence should be reflected in education standards: programmes, study-books, methodological literature, etc. The content of education determines the form of training: traditional lessons, outdoor training, excursions, research and project activity of students. Environmental education should have lifelong character: from childhood till elderly. Continuity of education – from the past to the present and future- should be implemented in the sphere of knowledge as well as in the sphere of traditional relationships with nature and people. It is also reasonable to consider such characteristics as direct results of educational activity – knowledge, skills, experience, kinds of activity and achievements; and indirect results – changes in social life of humans, their behavior and relationships with nature and people. On the whole the analysis of the problem of environmental education in Russia shows that the interest of young people to natural science is on the same level of that in other Euro-pean countries and it is not high. However as a result of reforms of secondary and higher edu-cation the natural science subjects have become electives. It can be expected that low level of interest to such subjects as physics, chemistry and biology will turn into decrease of number of those who would like to get knowledge of these subjects. Considering the demographic situation in the country we can predict decline of teaching load, absence of demand for such teachers and, at the end, loss of pedagogical staff in schools and universities. That is why mentioned above projects on upgrading environmental education with the goal to improve the environmental situation in the country and nature preservation remain in the status of scientific projects. That is to say that there is an understanding of the necessity to improve education for better life in the country but now it is still on the stage of formal declaration.

6-24

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

Over the latter decade a rapid development of information communication technologies has been going on in various directions. Technological possibilities have increased very significantly (Lamanauskas, 2012). The development of internet and technologies related with it has been extremely fast. A lot of internet service providers have appeared in the market, their number still continues to grow. The internet diaries, social portals, technologies allowing live communication on the internet (Internet Relay Chat, IRC), talk programme Windows Live Messenger (MSN), ICQ forums and other have occurred and are spreading. Thus, today a consumer can create his profile on the internet, can make friends, communicate in the interest groups and so on. It can be stated, that every human being contributes in his own way to the internet and at the same time to ICT development, in general. It is obvious, that together with technological problems also arise social internet problems. Social networking websites are closely related with economical, psychological, educational, valeological and other aspects. There is a shortage of researches grounding socio-educational social network aspects. Research purpose is to ascertain how Lithuanian university students use social net-working websites, how they value them, what opinion they have about various social networking websites, what they know about them. The main research questions are: What social networking websites do students know and use most frequently?; What social networking website functions do students use and why?; Do students like social networking websites and why?; What do students know about how social networking websites use published personal and other type of information?; What is students’ attitude to opportunities provided by social networking websites? It has been stated, that the majority of the respondents use the internet a few times a day, besides, more than a half of them visit social networking websites a few times a day as well. Only a small part of the respondents haven‘t created their personal profile in social net-working websites. More than a third of the respondents very favourably value social network-ing websites, they like them. Even those who don‘t like social networking websites, all the same, periodically visit them. It has been asserted, that though the respondents know a lot of social networking websites, the most frequently visited and most popular are three: You Tube, Facebook, Google+. The most important functions are: communication, learning and exchanging information, texting. It is worrying, that only a small part of the respondents know how social networking websites use published and other type of information. Though SNW is an excellent means of communication, a perfect opportunity for finding out various news, for making friends and so on, students are firmly convinced, that communication in virtual space will never substitute direct people‘s relations. Such their position is valued as positive. On the other hand, it is obvious, that educational social networking potential has rather poor expression in students‘ evaluation and it raises a grounded concern.

36-42

Authors: Eugenija Rudnickaitė

Year 2012 in Lithuania is announced as the Year of Museums, nevertheless the num-ber of museums and educational programs dedicated to Natural Sciences did not increase. Geosciences are very significant part of the whole complex of Natural Sciences. How-ever, geological disciplines are not included in Education Programm of Secondary Schools, therefore Museums of Geology became very important. Lithuania can not brag about a big number of geological museums, and most of them are not close enough for a class trip. Such luxury is only available mainly for schools in Vil-nius. Although, during recent years more and more geological knowledge is available at re-gional parks new information centers (Gražutės, Sartų, Nemuno kilpų, Ventos, etc.). It is con-venient to nearby schools. But what about the rest? The idea of this article is to show, that a geological „museum“ can be found in schools surrounding environment: school yard, close by river slope, dug out quarry, by a water spring or a hill. Specific examples are presented how an unregistered user, visiting Lithuanian Geologi-cal Survey internet site (www.lgt.lt), can find enough information about his schools’ surround-ings geological structure (on the surface and underground), protected geological object (geotops), interesting outcrops, probable pollution sources, mineral resources, etc.

