Jagiellonian Digital Library contains 884 241 digital objects
- The analyses of influence of class size on academic achievement used data from study conducted in 2006 by the Regional Examination Board in Cracow (Poland). The variables explaining the achievements of lower secondary school pupils were identified using regression analysis. The model explains 71% of variance of exam results. These variables were used to identify statistical twins. Their assignment to the experimental and control group was performed in three ways: by stratification using Mahalanobis distance, matching one-to-many and one-to-one using k-means method. The last method proved the most successful. The effect of class size on student outcomes proved statistically insignificant. However, pupils from classes with below 23 pupils achieved higher mean scores than their peers from larger classes by 0.039 standard deviation.
- The analyses of influence of class size on academic achievement used data from study conducted in 2006 bythe Regional Examination Board in Cracow (Poland). The variables explaining the achievements of lowersecondary school pupils were identified using regression analysis. The model explains 71% of variance ofexam results. These variables were used to identify statistical twins. Their assignment to the experimentaland control group was performed in three ways: by stratification using Mahalanobis distance, matching one-to-many and one-to-one using k-means method. The last method proved the most successful. The effect ofclass size on student outcomes proved statistically insignificant. However, pupils from classes with below23 pupils achieved higher mean scores than their peers from larger classes by 0.039 standard deviation.
- The analysis of chemistry textbooks for the 3rd stage of education was carried out in order to obtain in-depth information on the degree of realization of the first educational goal from general requirements (learning outcomes) of the core curriculum: A student obtains and processes information from various sources with the use of information-communication technologies. The range of occurrence of content related to the periodic table of elements in chemistry textbooks for the 3rd stage of education was investigated. The choice of this source of information was dictated by the provisions of the curriculum for general education on the one hand, and on the other, by the fact that the periodic table is a foundation of modern chemistry – the good command of the periodic table not only allows to systematize the knowledge, but also, to anticipate and understand the properties of chemical elements. We analyzed all the series of chemistry textbooks for junior high schools, which have been approved for use in schools by the Ministry of Education since 2009. The study results indicate that the content of all series of textbooks contains the periodic table of elements along with the materials helpful in forming the skills of reading data from such source of information. The most authors of textbooks also took care of that the periodic table of elements was present in every part of the series, which should help students in consolidating the ability to use this tool. The colors most often used in periodic tables to indicate the nature of the chemical elements were different shades of blue and pink, which may help in consolidating the knowledge, but it can also lead to the formation of students’ misconceptions about the properties of elements.
- The analysis presented in this article assesses the fit of the education subvention allocation among the first tier of local governments in Poland (gminas) to the costs of providing education. The first part of the paper describes the weights used in the algorithm that divides the education subvention among gminas, focusing on the changes implemented in 2015. The paper then discusses the consequences resulting from the so-called rural weights, which have a relatively large impact on the allocation of founds. A major part of the paper introduces a measure to determine the inefficiency of the division of fund among gminas. this measure allows a quantitative assessment to be made of the effects of changes introduced to the formula in 2015. Possible corrections of the weights are proposed, which allow the inefficiencies and perverse incentives of local school authorities to be reduced.
- The article addresses areas for cooperation between higher and secondary education, beyond the bounds of administrative and organisational division. Also summarised is the general curriculum reform which is founded on changing the paradigm of education. Satisfying the needs of the most gifted pupils at secondary level in the public system is also described. Specific ideas are presented for how to organise cooperation between schools and universities for work with gifted students. The strengths and weaknesses of the present Polish assessment system are pointed out, together with its role in improving school education. The article draws attention to the difficulty posed by exams in terms of admission to higher education and highlights the need for co-operation between the systems of national examination and higher education.
- The article analyses the economic and non-economic determinants of the decision to offer apprenticeships to young workers in a company. The analysis was based on interviews with employers conducted as a part of the BECKER study in 2014. The authors briefly review the literature on the costs and benefits of apprenticeship training. The analysis of the collected qualitative data helped to identify the major costs, benefits and risks associated with apprenticeship training in Polish companies. The article also shows how employers may perceive the overall balance of costs and benefits of apprenticeship training. It was found that profitability could be equally dependent on economic factors (the short or long-term cost-effectiveness of investments in apprenticeship training), as well as non-economic factors (e.g. the need for companionship, the desire to maintain a given profession, a sense of mission to support young people from the local community).
