Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

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.