Around the Bloc: Mental Athletics Increasingly Popular in Mongolia
Mongolians, statistically, are the world’s best speed memorizers, in no small part thanks to one man’s visionary scheme.
More...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.
Mongolians, statistically, are the world’s best speed memorizers, in no small part thanks to one man’s visionary scheme.
More...
The main issue related to social rehabilitation is its effectiveness. Is it possible to bridge a gulf what between a prisoner in custody those people who enjoy freedom? Are they alike? Or are they so very much different that social rehabilitation is ineffective? There is a whole array of questions and answers. Most opinions hold it, that social rehabilitation is not possible. The article’s author suggests that a positive response to these questions will only be possible when we reach for the concept of man and discover the truth that inmates and people outside corrective institutions are exactly the same man. Thus our elementary task is to discover the internal truth about the excluded as well as to help the excluded discover the same truth. This discovery is attained through learning, i.e. education.
More...
The article presents subjective and critical analysis of current music education. The analysis is based on long and meditative pedagogical experience. The most visible problem of modern musical culture is inconsistency of musical reality, in which young people live and the language of Music subject. It is mainly connected with the ignorance of characteristic modern social practices such as consumerism and inapplicability of didactic aims in music. In my opinion it is one of the main reasons of discrepancy between music curriculum and musical aspirations and interests of students. The aim of this article is to present current model of music education, indicate weaknesses of this issue and show eventual possibilities in changing the approach of young people to art music. The article is divided into a few sections, which present basic issues about music education, the recognition of symptoms of consumerism and the conclusion.
More...
Cartoons and animated films occupy a significant proportion of a child’s viewing time, but may be considered questionable in terms of their content. Although parents prefer such films in order to shield their children from daily problems and potentially harmful images in the media, examination of their content has so far been limited. In this study, violence depicted in popular animated cinema films was analyzed using content analysis, tabulating categories and frequency. Twenty-three animated films from among the 100 highest-grossing feature films of all time were examined. Results indicated that the most violent physical elements were punching and kicking, the most violent verbal elements were taunting and threatening and there were 18 scenes of killing. It is concluded that the frequency of the violence shown in some of the animated films may be disturbing for the healthy mental development of young children.
More...
Experiencing social phobia is an important factor which can hinder academic success during university years. In this study; research of social phobia with several variables is conducted among university students. The research group of the study consists of total 736 students studying at various departments at universities in Turkey. Students are divided into two groups, as low and high level positive evaluation fear (PEF) as measured by the Positive Evaluation Fear Scale (PEFS). In respect to Odds rates, the most crucial factor about PEF of students is the time spent daily on the internet. Students who spend their time on the internet have PEF 2.4 times more than those who do not. As a secondary important factor according to negative evaluation fear scale (NEFS), students consider the home city where they lived before attending university increases phobia 30% more than the rate of people who think otherwise. Thus, results showed that spending long hours on the internet and home city lived in before university are significant factors resulting in social phobia.Experiencing social phobia is an important factor which can hinder academic success during university years. In this study; research of social phobia with several variables is conducted among university students. The research group of the study consists of total 736 students studying at various departments at universities in Turkey. Students are divided into two groups, as low and high level positive evaluation fear (PEF) as measured by the Positive Evaluation Fear Scale (PEFS). In respect to Odds rates, the most crucial factor about PEF of students is the time spent daily on the internet. Students who spend their time on the internet have PEF 2.4 times more than those who do not. As a secondary important factor according to negative evaluation fear scale (NEFS), students consider the home city where they lived before attending university increases phobia 30% more than the rate of people who think otherwise. Thus, results showed that spending long hours on the internet and home city lived in before university are significant factors resulting in social phobia.
More...
Using the World Values Survey (WVS) as a background the paper discusses a tension between the general evaluative outlook of Swedish teacher students and the educational values established by The Swedish National Agency for Education (SNAE). According to the results from WVS, which maps evaluative differences between approximately 80 countries in the world, Sweden stands out as a country that rejects traditional values and embraces so called secular self-expression values. However, the values established by SNAE include both traditional values, such as “sharing a common cultural heritage”, and secular self-expression values, such as “individual freedom and integrity”. Against this background we conducted a survey of 179 Swedish teacher students in order to investigate the relation between their evaluative outlook and the values they are supposed to convey to their pupils as established by SNAE. The result of the survey indicates that these students do not differ in any significant respect from the Swedish population in general as regards secular vs traditional evaluations. The fact that the traditional values emphasized by SNAE seem to be scarcely represented among the teacher students, makes questionable whether they will be present in their future teaching. On the assumptions that there are important educational values among the traditional as well as the secular self-expression ones, and that values are reproduced within an educational system, we argue that there is reason to take the imbalance in the evaluative outlook of the students seriously.
More...