- The article analyses the factors determining the preferences of local councillors to the decentralization of education. The question of whether the decentralization of education policy is a priority for local authorities is examined. We take into account both the individual features of the councillors as well as the characteristics of the municipalities. The empirical study is based on a logit model and used data collected in a survey, which was part of the BECKER project, as well as data from the Local Data Bank and the Ministry of Finance. The results indicate that in addition to factors related to the financial situation of the municipality (level of spending autonomy and wealth) and the characteristics of citizens (education, income), preferences are influenced by the fact that a councillor has a child of school age.
- The article approaches the question of how provisions for the 2008 core curriculum are implemented at lower secondary school within the sub-area of linguistic awareness. It also covers, how Polish language grammar is taught, and student results. Data was obtained from the study: Didactics of literature and Polish language in middle school under the new core curriculum, including results from: tests measuring knowledge and skills involving linguistic awareness, non-participant observation of language classes, information collected from interviews with teachers and students, and questionnaires. The analysis of this varied data allowed construction of a multi-faceted image of linguistic awareness teaching in middle school which emerged to appear highly traditional and geared towards theoretical knowledge of the Polish language. This model does not satisfy the principles for functional language teaching, as prescribed by the new core curriculum. This may explain, why many middle school students experience difficulty in the application of their abstract knowledge to practical situations.
- The article compares two methods used to detect differential item functioning (DIF) of dichotomously scored items: a nonparametric solution based on the Mantel–Haenszel procedure (MH) and a parametric IRT approach with a likelihood ratio test. A Monte Carlo experiment was performed in order to evaluate performance of both statistics in various conditions of DIF uniformity. Results confirmed the theoretical prediction that the MH test has greater statistical power in detecting uniform DIF than the likelihood ratio test and less power than the LR test in cases of non-uniform DIF. Apart of examining statistical power of the test, specific measures of DIF effect size were compared: MH D–DIF and three measures of P–DIF expressed on the item easiness scale.
- The article considers the consequences of abandoning the axiological ambiguity beyond the sphere of human reflection and experience (including that impinging on students – as shown by analytical and interpretive material). The inherent hazards of creating an image of a world closed in extreme binary oppositions is pointed out. It is shown to risk human (student) alienation from reality and a shift of this reality and the human into artificial formations. Another risk is transformation of values into a set of anti-values which exclude any interpersonal agreement. This may result in a situation in which construction of personal axiological space only occurs at the expense of discrediting values of others and denying their rights to hold them in the first place. In effect, another world is created, in which there is no place for the human being.
- The article deals with teaching literature in the context of individual reading experience. Creating the analogy between reading and journey, questions are posed about the student’s freedom as reader, privacy and the uniqueness of the act of individual reading in the educational process. This culminates with the basic question of whether a reader needs school. The main analysis, supported by references to works of Certeau, Izer and Nietzsche, concentrates on the problems of change of status and function of literature in contemporary life, both social and individual, rejection of reading, preservation of passive attitude through educational routine and identification of knowledge about literature with the experience of its reception. Conclusions concentrate on redefinition of the aims of literary education, presentation of reading as an existential need and also deal with the reader’s freedom and responsibility, the role of school in building the reader’s competence, as well as with the range and form of the teacher’s activity. The author postulates structural changes which would allow introduction of a variety of organizational solutions and classes focusing on literature.
- The article demonstrates the consequences on validity when test items are misclassified as constructed-response but in fact function as selected-response. From the review of items included in the scientific part of the national exam (2002–11) that concludes 3-year lower secondary school, 9 items, which were classified as constructed-response but functioning in content and psychometrically as selected-response, were identified. One such item was examined in a case study using IRT modelling. The study showed how guessing of correct responses to items might influence test validity when using an incorrectly classified format.
- The article describes occupational therapy applied to the elderly and presents differences in the definition of occupational therapy in Poland and elsewhere, related to various methods of therapy. In Poland, occupational therapy is mainly art therapy and components of occupational and social therapy. Often it is combined with improvement of work skills. Outside Poland, occupational therapy also includesintervention in the patient’s living environment and places special emphasis on daily activities. The aim of this occupational therapy is to promote welfare and to enable people to perform their routine daily activities. Occupational therapy in Poland requires better compliance with standards developed by the international associations of occupational therapy (WFOT, COTEC).
