{"title":"The Development of Learning Competences through Wiki Tools","authors":"Vladimira Froldova","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0006","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This paper reports on a pre-research included in a pedagogical experiment carried out at a Secondary School in Prague. In particular, it focuses on learning outcomes and overall experience concerning the development of learning competences through the use of a wiki in Social Science lessons and realized through the content and language integrated learning (CLIL). Although the main objective of the pedagogical experiment was to enhance English communication skills, the inevitable part of the experiment was to implement wiki tools into autonomous home learning, mainly to create such a learning environment which supports English communication, and particularly to examine the wiki potential for the development of learning competences. Moreover, the pedagogical experiment was supposed to show the extent of students’ effort to create and use wiki materials for their learning and cooperation. In the first part, various aspects of implementing learning competences into the learning process are dealt. In the second part, the general concept of a wiki (wikispaces) is introduced, including the practical usage for enhancing learning competences. Followed by research questions and research methodology, where three stages of the teaching and learning process involved in the experiment are introduced, the final part of the paper deals with the outcomes and summarizes their beneficial contributions to a wiki-based pedagogy.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131235526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bebras Contest for the Blind Analysis of Tasks for the Blind Pupils at Lower Grades of Secondary Education","authors":"Natália Kováčová, L. Jasková","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Bebras contest has become an essential part of school informatics in 30 countries all around the world. However, not all pupils can participate, especially some pupils with special educational needs. We have been doing a research in the area of teaching computer science with focus on the blind pupils (Jašková, 2013). We think that also these pupils should develop their informatics skills. Because the Bebras contest offers number of interesting informatics tasks, we have decided to explore the possibilities of making this contest available also for the blind pupils. The tasks used for this category of pupils were adjusted from the original ones suggested for intact pupils. In the article we present some of them with the description of adjustments that were needed to be done in order to make these tasks available for the blind pupils. We also compare the results of both, intact pupils and the blind pupils. Finally we analyse factors that can have an influence on success rate of the blind pupils and we offer some recommendations for making the suitable tasks.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117065121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"ICT Teachers and Technical E-Safety: Knowledge and Routines","authors":"Václav Šimandl","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0009","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The article looks at how competent ICT teachers in primary, lower secondary and high schools are as regards the issues of Internet safety, the use of secure passwords, protection against malware and data back-up. Specific knowledge and routines are described whilst discussing the ways teachers are influenced in these areas. In-depth semi-structured interviews have been carried out with chosen ICT teachers. Teachers were presented with several situations from the issue in question and the way they reacted in given situations was observed. Data gained from the interviews and the triangulation that had been carried out was processed through open and axial coding. The results of our investigation show that teachers do usually try to behave in a relatively safe way but their reasons for such behaviour differ greatly. The main external determiners include reactions to a certain negative experience, active self-study of the issue and organised instruction (not only at high schools and universities but voluntary attendance of courses). Factors preventing teachers from behaving as safely as possible have been identified. It may be due to working or teaching limitations. Teachers might lack professional knowledge or there could be a problem with security, perhaps being time-consuming or difficult to remember passwords.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122311229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Is Python an Appropriate Programming Language for Teaching Programming in Secondary Schools?","authors":"Eva Mészárosová","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A variety of programming languages are used to teach fundamentals of programming in secondary schools in Slovakia. Nowadays, we observe a new trend, the Python language gaining ground. In our paper we evaluate the interviews, in which we asked teachers with years of pedagogical experience, what the reasons for selecting a particular programming language where. By analysing the responses we learn about their experience with teaching programming and create a list of the important elements in the selection of the most suitable programming language for secondary school students. We will seek an answer for the question whether the Python programming language is appropriate for all secondary school students.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"31 10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129907608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adaptive Testing in Practice","authors":"Tatiana Prextovă","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Testing as such is important for diagnostics and evaluation. It is used as feedback by both the pedagogues and the ones being tested. The more a teacher learns from the test results, the better is their chance to correct, clarify, or modify the test itself; i.e. to carry out the changes in their instruction or the education process. The more a student learns from the test, the better is their chance to thoroughly learn and master information, and to clarify problematic issues of a particular curriculum. Moreover, their motivation to further study is growing as they deal with more demanding tasks. Adaptive testing carried out in a suitable LMS offers such possibilities. This paper is aimed at the introduction of basic principles and rules of computerized adaptive testing. Moreover, it provides information about the process and results of computerized adaptive testing, which was experimentally carried out on the sample of 53 ninth-grade pupils at the Porubská elementary school in Ostrava.