RE didactics is a relatively new field of research in Sweden. In this article, the current status of the academic discipline is examined by drawing on empirical material: literature used in teacher education and interviews with active RE teachers. The study finds a lack of reflection concerning the fundamentals of the subject, both on what RE ought to be, as well as on its overarching goals. This absence of a ‘ big picture’ also seems to result in active teachers lacking a professional vocabulary to discuss their practice. The article asks whether RE didactics in Sweden is being defined by the national curriculum, instead of being a critical voice contributing to a debate and offering alternative approaches to teachers.
More...
With growing cultural and religious diversity in Iceland over the last two decades it is of interest to study young people’s views and attitudes in this regard and how they talk about religion and religiosity in a multicultural society. This paper presents findings from a four year (2011–2014) mixed method research project on life views and life values of young adults (age 1824) in a multicultural society in Iceland. The theoretical framework includes theories on secularization, desecularization and detraditionalization together with discussions on religious diversity. A survey was conducted in 2011 and 2012 among students in seven upper secondary schools in the Reykjavík area and other areas of Iceland. The findings from the survey indicate that although the majority of the participants are of the opinion that human beings always need something to believe in and that it is important to be convinced about one’s life view or belief, many of them are not of the opinion that religions are important in the society, religions have little influence on their views, and religious activity seems not to be an important part of their lives. This also applies to Athose that claim to be religious or belong to a religious organisation. At the same time the participants generally have positive attitudes towards ethnic and religious diversity. The findings from the survey provided a basis for focus group interviews with mixed groups of students in the same schools in 2013 and 2014. In this article, some main results from the survey are introduced, while the focus is primarily on the findings from the focus group interviews regarding the young people´s views on religion, religious diversity and religious activity in a multicultural society in Iceland. The findings indicate among other things that although the daily life of the young people is secularised, many of them are of the opinion that it helps to believe or pray, for example in times of difficulties. This indicates that the secularization process has not gone as far as expected or that some kind of de-secularisation has developed in the wake of the growing religious diversity in Icelandic society.
More...
The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between occupational professionalism and organizational alienation levels of teachers. The study is designed as a survey model. The sample of the study consists of 303 teachers working in the Mugla province of Turkey. Participants were selected by using the disproportionate cluster sampling technique. Data was collected through the application of the Teachers’ Occupational Professionalism Scale and the Work Alienation Scale.Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and correlation analyses were used to analyze the data. Based on the findings, the participant teachers’ level of occupational professionalism is high. Among the occupational professionalism dimensions, teachers consider they have professional awareness the most. This is followed by emotional labor, contribution to organization, and personal development. Teachers’ occupational professionalism differ according to gender and school type variables, while it does not differ according to seniority and time in service at the current school. The participant teachers’ organizational alienation is low. Among the alienation dimensions, teachers consider alienating the school the most, even if its level is low. This is followed respectively by powerlessness, isolation and meaninglessness dimensions. Teachers’ organizational alienation differs according to gender, school type, seniority and time in service at the current school variables. There are significant relationships between alienation and occupational professionalism levels of teachers.
More...
The starting point of this study was the assumption that work in a supportive working environment increases work motivation and thus contributes to job satisfaction and in preventing burnout. The main objective of the study was to examine the role of perceived support from the principal and work motivation (work engagement and self-efficacy) in explaining job satisfaction and burnout in Croatian primary school teachers. The study included a total of 1,892 primary school teachers, working in lower (class-teachers, N = 856) and higher grades (subject-teachers, N = 1036), employed in 101 primary schools in the Republic of Croatia. Male teachers comprised 12% of the total sample. The average age of participants was 41.7 years (SD = 10.2), and length of service was 15.7 years (SD = 10.7). The results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that the perceived support from principals and used measures of work motivation significantly contributed to the explanation of job satisfaction and two measures of burnout (emotional exhaustion and alienation), while the demographic variables used explained the small percentage of criterion measures' variance. In conclusion, support from the principal, as well as self-efficiency and work engagement of teachers, has an important role in the prevention of job dissatisfaction and burnout in teachers.
More...
The article presents the career aspirations of parents of primary school students in relation to their children. In years 2011 and 2014 twice was examined the same sample (of approximately 5000 parents). Aspirations of parents are concen- trated mainly in professions requiring higher education and training, and they are very stable. There is a clear division in the professions of „female” and „male” types. Parental aspirations have not noted the impact of change manners, and situation in the labour market. The research results are discussed on the background of the results of similar studies conducted in recent years.
More...
This paper presents the results of research on problem (risky) behaviors, concerning not only alcohol consumption by young people or drug abuse, but also violence. As a research technique, the author used questionnaire, which was carried out in four middle schools (gymnasiums) in Warsaw in spring of 2012. The study involved 354 students aged 12-15. The questionnaire varied in form (partially structured) and included questions on lifestyle, attitudes and habits related to psychoactive substances as well as adolescence and domestic violence. While analyzing the conducted research and drawing conclusions, it is necessary to remember that it is based, like most social research, on the results of a declaratory character. It means that it shows the reality through the prism of subjective experiences and beliefs of surveyed students.