7-17

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

Modern society receives a relatively big part of information using information commu-nication devices. Information search possibilities are rapidly growing. On the other hand, the amount of information itself is expanding. One of the quickest ways of finding information is using internet search engines, e.g., “Google”, “Yahoo”, “AltaVista” and others. Their usage undoubtedly makes big influence on education. Pupils’ ability to find the necessary informa-tion is highly relevant. Thus, information search literacy is an inseparable component of gene-ral education. It is not enough only to find information, it is necessary to use it in the most effective way. Seeking to improve pupils’ information skills, it is necessary to know current position of an analysed question. The object of this research is information search using ICT. The aim of the research is to analyse how comprehensive school upper class students use ICT for information search. It has been ascertained by a research what additional information sources pupils use, where and how they get necessary literature, what information search engines and what electronic information sources they use most frequently. At least a few times per week apart from textbooks respondents use other literature as well (books, dictionaries, handbooks) for learning purposes. They use encyclopaedias very seldom or don’t use them at all. Pupils usually read books and newspapers which they have at home. They also use internet and library service; however, it is not popular to borrow books from friends or buy them. Pupils use internet daily both for leisure and learning. Girls more often than boys use internet for learning and for leisure – they use it equally. Respondents usually search information through Google search engine, less frequently – through Delfi. The other search engines and catalogues mentioned in the questionnaire are used very seldom, especially HotBot, Penki, On.lt and others. Both girls and boys, town and region pupils equally use search engines and catalogues. From electronic information sources respondents most frequently use internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia. Internet books and e magazines are read once a month on average, virtual library is scarcely used. It is absolutely not popular to use such sources as Nerandu.lt, tingiu.lt, Speros.lt.

29-34

Authors: Laima Railienė

The article analyses the possibilities and advantages of geography integration trying to develop the educational process in a secondary school. Every teaching strategy style must always be carefully selected, paying attention to students‘ age experience and abilities. Re-cently, abilities‘ use in practice is more emphasized than theoretical knowledge. Geography is the most integrated subject at school. The majority of other subjects‘ knowledge is needed in teaching how to do geography projects and research works. Therefore, subject integration is very important. It allows to select the most important various subjects knowledge and get the most optimal result.

48-53

Authors: Irina Zikina, Inna Portjanskaja

From the point of view of psychologists and pedagogues the most productive age for studying fundamental fields of scientific knowledge is 10 – 13 years. In order to achieve opti-mal results in formation of natural science understanding in younger grades studies should be carried out with adherence to vertical and horizontal successive connections and start in ele-mentary school, although the age characteristics of child’s development not always allow to form complex definitions. This process can be adopted through use of sensitive age-specifications, accomplishing studies through game elements and project education. Paying attention to elementary school student ecological education, integrated projects for elementary school were developed and are carried out. By this moment one of the projects has reached to the second stage of its implementation. Knowledge and skills acquired during the first stage of the project (laboratory work methods and so on) helped to boost the work of students in nature science class. Students gained motivation towards learning the subject and self-reliance in performing tasks of creative and exploratory nature, knowledge became more meaningful and attitude towards nature became more cautious.

6-18

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Jūratė Armonienė

Stepping into the 21st century changes inevitably increase in all spheres of human life. The development of technologies, availability of different resources, the shifts of social roles and many other novelties determined human life which is getting more and more complicated. Challenges of modern society in one way or another affect the young person as well and many of them are encouraged to choose unhealthy way of living (e.g., smoking, drugs, immoderate usage of alcohol, unhealthy nutrition and other). Healthy way of living in this context becomes as urgent as never before. The problem of healthy way of living has obviously many aspects. Over the last decade quite a lot of tests in the sphere of healthy way of living have been carried out in various countries. These tests confirm, in fact, that such components as nutrition, physical activity, overweight, self-evaluation, good learning achievements, health, image, self-confidence, behaviour and other are closely interrelated and influence each other. The research “Healthy way of living in pupils’ eyes” is based on positivistic-quantitative approach. The authors keep to the position that measurement of causative links between variables is very important. The research was carried out in January-February, 2011. The aim of the research is to investigate Lithuanian comprehensive scho-ol upper school students’ opinions on healthy way of living. In the research the authors’ prepared questionnaire formed from open and closed questions was used (Lamanauskas, Armonienė, 2011). 1265 Lithuanian comprehensive school 9-12 form pupils participated in the research. It has been stated, that most of the respondents think, that healthy way of living is important and necessary. However, healthy way of living is much more important for girls than for boys. It is believable, that this, first of all, is related with self-evaluation and image. On the other hand, it is believed, that a big gap exists between the understanding of importance of healthy way of living and propagation of such way of living in practice. It has been stated, that approximately one-third of respondents propagate such way of living. Besides, younger pupils propagate more such way of living comparing with senior ones. This can be related with senior form pupils’ bigger occupation, bigger learning load. During the lessons attention is practically not paid to healthy way of living, teachers, in fact, are not interested in pupils’ activity and rest regime and do not help them to plan their daily routine properly. At school pupils do not get enough information on these questions, healthiness events are also very rare in schools.

25-35

Authors: Małgorzata Krzeczkowska, Ewa Odrowąż, Elżbieta Szostak

Since 1999 a study subject called ‘Elements of Science’ has existed in Polish primary schools. Elements of the science covers issues from biology, geography, physics and chemis-try. There is no separate university course of studies in Poland that would prepare teachers to teach this subject. Natural science is taught by biology, chemistry, geography, and physics teachers, who obtain additional accreditation in order to teach this subject (Grodzinska-Jurczak, 2000). Students of the Jagiellonian University’s chemistry department can also ob-tain these credentials. In order to do so, they must participate in the Methodology of Teaching of Science course. One of the elements of this course is environmental education. The first aim of this study was to determine to what extent the students at various levels of the educational system are familiar with ecological problems. The second aim was to develop a format for lessons that can be used by teachers to introduce ecological issues in the classroom or through extra-curricular activities.

44-47

Authors: Sergey Teleshov

Short communication related to the prof. Aaarne Toldsepp, Tartu, Estonia.