We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
This paper discusses the theory of contingency tables with particular emphasis on three-dimension-tables. Their use in statistical surveys is stressed in the article. The three-dimension-table is presented as a chi-square test of independence and its implementation in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) language. In this way, users are provided ready-made procedures and functions for carrying out surveys in Microsoft Excel. It has been examined also the ability of the three-dimension-table to detect the relationship between the measured traits, referred to as the power of the test.
More...
The strike of Polish medical doctors in the years 1996–2002 seriously affected the collection of cause-of-death data in the frame of vital registration system. This article presents a method assessing the total number of deaths by cause under the assumption that the distribution of causes across correctly reported deaths and across deaths without recognized underlying cause was the same within each demographic group (defined by sex, age, place of residence). For each year of strike several variants of assessment were performed; variants differed with regard to the level of detail as for the age and territorial division. The variants gave similar results for territorial characteristics. It means that the scale of protest was not big enough to expose possible regional diversity of mortality by causes. The reconstructed, complete and longitudinal data on deaths by single causes will serve for future analysis of mortality trends and will be used to identify and discuss the possible links between trends in mortality and the political and socio-economic changes that occurred in Poland.
More...
This paper addresses the problem of the willingness of primary teachers to undertake technology and entrepreneurship training to build key competences within the European Reference Framework, and in particular "Personal Competence". The subject of the research is technological training in the initial stage of primary education, and the subject - the readiness (awareness) of primary teachers for the implementation of training in technology entrepreneurship for the formation of the so-called. 'Transferable skills' in building the key competence 'Personal competence' from the European Reference Framework. In this study, we attempt to answer the following questions: 1. What is the level of readiness (awareness) of primary teachers regarding the development of transferable skills of the key competence "Personal competence" 2. What practical opportunities do primary teachers see in developing transferable skills in the core competency "Personal Competence". The main method in our research is the pedagogical experiment.
More...
The rapid change of technology, society, and economy creates pressure for education reform on a national level. In respond to the demand for quality improvement, educational organizations are engaging in educational innovation including curriculum, teacher competency, and effective teaching. Nevertheless, this top-down approach for change is likely to fail and lead to an unintended consequence if teachers are antithetical to the reform policy. As institutional agents, teachers make instructional choices to shape implementation of reform and thus influence the educational change in institutionalized practices (Bridwell-Mitchell, 2015). Briggs, Russel, and Wanless (2018) point out that teacher buy-in is a critical factor in educational change. As “an alignment between teacher beliefs and the goals of a change or reform, as well as feelings of competence in implementation” (p. 126), teacher buy-in for reform plays a crucial role in times of change. Teachers’ receptivity to reform is closely related to how they perceive the policy-level change. In addition to meeting the external demands, teachers characterized as real change agents are willing to change from the internal drive to reflect and learn (van der Heijden, Geldens, Beijaard, & Popeijus, 2015).
More...
Educational research points to similar learning experiences across different countries, in particular that physical science tends to be an unpopular discipline among students from secondary school. The use of students’ voice to adapt curriculum and implement innovative teaching practice has been gaining relevance towards the effort of potentiating positive and meaningful learning experiences. The present research discusses the voice of 1139 Angolan students from one public school attending the first cycle of secondary education (7th to 9th grade) considering their physics classes. Students’ voice was accessed through the application of a questionnaire which included open and closed questions, some in the format of statements requiring students to indicate their individual opinion. Descriptive statistics to ten specific aspects of their physics classes points to a global scenario of transmissive teaching and a lack of laboratorial and technological resources. Moreover, laboratorial work, suggested in national curriculum to cover topics in Physics, and students’ involvement in assessment seems to decrease from 7th to 9th grade. Identified patterns revealed to be statistically significant. Based on these results three specific recommendations for educational stakeholders are presented. The consideration of students’ voice in curriculum and school management is particularly innovative, not only but also for Angolan contexts and particularly relevant considering that the Angolan curriculum reform is presently under evaluation. Finally, educational researchers around the world may find relevant insights for their own educational challenges taking into account the milestones associated to the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is focused in assuring a quality education for all.
More...
