Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

1

Authors: Editorial Board

Cover page

4-7

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Natural science and technology education (NSTE) is reasonably considered one of the most important components of general education. What is more, natural science and technology education of young generation is an important guarantor of all society welfare. The importance of natural science and technology education is undoubted. Over the last two or three decades, attention to natural science and technology education in various countries has been increasing. On the one hand, science and technology development has encouraged this, on the other hand, the declining young generation interest in natural science and technologies has been observed. Besides, various scientific research have been conducted in this sphere, plenty of various projects have been implemented, modern ICT have been developed, etc. However, very often the expected effect, first of all, in a qualitative sense is hardly imaginative. An exhaustive scientific-didactic revision is necessary, a certain inspection, which would allow to reflect on both the achievements, and current problems or the emerging new challenges. Over the first half of 2017, various scientific events related to NSTE problems have taken place at both national and international level. This shows that the interest in NSTE actualities is not declining. In a rapidly changing social-economic-technological context, natural science technology education of a young generation remains the priority task of education system. Our society is facing more and more complex problems that remain to be solved for future generations. All this requires qualitatively new NSTE, new natural science and technological education approaches (e.g., interdisciplinary/integrated teaching (learning), natural science competence development in green learning areas, education organisation outside the classroom or school, self-learning and other non-formal natural science education forms and so on.).

25-36

Authors: Eisvydė Jurkevičiūtė, Rita Makarskaitė – Petkevičienė

Soil is the major support system of human life and welfare, a non-renewable nature source. This is a medium for plenty of microorganisms, animals and plants. Soil, like air, water, is very sensitive to environment pollution. The Organisation of United Nations announced 2015 – the International Year of Soils, because there is a fear, that society knows and understands a little about it. In Lithuanian primary education general programmes, air and water are given much more attention than soil. Even the concept of the latter is not mentioned in the programme. The aim of the research: to analyse soil subject expression in Lithuanian and foreign primary school. The main research questions are: 1) How is soil subject realised in Lithuanian primary education social and natural science education programme and foreign country (Great Britain, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago) analogical programmes?; 2) What similarities and differences are noticed in the 1st to 4th form natural science textbooks, regarding soil subject expression question?; 3) What is international practice of making children acquainted with the soil as an important part of every ecosystem, a medium for living organisms already at an early age? Foreign countries (USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Turkey) have accumulated a lot of experience, how at an early age to make children acquainted with the soil, how to make them interested in this secret object, what and how to teach. This can also be useful for Lithuania thinking over education content, renewing educational programmes, implementing Good school concept and propagating education “without boundaries”.

55-61

Authors: Angela James, Vincentas Lamanauskas

Rapid economic growth and globalisation have positive and also negative impacts on environmental aspects and people’s lives. And, people live in conditions of extreme change. This raises new requirements for living for every individual. In the current era of globalization it is necessary to stop the destructive processes of globalization, to create a different vision of globalization based on the principles of sustainable development, taking into account not only economic indicators but also social and ecological coherence. Sustainable development is a complex process that aims to ensure the well-being for present and future generations. However, the emerging economic and environmental challenges make this process more difficult. It is obvious, that sustainable development processes and problems should be analysed, having evaluated various global change conditions. The importance of complex attitude is undoubted. One can dare assert, that the focus of the conference was namely a complex attitude and an intention to form perception, that sustainable development is a significant sphere of not only scientific research but also practical (especially at the local community level) activity as well.