Life and School

STUDENT COMPETENCIES IN USING FUTUROLOGICAL METHODS IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH

2024-12-24T10:56:52+01:00

Research methodology within the scope of futurology remains insufficiently applied in education sciences in Croatia, unlike other areas of human exploration. The aim of futures studies is to create a desirable future, and the main need for such research in pedagogy stems from the fact that it is necessary to adapt education now, so that today's students are ready to adapt to the jobs of the future. Therefore, knowledge of future studies and methods enables future teachers to perceive and predict future changes and needs of all stakeholders in the education system and the educational process itself, as well as adapt to the challenges and needs of the future. The aim of this research was to investigate the competences of future teachers regarding the use of futurology methods in scientific research. Thus, a survey was conducted among 32 future teachers and the learning contents of the course Methodology of Pedagogical Research were analysed. Data were collected from students' self-assessment of their own competences in implementing futurology methods, past experiences in their use, and future intentions of using futurology methods for researching educational phenomena. The research results indicate that students are insufficiently familiar with futurology methods and their application, and that they rarely use them when conducting research. On the other hand, students are highly aware of the importance of applying futurology methods while researching educational problems but despite this, they generally do not express the intention of using them in the future.

Maja Cepanec RANI KOMUNIKACIJSKI RAZVOJ. Jastrebarsko: Naklada Slap, 2023.

2024-12-24T11:26:09+01:00

Knjiga Rani komunikacijski razvoj autorice Maje Cepanec, izvanredne profesorice Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijskoga fakulteta u Zagrebu, daje sveobuhvatan i cjelovit pristup razumijevanju, tumačenju razvoja rane komunikacije i procjeni rane komunikacije, fokusirajući se na teorijsko-stručnu i znanstvenu razradu fenomena ranoga komunikacijskog razvoja. Autorica u predgovoru navodi razloge svoje odluke da napiše gradivo o ranom komunikacijskom razvoju koji se, s jedne strane, podrazumijeva „sam po sebi“, a s druge strane, može biti vrlo delikatan. Jedan od glavnih razloga koji autorica navodi jest prijašnja dugogodišnja pojednostavljena opservacija ranoga komunikacijskog razvoja bez dubljega razumijevanja kompleksnosti i dinamičnosti temeljnih procesa komunikacijskoga razvoja.

Zdenko Kosinac i Željka Karin KINEZIOLOŠKA AKTIVNOST – prestižna značajka zdravlja djece i mladeži. Zagreb: Medicinska naklada, 2024.

2024-12-24T11:30:48+01:00

Postoje publikacije koje djelomično obrađuju pojedino područje tjelesne i zdravstvene kulture i praktičnoga izvođenja pojedine tjelesne aktivnosti djece i mladeži. Za sada u našoj stručnoj literaturi ne postoji ovako sveobuhvatan prikaz svih aktivnosti i benefita koje pridonose poboljšanju i održavanju visoke razine tjelesnoga zdravlja mladih naraštaja u našoj populaciji. Ovo je osobito važno ako imamo na umu da se ubrajamo u populacije s najvišim udjelom osoba s prekomjernom tjelesnom težinom (pretilih) što nepovoljno utječe na zdravlje populacije, dodatno opterećuje zdravstveni sustav i utječe negativno na radnu sposobnost.

THE SIMULATION IN THE TEACHING OF HEALTH CARE

2024-12-24T11:13:52+01:00

The paper presents the current state of vocational education in the Republic of Croatia with special emphasis on the modernisation of that education system and the history of the education of nurses/technicians from 1921 to the present day. The primary focus is on the analysis of nursing teaching, providing deep insight into the learning setting and an account of the current opportunities and challenges facing practitioners. This paper provides a comprehensive insight into contemporary nursing/technician education approaches, highlighting the importance of innovation and technological progress in the field. The simulation method in health care education is discussed in detail, including a description of the methodology used in that process, technical and spatial organisation for the implementation of simulations, and different approaches to learning through simulation. The role of the simulation method in improving the educational process for the education of future general care nurses/technicians is emphasised. Through a systematic review of relevant literature and research, key challenges and opportunities in nurse/technician education are identified, and directions for future action in this area are suggested.

SHORTAGE OF STEM TEACHERS – IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

2024-12-24T11:19:16+01:00

The insufficient number of qualified STEM teachers and educators in schools is a challenge for the entire educational system. To investigate the issue of the shortage of teachers and educators in the STEM area, statistical data were collected and analysed, qualitative research in the form of interviews with various stakeholders in education was conducted, and a round table on this topic was organised. The analysis of statistical data showed that the severe shortage of qualified staff in the labour market for certain STEM areas could not be resolved in the near future solely through the current number of students completing teacher education. The results of qualitative research and discussions at the round table showed that the lack of qualified staff results in a decline in the quality of teaching.
Furthermore, it highlighted additional challenges, such as the quality control of staff educated outside the EU and the inability of schools to offer competitive salaries compared to other sectors that seek professionals with similar qualifications.

