The Scientific Journal of Rezeknes Augstskola
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TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON PROMOTING CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Get PDFIn democratic society, participation is child’s right from an early age. Within early childhood educational practice, teachers should create diverse and meaningful situations in which children can get experience of how to be part of a group or community. The aim of the study was to examine teachers’ perspectives on promoting children’s participation in early childhood education. A survey of teachers involved in 5- and 6-year old children’s preparation for school was conducted. 2419 teachers representing 741 educational institutions of Latvia participated in the survey. Using a 6-point Likert scale, respondents assessed different statements regarding children’s participation in early childhood education. Teachers’ preparedness to carry out the children’s participation in their educational practice was self-assessed as well. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analysis of the survey data shows that teachers consider children’s participation a significant component of the educational process. The involvement of children in the discussion of important group issues and their influence on decision-making as well as teachers’ respect of children’s questions during the play-based lesson time was ambiguously assessed. Most teachers declare appropriate self-assessed competences to promote children’s participation in their educational practice.
NEED ASSESSMENT FOR DESIGNING TRAINING COURSE FOR PARENTS IN PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN
Get PDFLithuania prohibited by law any kind of violence against children, however, reported cases as well as previous and resent representative research show that the problem still exists. The state takes various measures to prevent violence against children, and parents’ training is one of such possibilities, however, the parental training in Lithuania is not effective and one possible reason could be that various courses are not based on parents’ needs. The goal of this article is to present data of need analysis which was done as a prerequisite for training course development. The article is based on qualitative study by interviewing parents about their knowledge, perceptions and need for training. Research participants have knowledge about violence against children, they name and discuss physical violence, corporal punishment, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, however, do not differentiate them strictly. They see the need of parental training in preventing violence against children. The most wanted topics are reasons of the violence, knowledge about child development as they understand that children in different development stages have different needs and parents’ reactions to misbehaviour should be adequate to the development stage. Also, general topic of parenting – what does it mean, how to become a good mother/farther – is named during interviews
INCLUSION OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN LIFELONG LEARNING TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF POPULATION AGING IN LATVIA SOCIETY
Get PDFToday, the age structure of the population of Latvia is close to the average for the European Union, but the share of senior citizens is rapidly increasing. Population aging is one of the most significant trends in demographic processes, which brings changes to all areas of society. This article analyses some risks both for seniors themselves and for society resulting from these trends, and the reasons why Latvia is falling behind in addressing these risks. The primary goal of this article is to summarise and interpret a variety of scientific publications and legal documents from a global perspective, also using methods such as monograph analysis, content analysis, descriptive statistics, and compilations of experiences and best practices. The author of the article put forward arguments in favour of the inclusion of seniors in lifelong education in Latvia, as one of the elements of social policy to reduce the negative effects of population aging. According to the author, it is necessary to promote and develop a fully lifelong learning system for seniors in Latvia.
HOW STUDENTS ARE LEARNING TO REASON IN MATHEMATICS LESSONS
Get PDFThe goal of mathematics teaching in primary school is not just to acquire knowledge of mathematical ideas and procedures, but also to learn mathematical reasoning. While this is common knowledge, the reality in everyday primary math classrooms in Latvia is an open question. The results from recent national diagnostics give reason to re-examine common teaching practices. The aim of this study is to clarify what is happening in primary math classrooms and to understand the needs and gaps in mathematics teaching. This will serve as the basis for designing appropriate professional development for teaching mathematical reasoning. In this study researchers observed and transcribed primary math lessons. Teacher performance was appraised using “Framework for teacher performance assessment to support teaching 21st century skills”. The criteria used to assess teacher techniques were lesson design and clarity of learning content as well as student cognitive activation. The results of this preliminary study show that separate elements of student reasoning are present in lessons
CREATING A PROTOTYPE OF AN INTERACTIVE LEARNING GAME IN MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY
Get PDFAt the beginning of medical studies at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), students’ knowledge and skills differ widely. In the first semester, students must take a course, “Molecular and Cell Biology.” In many cases, problems in students’ abilities to absorb new information of this new, specific nature are evident. The reason for this is insufficient prior preparation. On average, 3-4 % of students failed this course each academic year. After focus group discussions and interviews with colleagues and leading specialists in information technologies, we concluded the need to create an interactive and pedagogically correct tool for improving students` competence in molecular and cell biology; one such tool could be an interactive learning game. This article describes the process of creating a learning game prototype in molecular and cellular biology. With the help of selected RSU students, a prototype was created. The involvement of students proved beneficial for them (improving understanding of the topics) and for us (clarifying students’ preferences for the game’s design).The learning game was tested with a target group (1st-semester students from the Medicine and Dentistry faculties of RSU). Initial feedback from the students and teachers certifies that this example is an opportunity to provide a desired, low-stress self-paced learning resource.
