Článek je metodologického charakteru a věnuje se primárně možnostem zpracování dat získaných na základě Likertova škálování. Nakládání s takovým typem dat nejprve představuje v obecné rovině a poté ukazuje, jak pracovat s konkrétními daty z oblasti environmentální výchovy. Konkrétně jde o data získaná pomocí škály Nature relatedness scale, která je určena ke zjišťování vztahu jedince k přírodě kvantitativní cestou. Autoři si dali za cíl popsat způsob zpracování dat získaných pomocí Likertovy škály a reflektovat celý postup na konkrétních, reálně získaných datech z oblasti environmentální gramotnosti. Své závěry opírají o řadu výzkumů.

This work is focused on upper-secondary school students' ability to use the periodic table of elements to solve problem tasks. Eye-tracking and retrospective think-aloud methods were used to evaluate the reasoning behind the students' (N = 8) performance, i.e., to map the strategies they used and problems they faced when solving the tasks. The data from the eye-tracker were submitted to a quantitative analysis−time fixation duration evaluation on predefined areas of interest. The think-aloud method supporting the eye-tracking record together with the students' transitions also enabled a qualitative analysis of the students' procedure. Most of the students failed the tasks. The main reason was their lack of fundamental knowledge together with low reading and problem-solving skills, in addition to a lack of motivation to solve more demanding tasks. Their knowledge and ability to use the periodic table was proved insufficient to the corresponding curricular objective. The students mostly used expansive strategies, however, due to some problems (e.g., low prior knowledge, misunderstanding, or inattentive reading), they used limiting strategies (e.g., deducing from the task structure or guessing answers), and failed the tasks. These results offer a solid foundation for subsequent steps toward improving classroom practice, which stresses the need to focus on problem-solving and strategy development more during (chemistry) lessons. Also, the results call for extra support for the periodic table's teaching conception.

Computational thinking is a highly appreciated skill by mathematicians. It was forecasted that, in the next few years, half of the jobs in science, mathematics, technology and engineering (abbreviated as STEM, including arts as STEAM) will use some kind of computation. It is therefore necessary to enhance the learning of mathematics by collaborative problem-solving activities focused on both learning mathematics and developing computational thinking. The problems in science offer a reasonable context in which to investigate the common overarching concepts (e.g., measuring the length). An interdisciplinary STEAM collaborative problem-solving activity was designed and piloted with 27 lower secondary students aged 13.07 ± 1.21 years. Different levels of willingness to use the technology were observed and the factors influencing it were identified. We found that strong background knowledge implies high demands when controlling the used device. On the other hand, when a nice and user-friendly application was used, students did not need to perceive any control over it. After the intervention, the students’ views on the tablet changed and they reported more STEAM-related functions of the device.

Metacognitive knowledge and mathematical intelligence were tested in a group of 280 pupils of grade 7 age 12–13 years in the Czech Republic. Metacognitive knowledge was tested by the tool MAESTRA5-6+. Mathematical intelligence is understood as an important criterion of a learner’s ability to solve mathematical problems and defined as the specific sensitivity to the six particular phenomena: causality, patterns, existence and uniqueness of solution, geometric imagination, functional thinking, and perception of infinity. The main objective of the research is to explore relationships and links between metacognitive knowledge and mathematical intelligence of the learners and discover the scope of impacts of their metacognitive knowledge on the school success rate. Based on the collected answers and nearly zero correlation (r = 0.016) between the researched domains, a two-dimensional model considering the correlations between metacognitive knowledge and mathematical intelligence was designed. The developed model enables to describe an impact of the domains on the learner’s school performance within the selected school subjects, and concurrently, it emphasizes their importance within the educational practice as such.

This research is focused on secondary school chemistry teachers’ (N=276) and chemistry pre-service teachers’ (N=159) attitudes towards the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education. A questionnaire constructed upon Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation was used. Based on the answers, the respondents were grouped according to their innovativeness – into types of innovation adopters. Analysis of the participants’ responses to the statements in the questionnaire suggests that neither gender nor their teaching experience influence their innovativeness. The respondents mostly tend to hold a pragmatic view, accept the role of ICT in education. However, they need proof to decide whether to adopt it in their teaching practice. As the respondents could leave their contact information, it is possible to further focus on particular groups of innovation adopters, to observe their lessons, analyse their approach and mainly influence and support those groups, which maintain a “role model” position and trigger diffusion of innovations. Keywords: chemistry education, ICT, diffusion of innovations, teachers’ attitudes, pre-service teachers’ attitudes.

