Transitions Online_Around the Bloc-26 February
TOL’s regional news roundup: effective protests in Kyrgyzstan; intolerance in Poland; innovation in Estonia; WWII ceremonies pose RSVP conundrum; and Borissov’s castle in Spain.
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TOL’s regional news roundup: effective protests in Kyrgyzstan; intolerance in Poland; innovation in Estonia; WWII ceremonies pose RSVP conundrum; and Borissov’s castle in Spain.
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This article describes the experience of implementing project activities in the study at the Moscow Polytechnic University. Project activity was built into the schedule of the 1st semester without any preliminary preparation and included the statement of the problem, development and final presentation of the project. The development of professional skills was in parallel with the work on the project. This type of work led to the most desired result - an independent solution of the task, the main activity that higher education is called to teach. The character of teaching and excellent results gave us the basis to see the correlation with suggestopaedia principles. This article describes the experience of implementing project activities in the study at the Moscow Polytechnic University. Project activity was built into the schedule of the 1st semester without any preliminary preparation and included the statement of the problem, development and final presentation of the project. The development of professional skills was in parallel with the work on the project. This type of work led to the most desired result – an independent solution of the task, the main activity that higher education is called to teach. The character of teaching and excellent results gave us the basis to see the correlation with suggestopaedia principles.
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In the current conditions of development of preschool education in Ukraine, focused on the world and European educational standards, the professional quality of heads of preschool education such as managerial creativity is of great importance, updating of which in management activity will make it possible to make effective, non-standard managerial decisions, ensure the work of preschool educational institutions in the regime of development, not functioning and condition the high quality of preschool education and successful development of every child of preschool age. However, in the practice of local preschool education, there is a shortage of managerial creativity among the heads of preschool education. Therefore, the study of peculiarities of the development of this quality among future heads is the aim of our research that will help to develop and use a system for the development of managerial creativity in the context of university education and independent student activity.
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The new strategies for teaching and learning point to the investigation and the deployment of workable learning methods and scenarios for better understanding of the learning content and engage learners in more active participation during the perceiving of knowledge. Good educational results are achieved by storytelling, understanding-by-design, serious educational games, game components, learning-by-authoring, and/or any combinations of them, when the specific learner’s needs and wishes are kept in mind and different digital resources (viz. cultural, historical, encyclopedic, etc.) are contextually used for the target learning purposes. This paper presents some conceptual models for the development of online learning games in the cultural heritage field.
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This article is aimed at exploring the issues of support for children and young people with severe disabilities in residential services in Bulgaria. A brief analysis of the types of support is proposed, based on the legal framework and the research data. Results from the experimental interaction are presented, including a Program for group work in the services under review. Given the specifics of the target group, the method used to register results is direct observation. The “initiative in activities” and “initiative in communication” indicators are observed. The main conclusions are: increase in the initiative for the group as a whole is observed; reduction of the communication initiative for the majority of participants.
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The article reveals the reasons why students drop out of the education system. The subject of the study is dropping out of school. The subject of the study is the reasons for dropping out of school. Methods of research: content analysis, questionnaire, statistical methods for processing the received data. A study was carried out with 270 pupils from the main and the secondary educational level of schools in the Stara Zagora Region. The results indicate that a significant proportion of the reasons for dropping out of school is taken up by the educational reasons. Pupils rank the leading positions among these reasons to be the poor classroom discipline; the complex learning content included in school textbooks and the incomprehensible teaching of some teachers.