THE CHILDREN'S PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS OUTGROUP MEMBERS: THE CONTRIBUTION OF INTERGROUP CONTACT

2024-12-24T09:37:28+01:00

This study investigated the influence of intergroup contact on prosocial behavior towards outgroup members within the context of a recent intergroup conflict between majority and minority members. The research was conducted within segregated schooling, involving 154 primary school students from both the majority (Croats) and minority (Serbs) populations in Vukovar, Croatia. Gender distribution was balanced with 51.3% girls and 48.7% boys, while the ethnic composition included 64.9% majority and 35.1% minority members. Participants' ages ranged from 6 to 11 years (M = 8.77, SD = 1.152). The instruments used were translated and adapted into Croatian and Serbian and had been previously employed in other multi-ethnic contexts with children of similar ages.
Results indicated a bias in prosocial behavior, with the effect being more pronounced among majority members. A positive correlation was found between prosocial behavior towards outgroup members and the quantity and quality of intergroup contact. Thus, participants who had more and higher-quality contact with outgroup members were more likely to exhibit prosocial behavior towards them. These findings underscore the importance of implementing interventions to promote interethnic contact from an early age to foster prosocial behavior towards outgroup members.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHER'S BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS AND THEIR SELF-EFFICACY BEING THE DETERMINANTS OF TEACHER'S (DE)MOTIVATING STYLES

2024-12-24T09:49:14+01:00

The circumplex model of teachers' (de)motivating styles distinguishes four styles of behaviour with which teachers can motivate (autonomy-support and structure) or demotivate (control style and chaos) their students. In this study, we expand existing knowledge by investigating the determinants of these styles, which are ultimately associated with better or worse student success and well-being. In addition, we investigate the model in the Croatian educational context. Our goals were to examine the relationship between the satisfaction/frustration of teachers' psychological needs and their (de)motivating styles and to check the incremental contribution of different dimensions of teacher self-efficacy (classroom management, instructional strategies, student engagement) in explaining teacher (de) motivating styles. The study was conducted online with 365 teachers from elementary-, middle- and high schools. Results confirm the positive relationship between need satisfaction and motivating styles and need thwarting and demotivating styles. Teacher self-efficacy was a significant independent predictor of styles in addition to psychological needs. The instructional strategies self-efficacy dimension had a significant positive independent contribution in predicting autonomy-supportive and structuring style and negative for the chaotic style. The classroom management dimension was a significant predictor of the structuring style, while the self-efficacy dimension in student engagement was a significant predictor of the autonomy-supportive style. None of the dimensions of self-efficacy had a significant contribution in explaining the variance of the controlling style. Methodological shortcomings and practical implications of the study are also discussed.

DIFFERENCES IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

2024-12-24T10:00:42+01:00

This research examines the range of inter-individual differences in the language development of preschool children by using an inventory of above-grade-level educational outcomes as indicators of language development in the subject areas of communication, literature, creativity, and culture and media. The inventory consisted of 27 educational outcomes and 149 specific behavioural elaborations from the curriculum of the subject Croatian Language for Elementary and Secondary Schools (2019), focusing on 1st and 2nd grade. The educational outcomes (A.1.1 to C.2.3) were used to assess the children’s language development and acquired language competencies. Two preschool teachers evaluated a group of children aged 5 to 7 (N = 30) for each indicator and outcome set. Data analyses included reliability assessments, frequency analysis of individual language indicators, and average differences based on gender and curricular subject areas. The results describe the language knowledge, skills, and attitudes that preschool children bring into primary education, offering critical insights for fostering further language development and planning individualized teaching to support developmentally appropriate language competencies.

ECEC GRADUATE STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT, PERCEIVED SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE STUDY PROGRAM, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

2024-12-24T10:45:38+01:00

This paper presents the development of an instrument for assessing the student involvement of early childhood education and care (ECEC) graduate students and the relationship between the perception of involvement and the students' sense of belonging, as well as the relationship between involvement and self-assessment of acquired professional competencies. 286 ECEC final year students from all teacher training higher institutions in Croatia participated in this research that was conducted in 2022.
The results show that there is a statistically significant connection between all the recognized elements of student involvement in learning and the dimensions of the sense of belonging as well as the assessment of the acquired professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
The obtained findings suggest that the educational culture still does not recognize the importance of the active role of students as agents of educational changes.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REFLECTIVE PRACTICE IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS

2024-12-24T10:52:03+01:00

The reflective practice enables one to create and design ideas oneself, as well as to approach a problem in a new way, so that positive results are obtained. It is the ability to think about action in order to engage one in a continuous learning process. The reflective practice is not just the transfer of knowledge. The school also has young staff who show affinity towards developing their professional and personal skills. The reflective practice seeks to expand the horizons of everyone (from the youngest to researchers with many years of experience) and direct them towards connecting theory and practice, that is, what awaits them in the future in their profession. Here one can talk about reflexivity as a critical reflection and questioning of the teacher, who acquires and develops the skills and changes one’s own practice. Teachers are the ones who analyze their actions in education (formal and informal). A reflexive practitioner is an individual who undertakes various activities in order to arrive at a solution to a specific practical problem that has arisen. In accordance with the above, the subject related to the importance of reflective practice for the future progress of teachers. The goal of the research is to consider the concepts of reflective practice and professional development of teachers theoretically and to find out what teachers think about reflection, as well as the importance of reflective practice for teachers and their future development and improvement. A theoretical method was used in the theoretical part, and a descriptive method was used in the empirical part. The obtained results indicate that the most desirable competence for teachers is conversation. Respondents lack motivation and more interest in attending seminars and trainings. Social science teachers paid more attention to research than natural science teachers.