Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

4-5

Authors: Liudmila Korozhneva

Nowadays we can see the decrease of interest of youth to natural sciences and, accordingly, the low level of natural science knowledge. The modern problem of the theory and the practice of the learning in the schools is the problem of the formation of the competences. The investigators of this problem define various competences. According to the new approach to the content of the natural science education it is necessary to reconsider the process of teaching. One of possible ways is the teaching on the integrative base. The integrated teaching is based on interaction of aim, content, methods, forms and results of the teaching process. The substance of the integrated teaching consists of the necessity to unite the educational subjects of different cycles: natural science, humanitarian and art-aesthetic. It is explained so that in the contents of primary (elementary) education there are different aspects of study of the environment through subjects of a natural science, humanitarian and art – aesthetic cycle. The integrated lesson is a form of realization of the integrated teaching. The teachers of primary schools of Lithuania organize the new form of the integrated teaching. It is the integrated day and integrated week. The journal “Natural Science Education” invites the scientists and teachers to take part in discussion of problems of natural science education.

14-27

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

Using of ICT in the process of University studies is becoming very meaningful. On the one hand, the newest ICT are changing rapidly, on the other hand, we cannot deny that using them is inevitable. In the latter years, students better prepared in ICT field fill Lithuanian uni-versities. However, such assertion is conditional. After graduating from comprehensive schools, students have quite good skills in ICT field. However, the ability of using computers or other computer equipment, devices and instruments is not the same as directly applying them for learning or study needs. University studies differ, in fact, from education process in comprehensive school. Student must constantly work with different information, be able to find it, analyse and so on. Moreover, all this requires self- independence. Quite often students encounter with serious information management difficulties: are not able to find necessary information, cannot use scientific information data basis, search systems and so on. Therefore, fixation of a current state, analysing in different sections and ways, is inevitably very important. It is necessary to constantly watch, research student and teachers’ demands in ICT appliance field. Thus, the object of our research is the ability of the first and fourth-year undergraduates to use information and communication technologies. The aim of research is to gain information concerning the first and fourth-year students’ opinion on the application of ICT in the process of studies. The research A Student and Information and Communication Technologies was conducted in January – March, 2010. Research sample consisted of 663 respondents who were 1st year university students and of 322 respondents who were 4th year university students. In total – 985 respondents. To collect the required data, an anonymous questionnaire including four main blocks was prepared. Questionnaire arranged by Australian researchers was used as a research in-strument (Kennedy, Judd, Churchward, Gray, Kerri-Lee Krause, 2008). Questionnaire com-prises four main blocks: demographic information (5 items), access to hardware and the Internet (13 items), use of abilities and skills with technology based tools (Computer: 11 items; Web: 18 items; Mobile phones: 8 items) and preferences for the use of technology based tools in University studies (19 items). Mentioned instrument was partially modified taking into account the study specifics of Lithuanian universities. To analyze research data, the measures of descriptive statistics (absolute and relative frequencies, popularity/usefulness/necessity indexes) have been applied. Generalizing the research Student and information communication technologies results, we can claim, that: • Respondents have practically unlimited possibilities for using mobile phone, com-puter, internet and USB memory stick. • Relatively new and rather expensive digital technologies, such as iPod touch, e-library, palm computer, GPS navigator and other are still slightly used. • Computer has become the means of everyday necessity. It is intensively used both for studies and for leisure. Boys use more complex computer functions than girls do. • Respondents usually use the internet for communication, information search and for e-mail services. Boys use the internet more variously than girls. • Computer technology usage possibility analysis in the aspect of courses showed that statistically significant difference having existed between first year students, who have graduated from city and region schools, disappeared in the fourth course. • The fourth year students comparing to the first year students are becoming more conscious and are using computer more for learning purposes, however, using com-puter for leisure (playing games, watching films, listening to music on the internet) is more characteristic to the first year students.

35

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

The international scientific conference "Information & Communication Technology in Natural Science Education - 2010", took place 11 – 14 November 2010 in the Conference centre of Siauliai University in Siauliai.