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The aim of the research is to examine primary teachers’ satisfaction with their professional activity. Subject of study are 232 primary school teachers who teach different school subjects from the 1st to the 4th grade. A modified questionnaire, with 22 items related to the satisfaction with the teaching profession, is applied. The following statistical methods are used: alternative analysis, variance analysis, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests and correlation analysis. The results show that the items with highest values for the primary teachers’ satisfaction are: the duration of holidays, the professional relations with colleagues, the professional relations with the school management, and with parents. The statistical analysis outlines some significant correlations between different factors of the teachers’ satisfaction. The results from the research reveal the main preconditions for improvement of the work conditions and of the social environment of the primary school teachers in the country
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The preparation of students in special pedagogy in recent years is oriented towards taking into account the importance of the achievements of neuroscience. The latter contributes to the content of the curriculum. The specificity of special pedagogy as a medical-pedagogical science derives the implicit presence of neurosciences in the study of its object. The results of the surveys’ analysis clearly emphasize that there is an awareness of the application of neuroscience in general. However, the specifics of structuring the presented new knowledge in order to optimally absorb it based on concepts and practical achievements do not cover the real applicability and subject of study of this interdisciplinary science.
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This study investigates some features of language learning in countries in transition, focusing on Kosovo and South-East European areas and viewing the process in relation to language learning culture before. Understanding that language teaching is not a task pertaining to a teacher of language and literature, but to the whole school system, and intersubjective thinking began to produce their effects especially from the fall of the Berlin Wall and thereon, in almost all South-East Europe countries in transition. Kosovo was one of the countries affected by a transitional atmosphere in which introduction of different methods and techniques in the classroom were not only being seen as a need, but as a must. The present paper aims to argue that language learning and teaching, especially in countries that are going through a transition process, represents a very important challenge in terms of inputs and outputs of the system of education of today’s society.
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This paper examines the issue of smart leadership for smart cities and the challenges they are facing. Particular emphasis is given to Africa (Rwanda and Ethiopia) which undergoing impressive urban growth at the rate of 3.5% annually that makes Africa the fastest urbanizing place in the world. However, the development of infrastructure and industries has not kept pace with the growth in urban population. Then how should Africa leaders be prepared and deal with the booming urbanization process? Smart Leadership for Smart Cities: a solution to the booming urbanization process in the continent. Indeed, as indicated in African Smart Cities Strategies for Agenda 2063, smart leaders- smarter citizens-smarter cities can alleviate African urban challenges. Indeed, only a little research discusses political leadership and commitment/political rationalities while the literature of technology innovation/technical rationalities is abundant. Recognizing the fact that Smart cities will not succeed without developing smart leadership, Rwanda under Paul Kagame and Ethiopia under Abiy Ahmed- have launched Smart Kigali initiative and “Beautifying Sheger” project respectively with the aims to develop the entire urban eco-system and realize smarter and sustainable neighborhoods and cities in their respective capital cities. The study employed a secondary method of data collection and analysis in combination with observation. Thus, the study concludes that political leadership is indispensable and leaders in both countries are undertaking impressive measures in transforming their country while building alliances and partnerships with various stakeholders. However, such initiatives are challenged by factors like trust and transparency, debt burden, public participation, and poor existing infrastructure. African leaders and their policymakers can learn a lot from the experiences of the two countries and their leadership style and moreover it provides a valuable contribution to the much-untouched areas of smart leadership for smart cities.
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Smart city consists of: waste management, smart energy, education, smart communications, smart transportation, traffic management, smart parking, smart streetlights and smart healthcare. All of these areas require management of information safety. Here, the topic is management of information safety in healthcare. The objective is to show the new approach to management of information safety, which involves all employees in this process. Whether manufacturing or service, public or private, organizations increasingly depend on information and communication technology (ICT). ICT presents in such extent that its users are not even aware of its influence. It is a usual part of any organization. However, the dependence on ICT holds a potential hazard for organization’s performance. Some issues about the ICT safety should be addressed in every organization. First, does the management of an organization is aware of the potential risks and problems in the ICT area, such as potential ICT unavailability (risk culture) or accidental damage? Is there a systematic approach to threat identification, vulnerability exploration, and evaluation of the impact of realized threats on the business? Is an organization aware of the value of ICT, which should be treated in the organization as any other asset influencing business efficiency and effectiveness? Preventive and corrective actions (system of controls) are warranted for mitigating the risk of destruction or abuse of ICT. In this paper, we discuss these questions and suggest possible solutions. There are many works about the topic but these are stressed only one segment in management of information safety. We used case study, observation and structure analysis in our exploration. The results will be presented here. The results will be useful for everybody who is worried about information security in organizations. Value of this paper is showing the need of multidisciplinary approach in management of information safety.
