Gamtamokslinis ugdymas / Natural Science Education

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Authors: Editorial Board

Cover page, Vol. 16, No. 2, GU/NSE

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Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

It is obvious that scientific writing is a special and complex part of academic activity. Researchers not only organise and conduct the research but also have to describe and publish them (or to spread information in other ways). Basically, there exist two very close, however quite different processes: scientific research organisation and accomplishment and the accomplished scientific research description. For the first process, the most essential are the abilities to carry out the research (plan, design, conduct, analyse, systematize and so on), whilst for the second process, the most essential are special abilities (find and evaluate print and electronic resources suitable for the academic text and to present original arguments based on academic goal search, to critically think and use the appropriate information while writing articles and so on). It is understandable that such descriptions have to correspond to general requirements of such type of works both in respect of structure, presentation, and content. Qualitative scientific works are written and submitted in a scientific style, correct, clear and accurate English (or other) language.

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Authors: Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė

Today, increasingly more attention is given to knowledge construction. In this article it is discussed how much nature, its objects and phenomena features are important forming a certain system of knowledge about nature. Research show that features cannot be ignored, one should focus and reconsider how our students are guided towards feature identification. During the first years of life, the child already experiences specific environmental features. Later, the knowledge of features (to remember, cognize, define…) and understanding (to retell, explain...) guide further: teach to compare, group, classify. The analysis aim was to give methodological advice to primary school teachers and to all interested in natural science education on how to teach students to cognize and understand the features of natural objects, phenomena and to develop comparison, grouping and classification abilities. Aims: 1) to discuss what it is a feature; 2) to analyse what the feature’s expression is in preschool and pre-primary education programmes; 3) to present activity episodes, task examples on how to teach during nature cognition lessons to recognize features according to which the procedures of comparison, grouping, and classification are possible. Introducing what the feature is, the synonyms of features are introduced as well (feature, peculiarity, criterion, symptom), it is explained what the feature defines, what the difference is between quantitative and qualitative features. Discussing the feature expression in education programmes, 4 programmes were analysed on this question (preschool, pre-primary school, primary school world cognition programme and standardised world cognition programme). Clarity, accuracy, attention to detail of the discussed question has been noticed in the standardised world cognition programme. The questions of how to teach primary school students to be observant and to find natural object features, and what to do having found them are shared in the third part of the article. Several concrete recommendations are given here on how to teach to recognize some or other animate and inanimate natural object and phenomena features. Together are presented orientation questions, objective commentaries, possible students’ answers because the author has already tried these activities with the primary school students.

116-123

Authors: Vincentas Lamanauskas

An annual scientific practical conference “Natural science education in a comprehensive school – 2019” took place in Aukstaitian town Kupiskis. It is known that Kupiskis is a town in the North East of Lithuania, in the eastern edge of Middle Lithuania lowland. The time of the conference is traditional – the second part of April, i.e., from 25th to 27th.. It is worth to remember that a conference “came travelling” from Little Lithuania (Lithuania Minor) to Aukstaitia (Lithuanian Highland) (In 2018, the 24th conference took place in Silutė Martynas Jankus Basic school). Thus, a conference is still “travelling”. On the first conference day, plenary reports and two section works took place. A useful plenary report was made by Eugenija Rudnickaite from Vilnius university. A fossil fuel collection was discussed and presented; some practical tips were given about the application of the collection for natural science education. The second report was made by dr. Agnaldo Arroio. The report was very actual because the actualities of modern media application in education were discussed, also there was a discussion on natural science literacy formation questions. The third report which was made by Vilnius university lecturer dr. Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė, focused on the current natural science questions in primary school. The fourth report, which was made by Latvian university professor Andris Broks, completed the plenary meeting. As always, the professor analysed methodological, systemic natural science education questions. The latter report was focussed on the changes /alteration in nature, society, education and so on. Most of the conference reports were presented in the form of articles and published in the conference proceedings. One can find full texts in the database at: http://oaji.net/journal-archive-stats.html?number=1984&year=2019&issue=14379 Two conference days passed in the blink of an eye. Totally, 66 participants were enrolled in it. The work of the conference went smoothly, therefore it is worthy to thank all the members of the conference organisational committee, and especially the pro-gymnasium administration. Natural science education “journey” continues. The 26th conference will take place on 24th -25th April 2020 in Trakai Vytautas Magnus gymnasium. This gymnasium is the main partner of another conference. So, from Aukstaitia we move to Trakai, a city of Vilnius district, surrounded by lakes. What is more, Trakai is the cultural capital of Lithuania, 2020.

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Authors: Editorial Board

Cover page, GU/NSE, Vol. 16, No. 1, 2019

4-5

Authors: Solange W. Locatelli

Basically, metacognition is composed of two central aspects, “knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition” (Schraw, 1998, p.113), being the last characteristic, fundamental in the teaching and learning of Sciences, since it is desirable that, from the previous knowledge of the students, the possibility of rethinking it, regulating it and, thus, approaching the scientific concepts. Usually, teachers use metacognitive principles in their classes, but they often do so in an unintentional way, which precisely distinguishes a common metacognitive strategy in which, intentionally, moments for reflection and reconstruction are offered to students. Regarding the regulatory aspect, the metacognitive strategies are promising in assisting learning in science. Schraw (1998) adds that the regulation provided by metacognitive activity may be a skill to be improved with these strategies in a conscious and intentional way by the student.

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Authors: Ümmüye Nur Tüzün, Gülseda Eyceyurt Türk

STEM is the process of integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics in education. STEAM differs from STEM by a letter of ‘A’ which means arts, on the basic logic of science and arts mustn’t be decomposed from each other. This research aimed to assist tenth-grade students in learning through their own constructed materials for bringing up them as well-qualified individuals by using chemistry, technology, engineering, popart and mathematics (STEAM) integration which would improve their creativity and critical-thinking too. 33 tenth-grade students from a high school in Turkey participated in this qualitative research in 2015-2016 academic year. Student constructed materials, and student process evaluation worksheets were used as data collecting tools. Content analysis was utilized for the gathered data. Content analysis was cross-checked for the reliability of the research too. The results showed that students’ creativity and critical-thinking skills were enhanced through such a STEAM process, and this process was also helped to educate well-qualified individuals in the abovementioned fields.

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Authors: Algirdas Sulcius, Sergey Teleshov

One of the most difficult elements for students in chemistry is writing and balancing equations of chemical reactions. The aim of this research was to investigate the ability of the 8-9th grade students to write chemical formulas and equations of reactions. Verhovskij’s method, which involves using white and full-colour paper cards, was proposed as a chemistry teaching method for students. Some of the students suggested using non-paper-based cards, i.e. “domino sticks”. The obtained results proved that students who had participated in the building blocks activity showed significantly higher post-test scores than students who had not participated. The average grade of the students who used the cards for chemical formula formation and reaction equations increased respectively by 1.30 and 1.20. The average grade for writing and balancing of the reactions equations was lower because balancing requires strong knowledge in mathematics. The results have shown that the use of cards is a good method at an early stage of chemistry education.

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Authors: Editorial Board

End page, GU/NSE, Vol. 16, No. 1, 2019