4-6

Authors: Eleonora Melnik

Integral-differential style in the understanding of the system of genetic interconnections and dependency between nature and society is considered to be innovative and is use by natural sciences as well as liberal arts, but in school education it is developed rather slowly. We can see the decrease of interest of young people to natural sciences. There are natural questions: Should the teachers nowadays foster the increase of interest to natural sciences among school children? Does the contemporary society need specialists in the sphere of environment: physicist, chemist, astronomers, physiologists and others? Perhaps to many of them specialties of natural science sphere seem to be not demanded in the society? We would also like to know the opinion of the teachers and university professors concerning the peculiarities of natural science education of young people in different educational systems. We are interested in your opinion about the selection of the educational content as well as about different techniques and educational methods used by specialists. Is there any considerable shift of interest among the teachers towards techniques of natural sciences education aimed precisely at young people? How is this phenomena connected with the new generation of standards and task-books in school education? We hope that mentioned above aspects of the system of natural science education will evoke understanding and response among the specialists and point out the necessity of their discussion in our journal.

16-28

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Dalia Augienė

The formation of scientific research activity (SRA) abilities in comprehensive school is undoub-tedly, a very important sphere that has not received a proper attention yet. Current teaching and learning process has changed, in fact, from the point of view of paradigm – subjects taught are becoming a means of the realization of learners’ needs and interests. Scientific research activity is not an entertainment but responsible, thorough work requiring a lot of self-independence. During such an activity pupils’ analytical thinking gets stronger, information searching and using abilities are formed, they learn how to analyze gathered material, prepare reports, make research presentations and so on. The research was carried out between January and April, 2010. The method of the research was survey in written form (questionnaire). On the whole, 380 questionnaires were acknowledged acceptable. The article deals with Natural science and Mathematics teachers’ opinion about the situation of scientific research activity in comprehensive school. A factor analysis was performed in order to find out the structure of 41 items. The main aim of the factor analysis is to reduce the number of variables. Two methods were applied in order to evaluate whether the data set was appropriate for the factor analysis: Bartlett`s Test of Sphericity and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy test value is 0.844. Bartlett's Test of Sphericity tests the null hypothesis that the correlation matrix is an identity matrix. In this case approx. Chi-Square value is 3921.835 and p<0.000. These results clearly show that data can be used for factor analysis. The eight factors were extracted based on the Eigen Value Statistics (with the real value more than one). Also the significance (popularity) indexes (SI) and standards deviations (SD) for each factor were calculated. 1. Interest in scientific research activity (SI=0.67; SD=0.17). 2. Ignoring the scientific research activities (SI=0.59; SD=0.21). 3. Adverse (unfavourable) conditions of carrying out of scientific research activity (SI=0.43; SD=0.23). 4. Fragmentary of scientific research activity (SI=0.65; SD=0.20). 5. Adverse (unfavourable) material conditions of scientific research activity (SI=0.65; SD=0.20). 6. Lack qualification (competence) of teachers (SI=0.70; SD=0.25). 7. Employment (busyness) of learners and teachers (SI=0.68; SD=0.21). 8. Influence of the educational environment on scientific research activity (SI=0.76; SD=0.19). However, we need to emphasize, that significance indexes are relatively not high, though higher than 0.50. All these factors accounts for 47.00% of variance. There are 9 statements under the first factor, 6 statements under the 2nd factor, 5 statements under the 3rd factor, 4 statements under the 4th factor, 6 sta-tements under the 5th factor, 3 statements under the 6th factor, 4 statements under the 7th factor and 3 sta-tements under the 8th factor. The first factor forms 7.56% of total variance, the second factor constitutes 7.17% of total variance, the third factor forms 6.00% of total variance, the fourth factor forms 5.92% of total variance, the fifth factor constitutes 5.81% of total variance, the sixth factor forms 5.28% of total variance, the seventh forms 5.05% of total variance and the last one (eighth factor) constitutes 4.17% of total variance. It was found that in the teaching of scientific research activities the cooperation methods are used. It was found that in general the most favourable to SRA are biology and chemistry teachers, and the less favourable - teachers of geography. It was also found that highly significant factor in the development of scientific research activity is the educational environment.