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In the last 10 years ago the world has fast changed especially after information and communication technologies (ICT) revolution which affect all areas one of them is electronic payment systems.One of the principles of corporate governance is transparency and disclosure which requires the provision of an infrastructure of supporting laws, policies and legislation to have High-quality information that helps investors, stakeholders, the Board of Directors and the Executive Management in making decisions at the right time.This paper aims to identify the nature and types of electronic payment systems (EPS) instruments applicable in Jordan, and how its effect on corporate governance especially on transparency and disclosure, and the challenges associated with it, by study the relation between the application of electronic payment procedures and corporate governance.Jordan has a good development in the fields of commercial banking and now begin to apply electronic payment systems in government transactions. there are many studies have been done on the advantages of electronic payment independently of corporate governance and without addressing its effects on enhancing governance through transparency and disclosure and the impact on financial reports for companies and government, and In developing and expand the base of beneficiaries.Jordan is a regional center in the Middle East and has many telecommunications companies, information systems, and telecommunications services that have reached advanced levels, but still, a large percentage of citizens do not use these services yet, but in 2020 all governmental services will be paid by electronic payment systems.Through this paper and reviewing previous studies, we have reached the following points1. Many citizens are still concerned about their financial assets and are unsure about the security of their financial information2. The media plays a negative role through messages that are transmitted through official and non-official media3. There is still a need for more educational programs and seminars on the mechanisms of using electronic payment methods and their advantages4. Continuing and expanding the use of electronic payments will be directly reflected in the provision of greater transparency and disclosure that will enhance corporate governance.
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The importance of studying intercultural competence (ICC) is increasing due to the large-scale impact of globalization on human society. It is important for academic and professional circles to know, however, that only the highest levels of ICC can lead to genuine intercultural dialogue and competitiveness. Intercultural competence starts with rising awareness for cultural differences, but evolves into an ever more complete perception of people as unique beings with own cultural repertoire that color their perception and behavior in any situation. Therefore, assessing the achieved level of ICC is essential. This article reviews different perspectives and analyzes an assessment model that is appropriate not only for assessment but also for the development of training modules and programs required to form high levels of ICC.
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Conceptual platforms in education are founded on basic value models, on systems of values. If we want to educate in values, we must have certain visibility on the very essence of values and on their own system. In order to solve this problem, we must find out and establish the universe of values as their own region and deduce the grounding principle of their constitution. From this perspective, their role in the total project of humanity has to be highlighted. We offer the axiotopics as the deduction of values in their system – each of them with its own place, topos, in their universe. This search follows “the a priori determination of the will”, as the practical capacity, which Kant develops in Critique of Pure Reason. The goal although is different: to formulate the pure axiological principle and to deduce the table of values. This table is grounded on the valuable in unconditioned sense in the categorical fields of values which constitute the human wanting as such. The area of valuable in unconditioned sense is deduced and structured on Maslow’s theory of higher motivations as a sublime realization of a person and of the entire humanity.
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The article is a comparative methodological analysis of all Grade 1 Alphabet Books in Bulgaria that were approved by the Ministry of Education and Science in 2017. They are compared and contrasted by: the order of letter introduction, the presence of activities in respect to the three types of reading lessons, the introduction of letters in alphabetical order as well as in groups according to the phonological system of the Bulgarian language.