During as near as three decades after the political changes in Slovakia its system of education has undergone many reforms. As an integral part of them have been changes regarding school autonomy as it influences quality of education. To achieve an optimal model of autonomy offered to schools is very difficult, as appropriate level of autonomy is dependent on time and social conditions. To improve democratic participation of primary and secondary school leaders in Slovakia, a research aimed at assessment of the current state of the level of school autonomy was carried out. The research data were obtained from a questionnaire survey, the respondents of which were 93 headmasters and deputy headmasters. These school leaders assessed the power they (the schools) have in five fields, namely in the fields of school activity in the whole, school curricula matters, school financing and budgeting, staff recruitment, selection, employing and sacking, administrative and operational management. The assessment they give once with respect to the level in which to them given autonomy matches the tasks and problems they have to cope with, and the second time with respect to their opinion where the scope of the autonomy should be changed. Although the school leaders assessed the level of the powers they are given in a positive way, as average or broader, they still feel a need to have a broader scope of the powers and responsibilities, mainly in the field of financing and budgeting.
More...
The purpose of the present research is to explore the development of self-control ability during childhood. A group of 360 children (185 boys and 175 girls from grades 2, 4, and 6) participated in the survey. They completed the Children’s Perceived Self-Control Scale (CPSC) which included the interpersonal self-control (ISC), the personal self-control (PSC), and the self-evaluation (SE) subscales. Results showed significant differences in ISC, SE and total scores among the second, fourth and sixth graders. On the total scores, the fourth graders had higher scores than the second and the sixth graders. Moreover, the scores of ISC of the fourth graders were higher than those of the sixth grades. There was no gender difference and interaction of gender and grade found. The results suggested that the development of self-control following a quadratic pattern increased and reached a peak in the fourth grade and then decreased during sixth grade time.
More...
External accountability policies have spread fast across various educational systems over the past decades. This research examines the relations of internal and external accountability with students’ math achievement drawing on PISA 2012. With a sample of 44 educational systems, of which external accountability policies were identified, the research conducted three-level hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) analyses. This research found that some internal accountability factors had tighter relations with math achievement, while the relations of external accountability policies with student performance were rather tenuous. However, equity of student math achievement was better ensured under strong accountability systems. The results suggest that policy makers of each country should consider strengths and weaknesses of external accountability in their own educational contexts.
More...
This experimental research aimed to explore the effect of teaching English writing of narrative texts by using Edmodo learning media through blended learning on the tenth-grade students in one of the senior high schools in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. It further looks into the students’ responses on the use of this media in learning English writing of narrative text. To study the development of the students’ writing before and after using Edmodo learning media in the classroom, the writing tests were given to the students. The data were gained quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative data were collected from the pre-test, treatments for three class meetings and the post-test, while the qualitative data was collected through the open-ended questionnaire which was distributed to the students after the treatments were done. Statistical formulas were used to calculate the mean, standard deviation, and t-test for the students’ pre-test and post-test scores. The hand coding and computer coding were used to analyze the data from the questionnaire. The results from the analysis of quantitative data showed that there was an improvement in students’ writing of narrative texts; their scores improved from the pre-test to the post-test after treatments with Edmodo were done. Furthermore, the analysis of the questionnaire revealed a majority of positive responses from the students. Those who negatively responded towards the use of this online learning media said that it was due to the necessity of the Internet connection and computers, laptops or mobile phones to operate Edmodo. Not all students have the privilege of possessing such devises and the Internet quota can also be costly. Thus, they recommended the school to provide them with free access to the Internet and computers should learning by using this media is to be continued in the future.
More...
The social capital of youth as a social segment is a major resource to contribute to any country’s social sustainability. Social sustainability requires active youth participation in solving the issues that are important for local communities and education as a main source for youth knowledge, skills and opinions. Youth policy is a tool, which enables the state and municipalities to work with youth and stimulate their interest to participate. Ongoing research activities concerning youth policy significance for developing social sustainability usually are prepared at a more global scale, although, there is also a need at local municipality level. Scientific experience indicates that youth policy monitoring contributes to wider understanding of youth needs, as well as possible participation forms in solving the topical issues for local society. Additionally, youth policy monitoring that is based on youth knowledge and opinions brightly demonstrates the results of the previous and areas for the future educational work with youth. In Latvia, to date, youth research has been fragmentary and still has not gained the position of an independent discipline. Additionally, there is no sufficient experience in youth policy monitoring at municipal level. The aim of the article is to analyse youth policy at municipal level and provide feedback for municipality and non-formal education that is more flexible and allows to realize youth policy and may support needs of each municipality. A case study in one Latvian municipality is presented as an example, which includes a youth policy monitoring, a survey conducted among 401 respondents using eight major youth policy fields as stipulated in the European Union’s Strategy for Youth. Results from the obtained data, recommendations are proposed for a more effective implementation of youth policy, understanding fields for more active educational work for promoting social sustainability in a local community. The results and discussed approach for youth policy monitoring can be applied practically at the level of local municipality for planning educational work with youth.