35-43

Authors: Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

Formation of concepts and their correlation with mental activity has been an object of concern for philosophers, psychologists and educators. Selecting the most efficient way of concept formation, knowledge of various methods, their advantages and disadvantages, conditions of their successful application, peculiarities of the comprehension process is necessary. This article deals with the didactical principles of concept formation in physics. The main stages of formation and development concepts of physics have been analysed: a definite sensual perception, distinction of basic general features of the observed objects of a class, abstraction of a concept, specification and consolidation of basic features of concept, definition of relations with other concepts, application of a concept, generalisation and specification. It has been stated in this article, that the quality of concept formation depends on the ways how the basic features of a concept are detailed and consolidated, relations with other concepts are revealed, how the concept is applied solving tasks of various types, i.e., how the process of concept expansion has been organised. Concept comprehension is not a single act of the definition memorisation but a long-term process. Aiming at pupils’ conscious comprehension of scientific concepts, their ability to apply them in definite situations it is essential to organise the process of their formation in the right way and to manage it. Teachers should realise, that definition memorising does not mean concept formation, quality of concept comprehension mainly depends on the ways its basic features are being detailed and consolidated, correlation with other concepts is being disclosed, the concept is being applied solving the tasks of various character, i.e. how the process of concept expansion is being organised.

4-7

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

A problem of the notion natural science education (NSE) exists (English Science; Russian Естествознание /Естественнонаучное образование/, природоведение, окружающий мир, latvian Dabaszinatniskâ izglitiba/Dabas maciba, German Naturwissenschaft, French Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre, Norwegian Naturvitenskap/naturfag etc.). The concept is not properly and appropriately defined and this is a future task of didactics. On the other hand, in discussion on primary school this concept is not very suitable. Therefore, less complicated concepts basically defining natural science education such as The World Science, Me and the World, Nature and Human Being, Environment Study, We and the World, etc. are frequently applied. The most frequent and widely used term in Lithuania is natural science education. In the Lithuanian language – gamta (nature) + mokslas (science) + ugdymas (education) make one compound „gamtamokslinis“ and together with a term „ugdymas“ – „gamtamokslinis ugdymas“. Analogically the term is built in the Latvian language – daba (nature) + zinâtne (science) + izglitiba (education) – „dabaszinatniskâ izglitiba“. It should be emphasized that the present day educational terminology holds many obscurities. It is difficult to precisely choose an equivalent of the term in English. Researchers are expected to work hard as adjusting terminology is a very complex job in this field. I suppose that the explanation of the concept of natural sciences in a broad sense is logical. The concept „natural science education“ is the most appropriate in this context. The present natural science knowledge is related to the processes taking place in technical and social life, in the fields of ecology, health service, hygiene, demography, natural resources, etc. From this point of view, a term „natural science and technology education“ /NSTE/ seems to be reasoned today. The researchers’ communities have even certain problems in the field (for example, they have different attitudes towards natural science education and its place in the system of general education). In our opinion, natural science education is a field of social sciences (primarily educology). Public society approach to natural science education (general needs, general level of culture, traditions in the light of interaction with nature, the need to have society and the young generation of a privileged natural science background, etc.), its optimal conditions of implementation (the standards of natural science education and material, human, etc. resources undertaking their success), the development of the needs and motivation of nature study (in a broad sense) (improving the need to perceive nature throughout all studies in comprehensive school, enhancing cognitive relation with nature, etc.), natural science results: knowledge, abilities, relations (studying natural sciences, etc.) are the crucial components of natural science education. Secondary comprehensive education is the only stage for the young generation creating an opportunity to receive fundamental systemic natural science-technological education. Received NSTE (natural science-technological education) for the majority will be the only form to acknowledge this field as they will not have such a possibility for many reasons in the future. Having assessed the produced and expected changes of the educational system it is essential to stress that natural science education feels a lack of attention in the structure of the educational system (formal, informal).

