Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

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.