In research focused on self-efficacy it is usually teacher-related phenomena that are studied, while the main aspects related to pupils are rather neglected, although self-efficacy itself is perceived as a belief in one’s own abilities. Evidently, this strongly influences the behavior of individuals in terms of the goal and success in mathematical problem-solving. Considering that alternative teaching methods are based on the principle of belief in one’s own ability (mainly in the case of group work), higher self-efficacy can be expected in the pupils of teachers who use predominantly the well-working pupil-centered pedagogies. A total of 1133 pupils in grade 5 from 36 schools in the Czech Republic were involved in the testing of their ability to solve mathematical problems and their mathematical self-efficacy as well. Participants were divided according to the above criteria as follows: (i) 73 from Montessori primary schools, (ii) 332 pupils educated in mathematics according to the Hejný method, (iii) 510 pupils from an ordinary primary school, and (iv) 218 pupils completing the Dalton teaching plan. In the field of mathematical problem-solving the pupils from the Montessori primary schools clearly outperformed pupils from the Dalton Plan schools (p = 0.027) as well as pupils attending ordinary primary schools (p = 0.009), whereas the difference between the Montessori schools and Hejný classes was not significant (p = 0.764). There is no statistically significant difference in the level of self-efficacy of pupils with respect to the preferred strategies for managing learning activities (p = 0.781). On the other hand, correlation between mathematical problem-solving and self-efficacy was confirmed in all the examined types of schools. However, the correlation coefficient was lower in the case of the pupils from the classes applying the Hejný method in comparison with the pupils attending the Montessori schools (p = 0.073), Dalton Plan schools (p = 0.043), and ordinary primary schools (p = 0.002). Even though the results in mathematical problem-solving are not consistent across the studies, the presented results confirm better performance of pupils in some constructivist settings, particularly in the case of individual constructivism in the Montessori primary schools. The factors influencing lower correlation of self-efficacy and performance in mathematical problem-solving ought to be subject to further investigation.

Za jednu z příčin současného negativního postoje žáků k přírodovědným oborům a později i jejich zájmu tyto obory volit jako budoucí profesi, je uváděno pozdější zavádění přírodovědných témat do výuky. Náprava tohoto stavu úzce souvisí s připraveností učitelů na primárním stupni vzdělávání vyučovat přírodovědná témata tak, aby podnítili rozvoj pozitivních postojů u žáků. Podstatnou roli hrají postoje samotných (budoucích) učitelů, které mohou sloužit jako indikátor potřeby změn v této oblasti. Cílem příspěvku je představit českou verzi dotazníku DAS (Dimensions of Attitude toward Science) určeného k zjišťování postojů učitelů na primárním stupni vzdělávání k přírodovědným tématům a jejich výuce. Dotazník obsahuje 28 položek rozdělených do sedmi subškál. Data získaná prostřednictvím tohoto nástroje poskytují celkovou informaci o postoji respondenta, zároveň umožňují vytvoření postojového profilu (vysoký potenciál, slibný, lhostejný a neochotný). Na základě těchto informací je pak možné volit způsoby práce s konkrétním učitelem. Původní verze výzkumného nástroje byla nejprve přeložena, pilotována a následně použita v ostrém šetření. Na základě výsledků statistické analýzy (Cronbachovo alfa = 0,704 pro celý nástroj) je možné českou verzi dotazníku považovat za dostatečně spolehlivou a použitelnou v dalším výzkumu. Vysokou reliabilitu vykazovaly také dílčí subškály nástroje.

The aim of the article is to assess the quality of visualisation of geomorphology, hydrology and agriculture of Czechia through maps, schemes and photographs in geography textbooks for ISCED 1 and ISCED 2 levels of education. A total of 15 geography textbooks were selected and a total of 90 visuals from these textbooks were analysed. The scaling method according to defined criteria relating to the concept of usability was applied; the result of scaling was the usability coefficient. The data obtained through scaling was subsequently statistically analysed. The outcomes of the statistical analysis show that the usability coefficient of visuals in textbooks for the older cohort is higher than in textbooks for younger students. The usability coefficient as an indicator of quality of the assessed visuals is linked especially to the tradition of publishing houses, as visuals in textbooks published by publishers with relatively long tradition are of a higher quality than those by publishers with shorter tradition and therefore less experience with publishing textbooks. Differences in the quality between individual types of visuals or themes are not statistically significant.