Letters to the Editor
Enhancing Quality of Teaching and Learning in the Project „Bonding the World with Chemistry“
K. Benova, V. Konstantinova, A. Hineva
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Ecoclub in the 7th Secondary School – Blagoevgrad
I. Yaneva
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Projects’ Method Used to Enhance the Creative Abilities of Pupils
D. P. Stankovska
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Science Learning in 5 – 7 Grades to Forming a Natural Science Literacy
V. Dimitrova, S. Popova
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Bulgarian High-School Students’ Views on the Nature of Science and Scientific Inquiry – Gender Aspect
Absract. 937 students from non-specialized schools from 7 different Bulgarian regions participated are included in the present study. The quantitative analysis of the data shows dependencies of the students’ views (on the essence of science and science research) on their cognitive results, on their gender and type of school they attend. In this article we focus on a quantitative study of the dependence between students’ views and their gender. We are looking for an answer to the following research question: Is there a statistically significant difference in the views of the high-school students who participated – boys and girls with good and excellent cognitive results in Chemistry? In order to do that we use descriptive statistics and the SPSS software product by applying the following statistical procedures: Student’s T-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Because of the gender differences we were able to establish we suggest ideas to natural sciences teachers for improving their pedagogical practice.
Keywods: nature of science, science education, gender differences
I. Hadjiali, Y. Dimova, Z. Garova
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Adaptation of the Education to the Day After
Absract. In the present paper the results of several assessment questionnaires carried out with the participants of the Training School within the frames of Operational Program “Science and education for intelligent growth†are discussed. The goal of the questionnaires was to perform an objective assessment of the aims of the School, the level of the lecturers and the topics offered as well as the organization of the event. The data from the questionnaires were treated by the use of multivariate statistical methods (hierarchical cluster analysis) which makes it possible to reveal latent relationships between the type of assessment given as well as between the groups of participants. Important conclusions about the level of lecturing and topics presented with respect to some characteristics of the participants – mainly age, interest and engagements.
Keywords: training school, European operational program, assessment questionnaires, cluster analysis
I. Pancheva, M. Nedyalkova, P. Petkov, H. Aleksandrov, V. Simeonov
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Investigating Views of STEM Primary Teachers on STEM Education
Absract. STEM education is now widely distributed to educational institutions in Thailand. It is directly forced through policy and instructional practices. The study was an examination of current views of STEM primary teachers on STEM education, integrated learning among Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Participants were STEM primary teachers who selected by purposive selection from STEM schools, Nakhonphanom province, located in the northeast of Thailand. One hundred and twenty STEM teachers from 40 STEM education schools were surveyed. The closed and open-ended forms of surveying consisted of 20 research items with 3 point Likert scale. The open-ended question was summarized and recorded for frequency and percentage. Findings indicated that STEM primary teachers had views on STEM education by a variety of school contexts and they also need more comprehension of STEM practices in their school workplace.
Keywords: STEM, teachers, views, school workplace, integrated learning
P. Nuangchalerm
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Teaching Electricity with a Role Play
Absract. This paper provides an example of an innovative science activity applied in a science methods course for future elementary teachers at a small university in northeastern Turkey. The aim of the activity is to help prospective elementary teachers understand science concepts in a simple way and see an innovative teaching example.
Keywords: electricity, role play, drama, demonstrations and analogies, school science, elementary, middle and high school science
M. Karakas
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Structural Elucidation of Unknowns: A Spectroscopic Investigation with an Emphasis on 1D and 2D 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Absract. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a widely used technique for structural elucidation. It is often used in conjunction with other complimentary analytical techniques such as infra-red (IR) and mass spectrometry (MS) to completely assign the chemical structure of molecules. For undergraduate students, gaining familiarity with NMR is often difficult as they rarely have the opportunity to collect this data for themselves; often they are just provided with spectra to interpret. We have developed an experiment that tasks students with obtaining 1D and 2D 1H NMR data of two unknowns, and then using 13C NMR, CHN elemental microanalysis, MS and IR data, to elucidate fully their two structures. The experiment provides students with an experiential learning opportunity for 1H NMR whilst also developing and strengthening their structural elucidation skills.
