Curriculum Matters
State Educational Requirements: Expectation and Reality
Absract. The application in school practice of the State Educational Requirements and the Programme of study for 10th form, compulsory level, in Chemistry and Environmental Protection school subject has been evaluated. 10th form pupils’ achievements have been assessed by a test. The test is administered to three hundred 10th formers from a few Bulgarian regions and different types of secondary schools. The test results reveal that less than 9% of students meet more than 80% of the expected attainment outcomes. The same percentage of students fails to achieve 20% of the requirements. These alarming facts should be used by educators and policymakers to make important decisions when examining possible changes to improve the State Educational Requirements and Programmes of study.
Keywords: secondary education, chemistry education, educational standards, educational goals, evaluation, achievement test
References:
1. Boiadjieva, E., M. Kirova, A. Kuzmanov, A. Tafrova-Grigorova. Educational Goals аnd Тheir Importance in Achievement Test Construction. Chemistry 17, 339-358 (2008) [In Bulgarian].
2. Boiadjieva, E., M. Kirova, A. Tafrova-Grigorova. On the Application of The State Core Curricula Requirements and the Programme of Study of Chemistry and Environmental Protection in the 10th Form of the Secondary School. Chemistry 17, 6-15 (2008) [In Bulgarian].
3. Cronbach, L. J. Test Validation. In: Thorndike, R. L. (Ed.) Educational Measurment (2nd Edition). American Council of Education, Washington, 1971.
4. Петрова, С., Н. Василева. Природните науки, училището и утрешният свят. Резултати от участието на България в Програмата за международно оценяване на учениците – PISA 2006 .ЦКОКО, София, 2007 ISBN 978-954-8973-12-0
A. Tafrova-Grigorova, M. Kirova, E. Boiadjieva, A. Kuzmanov
Teaching Efficiency
Development of Educational-and-Cognitive Modeling Competence: A Case Study – Chemistry Learning in High Schools
Absract. The application of the competence-based approach in education requires the basic educational competences to be determined. This paper presents a project and technology for the development of one of the major transversal (portable) competences, that of educational-and-cognitive modeling. A survey on the application of technology for development of this competence in the process of learning chemistry in the secondary school is presented and discussed.
Keywords: educational-and-cognitive modeling competence, project for development, didactic technology
References:
1. Мерджанова, Я. Мултисензорният принцип в обучението и живота. Университетско издателство „Св. Климент Охридски”, София, 2005.
2. Василев, В., Й. Димова, Т. Коларова-Кънчева. Рефлексия и обучение. Макрос, Пловдив, 2005.
3. Brooks, J.C., M.G. Brooks. In Search of Understanding: The Case for Constructivist Classrooms. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Alexandria, 1993.
4. Toshev, B.V. The Successful Teacher: Historical Review with Some Practical Recommendations. Chemistry 16, 473-481 (2007) [In Bulgarian].
5. Радев, П. Обща училищна дидактика. Университеско издателство „Паисий Хилендарски”, Пловдив, 2005.
6. Ганчев, Г. Моделирането в обучението по химия. Институт за усъвършенстване на учителите, Стара Загора, 1993.
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8. Тафрова-Григорова, А. Съставяне на тестове. Приложено към обучението по химия. Педагог 6, София, 2007.
N. Tzankov
Problems
40th International Chemistry Olympiad: Problems and Solutions
Absract. The paper represents problems (theoretical and practical) of the 40th International Chemistry Olympiad and the solutions of theoretical problems. Comments of Bulgarian team presentation are given.
Keywords: International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), practical exams, problems with solutions
D. Tasheva, P. Tsanova
From the Research Laboratories
Simple Way to Predict Electrostatic Sensitivity of Nitroaromatic Compounds
Absract. In this paper, a new simple method is introduced to predict electrostatic sensitivity of nitroaromatic compounds. This technique uses the calculated detonation velocity at maximum nominal density and the contribution of some structural parameters. A training set is used to optimize the new correlation. The predicted results for 17 explosives are also compared with quantum mechanical computations, for some explosives in which deviations of quantum mechanical calculations from experimental data are low. The root mean square deviations (rms) from experiment for introduced model and complicated quantum mechanical computation are the same, i.e. 2.0 J.
Keywords: electrostatic sensitivity, nitroaromatic, detonation velocity, correlation
References:
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M.H. Keshavarz, H.R. Pouretedal, A. Semnani
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