Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

4-7

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

It is obvious that the constructivist perspective is becoming a dominant paradigm in the field of the natural science education. “Constructivism” is not a specific pedagogy but a psychological theory of knowledge. The main idea of this theory is that humans construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. Central to constructivism is the notion that learners play an active role in ‘constructing’ their own meaning. In general it is true. However, this theory can not be against the traditional way of teaching and learning. Constructivist approaches require learners to be active and confident in themselves and their abilities. However, learners may not always be active in the teaching and learning process. Quite often, learners` abilities are quite limited. In this situation, a constructive approach is hardly effective. Why we want to have a behaviorally active learner? According A. Mayer (2004) educators produce materials that require learning to be behaviorally active and not be "cognitively active." Is it constructivist approach is OK nowadays? Are we sure? Who can deny that the traditional teaching / learning is wrong? Science curricula and teaching methods are changing continuously. Traditional teaching has also changed. Such teaching is fundamentally different compared to the teaching of a few decades ago. Both the curriculum and the context are different. Teaching and learning process is unthinkable without modern ICT. This itself requires a qualitatively new approach in science teaching from the teacher`s side. Our imagination that traditional education is the same as one hundred years ago is incorrect. Is it reasonable to promote ‘constructivism’ as a theory appropriate for science te-aching in an uncritical way? There is no universally correct theory. This question should be discussed as large as possible in different context by scholars and teachers.

18-29

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Jūratė Armonienė

ES citizens’ life expectancy has never been so long and it is still getting longer. Howe-ver, their health is far not as good as it could be. Unfortunately, there happen to be a lot of cases of illnesses and of early death, which could be prevented. Health is influenced mostly by social, economic and other living and working conditions. The questions associated with them are included into ES economic and social policy. Smoking, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol, people’s attitude towards themselves and others have also a great influence on health. The main premature causes of death and disability are accidents and injuries, psychic disorders, cancer diseases, blood circulation disorders and respiratory diseases. It is obvious, that person’s physical activity usually positively affects health. Good he-alth is a significant complex part of the life’s quality. Active physical activity at leisure time enriches person’s self-expression, reveals the content of new educative values, creates new behaviour and communication forms, develops the culture of motions. It means that it is very important to propagate the importance of physical activity, especially among the youth. On the other hand, it is also not less important to know different society group opinion on this question. Thus, the aim of the carried out research is to investigate Lithuanian comprehensive school senior class pupils’ opinions about healthy way of living. This article presents research results related with the physical activity problems. The research was conducted in January-February, 2011. 1256 Lithuanian comprehensive school 9-12 form pupils participated in this research. It has been stated, that physical activity concerns the greater part of the respondents. 64,3% of the respondents are in favour of this. One third of the respondents assert that they only partly care about physical activity. However, the research results show that boys are more concerned about physical activity than girls. Also, it has been stated, that boys pay more attention to additional physical activity than girls. Even 35,4% of boys allot more than 4 extra hours per week for physical activity while there are only 10,6% of girls who allot more than 4 hours. Senior class pupils allot the least amount of additional time to physical activity. Summarizing, we can assert that 9–10 form pupils are more active than 11–12 form pupils. More than one third (35,7%) of the respondents think that spreading of bad habits (e.g., smoking, using alcohol and so on…) have the greatest negative influence on pupils’ health. A big learning load is in the second position. The respondents think that teaching programmes are overloaded. Basically, the respondents don’t think that physical activity is a significant factor determining health’s deterioration. The most important factors determining health’s deterioration are bad habits and overloaded teaching programmes.

38-43

Authors: Irena Čerčikienė, Jolanta Jurkevičiūtė, Dalė Židonytė

Nowadays biochemistry is the fastest growing industry in the world. Biochemical ana-lyses are being carried out in different scientific institutions and enterprises; biochemical met-hods and products are being used in various areas like medicine, pharmacy, chemical industry, agriculture and environment protection. To make this process more successful specialists from different areas have to participate in it. UAB „Fermentas“ has invited Chemistry Department of Vilnius College to participate in one of 10 national integrated programmes – National Integrated Programme of Biotechnology and Biopharmacy (BBNKP). That gave a perfect chance to integrate into the project, to renew Chemical Analysis Technology study programme and the subjects’ content of its specialization – Biochemical Analysis Technology, to get methodical material ready, to perfect teachers’ qualification and to equip a laboratory of educational chromatography. Vilnius College trains specialists of higher college education in chemical engineering. After the completion of the study programme they acquire Professional Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and are able to join labour market of biotechnological industry. The article contains information about experience of good practices in BBNKP and shows what has been done and plans for the future activity.

55-63

Authors: Iwona Maciejowska, Malgorzata Krzeczkowska

As a result of restructuring of the education system in Poland in 1999, a number of new textbooks have appeared. Textbook optimization involves familiarization with the feedback of students and teachers regarding the publishers. In the presented research, this method has been used, involving the feedback from the users. The questionnaire for the teachers at the lower and the upper secondary level in various regions of Poland has been prepared. The examinations have shown a need to create detailed standards regulating the suitability of the textbook in the process of teaching-learning.