EXPLORING EU STUDENTS’ BELIEFS AND EXPOSURE TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
Get PDFSexual harassment and assault are the factors that decrease youth quality employment. The research aim is to explore students’ beliefs and exposure to sexual harassment and sexual assault in selected countries of the European Union underpinning the elaboration of implications for higher education. Theoretical analysis and modelling were used. The exploratory study was implemented to investigate the relationship between students’ self-assessment of their beliefs and levels of exposure in relation to sexual harassment and sexual assault in the selected countries of the European Union. The theoretical analysis resulted in the establishment of the inter-connections between sexual harassment and sexual assault, on the one side, and students’ employment and work/job, health as well as non-direct economic impact, on the other side. The exploratory study revealed that the level of students’ belief is higher if compared to the level of exposure to sexual harassment and assault. Students most believe that people physical appearance, race and being young impact sexual harassment and sexual assault. Exposure to sexual harassment and sexual assault coincide in relation witnessed sexual harassment and sexual witnessed assault as well as their ranking. Implications for higher education refer to teaching staff in higher education. Further research directions were proposed.
EMANCIPATION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF A TEACHER ASSISTANT IN THE PROCESS OF MENTORING AT PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTION
Get PDFWhen discussing the assistant\u27s emancipated participation in the educational process, it is important not to forget the pre-school teacher who often becomes a formal or informal mentor to the teaching assistant. It is the role of the mentor, his/her influence, that is one of the most important factors in the process of emancipation of the teaching assistant. Interrelationships based on support, respect, tolerance, sharing of experience and responsibility, constant help to each other, and support turn mentoring into a high-quality process that ensures emancipation. It is important that the mentor clearly defines what he/she expects from the assistant and is willing to help him/her to develop. Otherwise, it will not make sense to talk about the emancipation of the teaching assistant\u27s professional activity. Relying on the qualitative research findings it is possible to state that a teacher assistant is supposed to provide a qualified support to an educator and a pupil in ordinary and inlusive educational process. It requires from teacher assistant vide range of competences,enabling him/her to demonstrate rationality, clear value system, professionalism, i.e. to be an emancipated personality. The process of emancipation takes place when there is the harmony among the set of emancipatory legal, philosophical, social, and educational aspects and the personal reality perception, activity and will. In order to develop the emancipation of a teacher assistant\u27s, the competence of the mentor plays the key role, especialy his/her abilities to encourege and empower the mentee‘s independent, still community - directed solutions. Thus, the reversity of the mentoring process comes to the focus of the attention. The proof of the teacher assistant\u27s emancipation success is considered to be the process of reverse mentoring. The qualitative content analysis of the interviews of the teaching assistants working in pre-school education institutions revealed that the emancipation of teaching assistants is observed in the answers of all informants, but the emancipation of their activities in the mentoring process is only partially ensured.
STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON HIGHER EDUCATION TRANSFORMATIONS CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR LATVIA AND UKRAINE
Get PDFThe study’s primary purpose was to compare Latvian and Ukrainian students’ views on transforming traditional learning process connected with implementing infection control measures aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus and their consequences on higher education in both countries. In this study, the total number of respondents consisted of 207 undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students from Latvia and Ukraine. Latvian research sample was presented by 109 students including 11 male students (10.09%) and 98 female students (89.91%). Ukrainian research sample consisted of 98 students including 16 male students (16.33%) and 82 female students (83.67%). A convenience sampling technique was used for selecting the research sample. The survey was conducted in October 2020 - March 2021. The current research is carried out within the project of National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine “Organization of Educational Process in the Content of Unpredicted Changes (the Covid-19 Pandemic): Comparative Analysis (Ukraine – EU countries)”, No. 0121U108690
EXTRACTION AND CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE HOMESTEAD FARM “DUNDURI” OF LUDZA MUNICIPALITY
Get PDFThe aim of the work: to evaluate the development possibilities of the economic activity of the homestead farm “Dunduri” by collecting and cultivating medicinal plants.
The work was developed the basis on European Union and Latvian regulatory documents and guidelines applicable to the collection and processing of medicinal plants, special literature and homestead data.
It is important to understand what steps to take, what problems to face and how will affect activities in the future in the field of harvesting medicinal plants.
The work examines the extraction of medicinal plants in Europe and Latvia, the guidelines for collecting and growing plants and the classification of medicinal plants, provides a description of the resources of the homestead farm “Dunduri”, examines the growing and harvesting technologies of medicinal plants and their realization possibilities, analyses the farm economic activities and development opportunities
AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED DRONES FLIGHT PLANNING, USING A MODIFIED SHORTEST PATH ALGORITHM WITH A LIMITED TIME FRAME
Get PDFThe aim of this work is to develop an algorithm to find the shortest path for drone flight planning with a limited time frame. Author used the local search shortest path algorithm to find the most efficient algorithm to use for further modification to apply to a drones flight calculation. The algorithm was modified to use the distance between points as a unit of time to limit the flight path length depending on the drone\u27s maximum flight time. As a result of the work, an algorithm was created which, upon receiving an array of points, finds the shortest distance between the points, but when it reaches the limit of the flight duration, it returns to the drone station to charge, and resumes flight once it’s done charging