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"89 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115578102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Data from Catalogues of Solar System Objects in Education","authors":"Ota Kéhar","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This contribution contains attractive examples that use catalogues of astronomical objects available at Astronomia web pages (astronomia.zcu.cz) to improve the teaching of selected astronomical topics. The main focus is to Solar system objects, list of numbered minor planets is used to demonstrate the current position of objects in the Solar system, to construct a Kirkwood gap graph or to interactively verify Kepler’s laws. I put emphasis on involving students in practical activities, so the results of my research are several worksheets. All worksheets include basic procedure. Each part of worksheet is complemented by sub-questions that deepen knowledge of students and it provides welcomed feedback for teacher. All these features are available as online applications on web pages and it can be used during ICT lessons. I tried worksheets on a significant sample of secondary school pupils and university students. As a result I discovered that students usually do not have possibility to solve this kind of exercise (using data from catalog of astronomical objects) at school. Students cannot handle basic transactions in the Excel spreadsheet, especially inserting formulas into cells, data sorting or constructing a simple chart.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"95 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126139046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Educational Support of the Course Nursing Procedures and Interventions","authors":"Markéta Babičová, I. Nagyová","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0003","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The course Nursing Procedures and Interventions is being taught at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava within the scope of the study programs Nursing and Midwifery. Despite the fact that the main part of the course is dedicated to the practical medical skills, it is suitable not only for students of full-time studies, but also for students of combined studies. The teaching of the course is organizationally demanding, because of which a Moodle e-learning course has been developed. The article describes the aims and the education process of the course Nursing Procedures and Interventions with the support of e-learning. It deals especially with the testing of theoretical knowledge of students within the e-learning course, which has three phases - when introduced to the course for the first time, during the course, and at the end of it. The article presents the comparison of the test results of different education periods. The article also deals with the more complicated issues and parts of the course and also compares students’ results with regard to their previous specialty - if they already encountered any kind of health studies or if the course is their first experience with this kind of education.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115816279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The use of Inquiry Based Education in a Simulation Software Environment in Pre-Service ICT Teacher Training","authors":"Václav Šimandl, J. Vaníček","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2015-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2015-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The article deals with the possibilities of using inquiry based education methods as part of preservice ICT teacher education. The question is how this teaching method can be used within a specialised subject focused on teaching technical principles, in this case concerning the functionality of various computer networks and their components. The first task was to find appropriate software for such a method of teaching. Software simulating a computer network was chosen and modified curricula was used so that students could obtain crucial competencies for understanding networks by independently exploring them for themselves: how a prepared network operates, finding connections and formulating a written conclusion. The goal was to direct students to actively experiment with the assigned networks and research answers to the assigned questions. However, instead of simply being given outright answers, students were advised how to proceed in order to find solutions for themselves. Another aim was to familiarize future teachers with this method in the role of pupil. The data for the research was acquired from participant observation and the evaluation of the lessons via questionnaires and a group discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of this approach in the lessons in comparison with similar subjects taught traditionally. It was found that successful students started to ask questions which they were interested in and to go on inquiring to answer them. Although the students realized the benefits of the teaching approach, many of them were not prepared enough to work with this method (particularly due to the lack of knowledge of basic theoretical concepts).","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115291916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Development of Computer Competencies Using Artificial Intelligence","authors":"J. Grudzień","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2014-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2014-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The paper informs about possibilities how to improve educational process with the help of artificial intelligence. Theoretical part provides an overview of the development of cognitive research on feed-forward neural networks (perceptrons) and teaching support systems. It expresses the preconditions, expected results, concepts, objectives, hypotheses and research methods of the thesis. The practical part describes the construction of a complete teaching system based on the original GLM (Grudzień Learning Module). This module, which contains elements of artificial intelligence, served to achieve the main objective of the experiment and to compare the effects of conventional teaching and individualized instruction based on the proposed methodology. Further part of the paper describes the course of the experiment, pedagogical discussion of results, conclusions and observations. The benefits of the scientific results of the experiment, expandability of the system and subsequent works are mentioned as well.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"57 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116629822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Information System “Diagnostic” as a Tool of Action Research","authors":"Alena Seberová, M. Malčík","doi":"10.1515/ijicte-2014-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/ijicte-2014-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In order for schools to be able to manage the demanding tasks that are imposed on them today, they must be ready for internal transformation. This transformation cannot be driven by chance or intuition, or managed from the outside, but has to be executed on the basis of exact internal data. This data can be obtained through the methods of action research carried out at schools, with the help of the prepared information system called Diagnostic. Using long-term data gathering and processing, as well as other activities, school can become a learning organisation, which can adequately react to the changing external conditions, and constantly improve its quality.","PeriodicalId":242007,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122200006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}