Keywords: second-year undergraduate, organic chemistry, hands-on learning, problem solving, NMR spectroscopy
V. Caprio, A. S. McLachlan, O. B. Sutcliffe, D.C. Williamson, R. E. Mewis
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Synthesis and Characterization of Aluminium 2024 with Tungsten Carbide Metal Matrix Composite by In-Situ Method
Absract. The objective of this research is to estimatethe effect of friction stir processing on microstructure and properties of aluminium alloy (Al-2024)/tungsten carbide (WC) metal matrix in-situ composite by low cost stir casting technique. Friction stir processing is used to modify the cast microstructure of aluminium alloy 2024 with tungsten carbide metal matrix composite. The fabricated composite specimens were subjected to a series ofmechanical and microstructural analysis. The observed results were compared with the results of base alloy material. Scanning electron microscope, optical microscopy and micro hardness test were carried out to analyze the microstructureand the dispersion of the reinforced particles in the composite alloy specimens.From the results it was found that, the mechanical properties like hardness value increases due to surface modification when compared with the base aluminium alloy.
Keywords: metal matrix composite, tungsten carbide, FSP, mechanical properties, SEM
S. Nallusamy, M. R. Narayanan, S. Saravanan
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Determination of Vitamins B and C in the Biomass Grown on the Olive Mill Wasterwater in Syria by HPCL Method
Absract. The study includes the results of the pH effect of the extraction solution on water-soluble vitamins in the biomass that grown on the olive mill wastewater (resulting from Syrian olive presses) diluted by urea solutions (4%) 75:25 (OMW; Urea 4%) and grafted with Geoterichum hypha. The vitamins determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after extracted it in different pH solutions; Phosphate solution pH = 7, Acetic acid solution 2% pH =2.6 and Sodium hydroxide solution 0.1N pH = 12. The results showed that B1, B3, B6, B7, B9 and C were found in the biomass in different percent amount, according to the extraction solution, but no vitamin B2 was present. .In the pH = 7 the percentage of vitamins in biomass was B6 = 0.006%, B7 = 0.11% and B9 =0.01%. In the acidic medium at pH = 2.6, the percentages of vitamins were B3 = 0.005%, B6 = 0.03%, B7 = 0.45%, B9 = 0.003% and C = 0.025%. In the alkali medium the percentages were as follows: B1 = 0.28%, B7 = 0.03% and B9 = 0.04%.
Keywords: olive mill wastewater, vitamins in biomass
M. Darakli, A. Malo, A. Shhadeh
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Aleksander Herd’s Teaching Legacy in the Context of the Development of Modern Natural Sciences Education
Absract. A review of the pedagogical achievements of Aleksander Yakovlevich Herd (1841-1888) is presented. Aleksander Herd is the most talented pedagogue of the second half of the 19th century and one of the brightest figures in the history of school natural sciences. He worked out the system of teaching natural sciences at school, paying attention to its educational importance, and he connected the methods of teaching with the content of subjects. He was the first who criticized the dogmatic method of A. Luben, a German educator, and he was also the first of Russian educators who tried to introduce the idea of historical development of nature into the curricula and textbooks of Russia in the 19th century. Aleksander Herd advocated the use of the evolutionally biological direction in teaching natural sciences. He worked out the methods of teaching the course of inanimate nature for junior pupils.