15-24

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas, Dalia Augienė

The formation of scientific research activity (SRA) abilities in comprehensive school is undoubtedly, a very important sphere that has not received a proper attention yet. Current teaching and learning process has changed, in fact, from the point of view of paradigm – subjects taught are becoming a means of the realization of learners’ needs and interests. Scientific research activity is not an entertainment but responsible, thorough work requiring a lot of self-independence. During such an activity pupils’ analytical thinking gets stronger, information searching and using abilities are formed, they learn how to analyze gathered material, prepare reports, make research presentations and so on. A teacher who tends to organize pupils’ reproductive activity more often can achieve desired results, however, the fact that pupils have mastered ready-made information and have acquired knowledge and skills does not mean that they have mastered creative, scientific research activity experience. Learning only according to an example, a pupil does not acquire self-learning and searching skills. We will get a significantly bigger effect while throwing a pupil into a situation in which he will get a feeling of uncertainty and doubts and many questions will arise to him, rather than explaining everything and teaching according to an example. Such a situation is very easily created during a scientific research activity in which conditions are formed to create pupils’ scientific and critical thinking, insight, creativity and to develop personal features. While organizing scientific research activity, conditions are formed for pupils to work actively and independently. Working in that way pupils learn to explore, perceive a problem, formulate aims and tasks, raise a hypothesis, make its validation plan, analyze research results, check the reliability of received conclusions, raise a new problem in case of need and so on. In other words, pupils master scientific cognition elements. The research was carried out in January-April, 2010. 380 respondents – Natural science and Mathematics teachers participated in the research. The article deals with Natural science and Mathematics teachers’ opinion about factors stimulating and hindering scientific research activity in comprehensive school. Semantic categorization carried out of respondents answers to open questions is presented here, i.e., semantic structure of the opinions / attitudes to scientific research activity stimulating and hindering factors is revealed. After carrying out semantic respondents’ answer analysis it was stated that: • The most important scientific research activity stimulating factors are related to participants’ in education – teachers and pupils’ motivation. Professional information is the least influential in developing SRA in comprehensive school. • The most important hindering factors of SRA are related to material basis of educational institutions (laboratories, equipment, instruments and so on) also to participants’ in education - teachers and pupils’- motivation. • Insufficiency of teachers’ methodological preparation is also considered a serious hindering factor. Nuances of education policy are not viewed as an important factor limiting the development of SRA.

29-37

Authors: Violeta Šlekienė, Loreta Ragulienė

The article reveals the importance of demonstration tasks in physics teaching in secondary schools. Four demonstration of the liquid and gas properties are presented and analyzed. They are: Pressure dependence of gas flow speed; Pressure reduction in air-stream; Wing lift; Liquid surface tension. Reasoning schemes for giving a logical sense to these physics demo tasks are developed. The proposed reasoning schemes reach to activate students' thinking, understanding the demonstrations during the observed physical phenomena, i.e. help students to: understand the nature of the demo task, determine cause - effect relationships and dependencies, compare conditions and findings, summarize the results, do conclusions. Such using of demonstration tasks is useful to both of teacher and pupil: teacher controls the content of teaching and a learning of pupils, pupils - are focused to self-activities, encouraged to think, analyze, summarize and do conclusions.

42-47

Authors: Sergey Teleshov

Studying questions of application of various tutorials in practice of work of the school teacher of chemistry, we have addressed to educational texts XIX – beginnings ХХ centuries It is translation both original textbooks and books of problems not only in chemistry, but also on the physics. The matter is that the independent subject "chemistry" existed no more than in 25 % of average educational institutions of the Russian empire. For this reason chemical data inevitably joined in physics textbooks. Still in the end of XYIII centuries P.Gilarovsky, the professor of the Petersburg teacher's seminary, in the preface to his textbook of physics has noticed that it "has added" data from chemistry as it is necessary for the physicist. There upon by us have been considered over 200 textbooks and books of problems of physics and chemistry which found application in various types of average educational institutions of Russia. The most interesting are chosen from them 40 in the methodical plan and questions and problems which were offered in these texts to pupils are considered. The file of educational texts studied by us allows, on the one hand, when also what questions and settlement problems in chemistry have appeared in high school. Simultaneously we enrich a modern technique of training by those approaches and receptions which were applied by our predecessors since problems simultaneously are both tutorial and a training method. Possibility to estimate use of the mathematic device by the schoolboys who have passed a course more hundred fifty years ago is useful also. Comparison, by the way, unfortunately, is obvious not in our advantage.

55

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

Proceedings of the Sixteenth National Scientific-Practical Conference, Anyksciai, 23-24 April, 2010, Lithuania.