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The article is devoted to the difficulty of testing students in IV grade when reading strange text on which they complete a test consisting of open and closed questions. The study includes four-graders of two classes in order to make a comparative analysis of the results obtained during the study. The experiment showed that the students in the experimental group, due to the systematic work with different test variants, had significantly higher scores than their control classmates. Such a fact proves once again that the appropriate selection of exercises, tests and texts accessible to the age of the students in the relevant class greatly contributes to both the refinement of the reading technique and the perception, comprehension and application of the read information on a practical basis by completing mixed-type test questionnaires. Therefore, it is no accident that questions are also included in the test through which to express a personal opinion while adhering to the content of the text
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The focus of this report is on the level and the type of adaptation of foreign medical students (studying at Trakia University) to the new sociocultural environment. The study data is interpreted, and the following distribution is obtained according to six scales: adaptability, conformation, interactivity, depression, nostalgia and alienation. Attention is paid to the four phases of the personality adaptation to the new sociocultural environment. The paper considers that the sociocultural (intercultural) adaptation is an adaptation of the foreign students to the conditions of the new sociocultural environment, i.e. to different values, norms of behavior, traditions and rituals. The paper analyzes how the success of adaptation is determined by well-established methods and techniques that help to achieve social and psychological integration in the foreign culture without losing the cultural heritage. There are a number of essential functions of intercultural adaptation which are mentioned by the author. The paper also sets out very important factors determining the pace of adaptation
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This paper deals with an integrated approach in the modern education system. First, we examine the theoretical starting points and the conceptual definition of integrative teaching. Through the results of theoretical and empirical research, we have looked into the advantages and pedagogical implications of the application of integrative teaching. The aim of the study was to investigate if and how primary teachers perceive the possibilities and outcomes of using integrated approach in class teaching. The sample of N=159 primary teachers was surveyed with the use of a questionnaire. The results show that primary teachers have positive attitudes about the effects of using an integrated approach in regard to the quality of teaching and learning outcomes. The participants who work 13 and more years, feel more confident about the concept of an integrated approach comparing to those who work less than 13 years. However, we have not found a statistically significant difference in individual items in regard to the degree of education and years of work experience. The findings suggest that more attention should be given to the initial teacher preparation programs and that teacher educators should find ways to incorporate integrated activities in both theoretical courses and practice
More...Може ли да участваме в диалог, ако не знаем къде сме
The text deals with the mutual influences – the infestations – between different parts of the world in the newer stages of its development. Answers are sought to questions from different levels of analysis: from the point of view of Bulgaria, as а former socialist state, whether for 28 years could be outdated the past nearly 45 years; from a global perspective, how the self-awareness of young states, former colonies, reflects on the general development of the world; from third part – can the historical justice be restored, and if the answer is positive – to what extent. "Where" in the subtitle refers to ideological, historical, value, self-consciousness and self-determination connotations.How does the colonial history of Western European countries relate to the present? How the filling of the white spots of the past is superimposed on the claims of (Western) Europe, which advocates the myth of itself as more civilized, more liberal, more tolerant. With a number of examples is argued the power of ideological influence, which is difficult to overcome by historical science and even more difficult by the media. The thesis is also about the "restoration of the historical justice".A little more than 25 years after 1989, we are trapped in a trap set by ourselves as humanity: against the backdrop of a suppressed and unknown history that has developed mainly Eurocentric to almost the present day, decades of strong ideological influences, controversial morality, wick allows a lot of money from western companies and individual PR consultants to work to polish the images of modern dictators – we cannot find out which news about / from the world are true and which do not.
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The text is dedicated to one unique radiostation in Bulgaria – BRALLE FM RADIO, web-based only. It is a social type of radiostation that is created, supported, broadcast and managed by visually impaired persons. There follow the history and the origin of the idea of the radio, various programme pieces, team, editorial responsibility and policy to help, to inform and to entertain the audience. To the purpose of easy comprehension of the that problematical topic for visually impaired people the text offers information on specialized education and schools in Bulgaria, as well as some practical details on computer software programs and mobile applications that contribute to the access of journalistic production from different spheres of society and media.
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