More...
Entering teaching profession is considered as the most determining stage in a teacher’s professional life. The aim of this research is to explore opinions of novice teachers in Latvia about the role of mentoring in their professional socialization. The following research questions were defined: (1) what difficulties novice teachers faced during their in-service experience? (2) what support novice teachers needed when they started teaching? (3) what the role of mentoring in teachers’ professional socialization is? Qualitative research design was developed for the research. Empirical data were obtained during the focus group discussion with ten teachers representing Council of young teachers (in age below 35) of the Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Employees, nine semi-structured interviews with novice teachers, and interview with a mentor. Novice teachers face teaching reality which often differs from perceptions about the profession developed during the studies at university. The research shows that teachers from the sample faced following challenges during their first years of in-service: establishing teacher’s authority and self-positioning as a teacher, time management, problems with discipline in a classroom, lack of skills to develop curriculum and lesson plans, difficulties in communication with parents. During socialization novice teachers learned their responsibilities and acquired specific knowledge; appropriate support such as mentoring reduced level of stress and uncertainty while novice teachers adapted to school during the period of transition from pre-service period to in-service period. In relation to mentoring, novice teachers expected that a mentor would introduce them to school traditions and internal rules and would advise on discipline in a classroom as well as would help to develop curriculum. Policy makers should focus on teachers’ support guidelines at national level, which would allow schools to ensure the most appropriate environment for novice teachers so that they would like to continue their careers in teaching profession.
More...
This research analysed future teachers’ perceptions and attitudes towards the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the development of inclusive educational practices. Adopting a quantitative research approach, data were collected through an ad hoc questionnaire administered to fourth-year early childhood education and primary education degree students from the Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), southeast Spain (n=231). Results revealed favourable perceptions towards ICT use in the classroom, with students viewing these resources as contributing to their professional development and improving digital competence. Furthermore, they report how ICTs present didactic opportunities for the development of the teaching-learning process when working with learners with specific educational support needs. Lastly, the research highlights statistically significant differences in future teachers’ perceptions towards the implications of ICT for teaching when developing inclusive educational processes as well as in their attitudes towards professional development and the training needs required for supporting learners with special educational needs. These differences are appreciated between early childhood education degree students and their primary education peers, the latter reporting more favourable assessments.
More...
The first aim of research is to propose a research instrument based on Wiseman and Bogner’s Model of Ecological Values, the “Coastal Environment Questionnaire” (CEQ), specifically developed to evaluate the Environmental Perception about marine and coastal ecosystems. The second aim is to explore, using CEQ, the position on the categories from Model of Ecological Values of some basic education students and some pre-service biology teachers from cities located near coastal areas from Brazil. CEQ was modified from “The Environment Questionnaire” (TEQ), which consists of a questionnaire composed of 16 items with Likert-type responses. The first process to have elaborated the new instrument changed the general situations described in the items of TEQ (most related with land environments) to situations related to marine and coastal environments. CEQ has been used with: 63 pre-service biology teachers from a non-coastal city; 79 basic education students from a non-coastal city; and 74 basic education students from a coastal city. All pre-service teachers were placed at Preservation+Utilization- category (100%). However, most students were placed at the Preservation+Utilization- category (around 70%), followed by Preservation+Utilization+ (around 25%), regardless their city location. It is expected that CEQ can be useful on research aim to better understand the perception about marine and coastal environments, contributing to development and evaluation of future Environmental Educational program focus on these important ecosystems.
More...