- The article describes school culture and reports studies in which this construct was used to explain student risky behaviours. School culture embraces assumptions, values and beliefs shared by the school community. Teachers’ caring attitudes and commitment, clarity of school norms and rules and the high value of academic achievement have been proved to have a positive influence on school effectiveness and student healthy development. Research on school culture, similarly to studies on school climate, integrate diverse research communities interested in school performance and the effectiveness of prevention programs.
- The article describes the debate on the teacher’s role in the dynamic reality of the Polish education system and the impact of individual experience in the uptake of innovation to professional change. In the first part, teacher awareness concerning the necessary changes is considered, while in the second, the results from research using the innovative educational tool “Gramy w piktogramy” (“We play pictograms”) – supporting mathematical skills in primary education – are presented. Changes to teachers’ opinions in three dimensions (educational pessimism, educational formalism, promoting students own activities) are also included as support for the conclusions. Influencing significant change to teachers’ outlook is possible but a long-term process, both requiring sustained encouragement from education authorities and a bottom-up approach. Nevertheless, the crux of the problem is to instill the belief into teachers that profound change in primary education is vital.
- The article describes the importance of spatial data resources and GIS tools in environmental education. Data resources available at European and national level andpossibilities of their use in education have been presented. Assessment of usefulness of these resources for environmental education objectives was made. Examples of useof spatial data in environmental education are presented.
- The article discusses interplay between institutions in higher education (HEIs) and the socio-economic environment. Analysis of the formal and legal conditions and changes in the HEI environment shows that cooperation is becoming an increasingly important dimension in management. In this paper, a tendency in the institutionalisation of these relations and the effects of a new mechanism for distribution of benefits on their shaping was observed, and which was characteristic of the stakeholder theory presented. The empirical section investigates the regional perspective for missions and development strategies of HEIs in the presence of certain categories of external stakeholders. The study showed that HEIs most frequently addressed cooperation with representatives of business and public authorities. HEIs recognised these two types of entity as external stakeholders in the region. It was also found that type of HEI influenced its orientation to cooperation. State higher schools of vocational education were the most friendly towards cooperation with regional stakeholders.
- The article discusses reading from the perspective of human inquiry into the nature of experience. The author pinpoints a dual problem. The first relates to difficulties with definition of experience in the philosophical tradition. The second is an influence of 20th century theories which replace the concept of interpretation with the concept of reading. The main thesis of the article argues for the necessity to enter a new reflection on the experience of reading away from its essentialistic tendency, to be more based on pragmatics and performatics. This could be followed by questions about how literature works, the kind of experience that is created in the process of reading and how people should be inspired to embrace literature. In view of the reading crisis and the crisis of classics these questions seem crucially important.
- The article discusses the problem of the influence of vocational activity in the course of learning in upper secondary school on the process of identity formation in two areas: the dimensions of personal identity development and identity capital – a sense of adulthood and a sense of integration with the community. Two questionnaires were used: the Polish adaptations of the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS/PL), and the Identity Stage Resolution Index (ISRI/PL). Measurements were taken twice – at the beginning and end of the 2014/2015 school year. The longitudinal study included 1322 students of all years of: basic vocational school, upper secondary vocational school and upper secondary general school. The analysis of the results revealed an increase of commitment making among those students who began to work during the school year, which occurred between the first and second round of measurements. This effect was not dependent on the type of school. It was also found that among upper secondary general school students and upper secondary vocational school students, there was a significant increase in the sense of adulthood during the year. Among upper secondary general school students, both indicators of identity capital (a sense of adulthood and a sense of integration with the community) increased among those who did not begin to work, as well as in those who began to work during the school year, in which the research was conducted.
- Article discusses the problem of the parental informal educational role in the use of media by young children. The aim of the research was to identify the determinants for active and passive media mediation. Based on interviews with parents of 313 children aged from six months to six years and six months, it was found that during this period the frequency of active mediation increases. Active mediation depends on the size of the family in which a child is growing up. Parents’ belief about positive media effects promotes viewing together with children. The frequency of passive media mediation is lower, the more family screen-media are a regular part of the child’s environment. Active and passive media mediation are more frequently applied by parents that are more aware of potential negative media effects.