Keywords: A. Herd, natural sciences, methods of teaching school natural sciences
M. M. Holovkova, A. A. Korobchenko, Y. I. Popeleshko
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j-j Coupled Atomic Terms for Noneequivalent Electrons of (n-1)fs and nd1 Configurations and Correlation with L-S Terms
Absract. In this article j-j coupled atomic terms for (n-1)fx nd1 (x=1 and 3) configurations using microstate building method were computed and the j-j terms for (n-1)f1 nd1 configuration correlated pictorially with the L-S terms. The j-j coupled atomic terms derived for (n-1)f1 nd1 configuration are [(7/2, 5/2) or (f7/2)1 (d5/2)1], [(7/2, 3/2) or (f7/2)1 (d3/2)1], [(5/2, 5/2) or (f5/2)1 (d5/2)1] and [(5/2, 3/2) or (f5/2)1 (d3/2)1], and for (n-1)f3 nd1 configuration are [(7/2, 7/2, 7/2, 5/2) or (f7/2)3 (d5/2)1], [(7/2, 7/2, 7/2, 3/2) or (f7/2)3 (d3/2)1], [(7/2, 7/2, 5/2, 5/2) or (f7/2)2 (f5/2)1 (d5/2)1], [(7/2, 7/2, 5/2, 3/2) or (f7/2)2 (f5/2)1 (d3/2)1], [(7/2, 5/2, 5/2, 5/2) or (f7/2)1 (f5/2)2 (d5/2)1], [(7/2, 5/2, 5/2, 3/2) or (f7/2)1 (f5/2)2 (d3/2)1], [(5/2, 5/2, 5/2, 5/2) or (f5/2)3 (d5/2)1] and [(5/2, 5/2, 5/2, 3/2) or (f5/2)3 (d3/2)1].
Keywords: angular momentum, jj coupling, j-j coupled term, L-S coupling, microstate
P. L. Meena
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Online Matriculation E-Test in Geography, Conducted by South-West University „Neofit Rilski“ – Blagoevgrad
Absract. In the article an algorithm has been introduced for the making, conducting, assessment and improvement of a dynamic e-test in the form of the matriculation examination in geography as a part of the activities during the enrolment campaign of South-West University “Neofit Rilski†– Blagoevgrad in the years 2016-2017. The test has been applied throughout high-schools located in various parts of the country – Blagoevgrad, Petrich, Kyustendil, Slivnitsa, Vratsa, Vidin, Velingrad and Dimitrovgrad – with the participation of 86 students from the 11 and 12 grades. An automated statistics’ item analysis of the electronic educational platform “Blackboard Learn†has been performed. As a result of this, the amount of question ns in the database has been reduced and some questions have been edited.
Keywords: matriculation exam in geography; online dynamic e-test; item-analysis
I. Drenovski
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Integrated Engineering Education: The Role of Analysis of Students’ Needs
Absract. The requirements of professional practice require the development of competences that combine both professional (technical) and communication skills, including English language. To support the development of both areas of competence, an integrated course on technological discipline and English for specific purposes (ESP) was developed and applied, based on an analysis of students’ needs of language competencies. The data from students’ self-assessment is analysed in relevance to the measured communicative needs in English. Statistical analysis verifies the effectiveness of the new approach based on students’ needs assessment.
Keywords: integrated academic education, communication skills, ESP in biochemical engineering
V. Kolarski, D. Danalev, S. Terzieva
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Learning in Nature and Science and the Fear of Failure
Absract. The main problem discussed in this article is related to the reasons as to how and why fear dominates students’ learning process in education institutions. A right approach toward the topic requires first an investigation of the cognitive aspects of fear, especially when we talk about nature and science knowledge and studies. The research reveals and analyses the main concept characteristics of fear, connected to different ways of thinking and understanding the learning process. Some fear barriers of the learning process have been outlined. The empirical defense of the ideas is based on the research ideas of Daniel Kahneman, an Israeli-American psychologist, and his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making in conditions of inexplicitness. The empirical data used for the research includes inquiries into students and teachers’ opinion of fear of learning. It is based on the concept of cognitive niches in thinking, which become barriers to learning. In the field of natural science education this problem deserves special attention.
Keywords: nature and science education and studies, learning, fear, barrier, thinking, understanding, cognitive niche
N. Tsankov, V. Guyviiska
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Chemistry Teachers’ Book (2017)
B. V. Toshev
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Reflection in Biology Education (2017)
S. Tomova
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