More...
Aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of argumentation in the chemistry laboratory on conceptual comprehension of students. This research follows a triangulation design, categorized under mixed-method design variations, which include both qualitative and quantitative research designs. The research is conducted with 91 first grade university students studying in two different classes of the Department of Science Education, Kazım Karabekir Education Faculty at the Ataturk University, located in eastern Turkey. One class was randomly designated as the experimental group, with another as the control group. Research data was collected via a General Chemistry Laboratory Concept Test (GCLCT) containing 33 items, a test containing ten open-ended items, a semi-structured interview form, and a written feedback form, all designed by the researchers. Data from the GCLCT were analyzed through predictive statistics method, while data from the open-ended questions, semi-structured interview and written feedback form were analyzed through the descriptive analysis method. It is concluded from this research, that there is statistically significant difference between the GCLC post-test averages of the experimental and control groups. It was found that when compared to the control group, the proportion of experimental group students who answered the GCLC post-test items correctly is higher. In addition to this, the proportion of students who demonstrated misconceptions were higher in the control group students compared to the experimental group. It is concluded by this research, that argumentation provides more effective results in terms of comprehension of fundamental chemistry concepts, when compared to a traditional approach.
More...
Review of: Wojciech Sroczyński "Selected topics of social pedagogy". Siedlce 2011, 267 pp. by: Krzysztof Dziurzyński
More...
In this article we presented results of the study carried out in 2013. The subject of research the author conducted was, among other things, to determine the level of hope for success among the students of education at the Faculty of Ethnology and Sciences Education in Cieszyn (WEiNoE), University of Silesia in Katowice. These studies were performed to investigate what resources of hope for the success have future educators, to determine their level of hope, their way of understanding the concept of “hope” and to get to know their opinion about using the theme of hope during the study. Level of hope of influential people (including teachers-educators) has a diametric significance in forming the sense of hope in students, for example it helps to reduce the feeling of hopelessness in children and could be used prophylactically.
More...
Over the past fifteen years mobile learning has grown from a minor research interest to the set of significant projects in higher education. The outcomes of these projects show that mobile technologies offer new opportunities for learning that extend within and beyond the traditional teacher-led classroom. The theory of mobile learning described here puts mobility and context as the objects of analysis. The main assumption adopted here is that mobile technologies challenge the dominant transmissive paradigm of teaching in higher education, foster individualized learning, and encourage communication and collaboration among new “digital generation” of students as well as between teachers and students.
More...
The article shows the quantity, structure, position and activity of teachers of town parish and territorial schools in the town of Ivanovo-Voznesensk at the end of the 19th — the beginning of the 20th century. Shown are the examples of dedicated work of a provincial teachers and their role in the formation of elements of civil society.
More...
The systemic transformations in Poland after 1989, brought to continuing education new capabilities of functioning in accordance with the rules of decentralization, privatization, empowerment etc. The development of educational practice – in school and non-school forms – meeting individual and social needs has become more and more intensive and spontaneous. Dynamic development and dissemination of communication media – particularly Internet – has had significant importance for creating new and new possibilities for education, self-creation and progress management of an adult person. At the same time it generated new problems and threats. Media – dominated by economical neoliberalism rules – have become a powerful tool for manipulation directed towards depreciation of the values that are basic for humans identity and adequate existence. Particularly at present – in the time of economical turbulences – the processes of subordination humanistic values to market rules are performing, what brings about reasonable social protests in many countries. Therefore there is a need of creating the position of andragogy people, debate on values threats of market expansion in which ethical rules are underestimated.
More...
A rmative action was introduced to the American universities in the 1960s. The aim of this policy was to benefit the underrepresented groups, especially African Americans both in the higher education and the job market. The a rmative action was introduced to ensure equal opportunities as well as cultural diversity. The policy of Harvard University towards African Americans, Asian Americans and the other excluded groups was analyzed in this article. Moreover, the attempt to reconstruct the current debate about outcomes of the afirmative action was made. The article also tries to answer the following questions: did the a rmative action increase the number of the minority groups at Harvard University? Has the policy of equal opportunities eliminated inequalities or, on the contrary has it deepened them?
More...
The aim of the paper is to analyse an ongoing Polish-German project devoted to the Polish philologist Zygmunt Łempicki (1886–1943) and to present the potential, structure, risks and chances of this endeavour involving scholars from Heidelberg, Warsaw and Wroclaw. The Łempicki grant is a work in progress and the author attempts to present how it came to be, starting with the application for the grant, and continuing with the way the cooperation was initiated and the first meetings held, in order to finally present the perspectives for the project’s outcomes. The paper attempts to present its dynamics in order to guarantee a unique insight into the challenges the head of the project meets with. The perspectives for research into the history of German philology in Poland are illustrated and discussed on the example of the specific initiative carried out by means of a cooperation between numerous institutions from different countries.
More...