Discussion about the need for professionalization has accompanied the development of informal education from its very early stages. Some people believe informal education is staffed by temporary players whose main value derived in part from the fact that their work embodies the principles of altruism, hence they need no professional training. In contrast, others believe that work in this field is complex, hence appropriate training settings should be set up for those working in informal education as well. The aim of this research was to evaluate the perception of formal education by informal education educators. The research methodology is qualitative; it employs a structured interview of the participants and a semiotic analysis of pictures that participants were asked to provide that they felt represented the formal education system. The main findings of the semiotic analysis clearly show that the pictures chosen raise connotations of rigidity, emptiness, loneliness, sadness, insufficiency and boredom.Those images are strongly connected to the debate of recruiting resourceful and capable teachers to formal education systems in the era of accountability.
More...
Modern technology is transforming in an accelerating rate our physical, economic, cultural and educational environments. The new generation of learners, both adults and students of all ages, is surrounded by a multitude of technological tools, and these tools (computers, robots, software, internet etc.) are used ubiquitously not only in learning environments, but in daily life as well. Today’s children are furthermore characterized as “digital natives” and are clearly distinguished from their teachers and adults who constitute the generation of “digital immigrants” (Prensky, 2001). Visual programming languages, specifically designed for young learners, provide additional programming tools that are integrated in robotics education as well, while additional advances provide support to the idea of following the STEM (Science, Technology and Engineering and Mathematics) approach.
More...
The aim of the present research is to identify whether teachers' attitudes towards the use of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in the Republic of Kazakhstan can undergo significant changes if they study a course introducing them to the fundamentals of CLIL. Despite the country's plans to adopt English as one of the languages of education, stakeholders’ attitudes towards teaching through the medium of this language remain rather skeptical. A survey was held among Master’s degree students majoring in Education (n = 59) at Pavlodar State University before the course and after its completion. Since it is the affective component that largely determines the quality of attitudes, the levels of participants' anxiety, self-esteem and motivation were used as the indicators. The tools for measuring these variables were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Dembo-Rubinstein's Method of Self-esteem Measurement and Dubovitskaya's Diagnostics of Learning Motivation Orientation. The end-of-course results show a marked reduction in the level of participants' state anxiety, a growth in self-esteem in terms of the readiness to use CLIL, and a shift towards intrinsic motivation. It is argued that for attitudes shift to take place, it is necessary to adopt a constructivist approach to teaching and learning.
More...
The current research is an in-depth study of four pre-service teachers’ own experience of reading in various contexts and for different reasons. The aim is to analyse what has been significant regarding reading in a life history perspective by the use of narratives. A socio-cultural perspective on reading is used as analysis tool. The over-arching result from analysing pre-service teachers’ narratives is that reading is a relational process regardless of the context reading takes place in. The emerging themes allow a deeper understanding on critical aspects for developing reading in various contexts and at different levels. Significant others seem important in every reading practice, from new readers in primary school to pre-service teachers’ reading at university level. The narratives reveal a need for bridging the gaps that arise between the reading practices in the various contexts that students meet in school and university.
More...
Review of: Jana Lindbloom: Transformácia a zánik poľnohospodárskych druž-stiev Bratislava: VEDA, 2019, 256 s. ISBN 978-80-224-1802-7
More...
Developing the communication skills is essential in social work practice, since it determines the way in which the social workers are able to achieve the goals of this field “fostering the social change, solving problems in human relations and mobilizing people for increasing welfare” (Miley et al, 2006, 18). In practice, using the communication skills leads to some desired results in social worker’s activity (planning and structuring an interview, developing and maintaining of a relationship with the client, identifying and elaborating intervention strategies) providing an appropriate direction in the collaborative process. Social workers prove professionalism and devotion for their field of activity by assuming responsibility for their conduct and practice with the clients, this including the review of strengths, weaknesses and communication barriers (Davies, 2015, 1). Juvenile delinquency is a complex phenomenon that is difficult to define measure, explain and prevent, one reason for this is because delinquency is directly connected with influences of other social institutions, including families, school, mass-media (Hewitt, Regoli, 2011, 4). Taking into consideration the prevalence and the impact of crimes committed by minors, the process of identifying appropriate solutions for their moral socialization and the establishment of a specialized intervention based on efficient communication, represents a priority in the context of evaluation, monitoring and assisting the minor. This article starts with a presentation of communication skills required by the social work approach and continues with a description of a social worker’s main roles while guiding the monitoring of a delinquent minor. The aimed result is to highlight the key elements of the communication process with in order to establish and maintain an efficient relationship between client and social worker (Lishman, 1994, 2-3).
More...