Issue, No. 26/2023

Abstract The concept of classroom discipline refers to the various techniques utilized by educators to regulate the conduct and dispositions of pupils throughout the educational experience, with the aim of promoting compliance with institutional standards and fostering a secure, structured, and stimulating milieu conducive to learning. This article investigates the current methodologies and obstacles encountered by modern educational institutions in effectively addressing classroom behavior management. This article examines the perspectives of aspiring and novice educators on the significance of discipline within the classroom setting. It underscores the criticality of effective communication and collaboration among educational institutions, families, and communities in fostering a conducive and inspiring learning atmosphere. This article examines the perspectives of students in the field of education sciences and novice teachers on the origins of inappropriate student behavior and its impact on the educational process within the school setting. Additionally, the article suggests effective strategies and techniques for fostering responsible and appropriate behavior in the classroom. The article underscores the significance of both initial and continuous professional development in effectively managing student behavior, as well as preventing and addressing incidents of school violence. >> Read the article

Abstract This pilot study delves into the efficacy of a novel scale, combining established measurements, to evaluate student teamwork in mixed collaborative environments. The article is split into two parts: the creation of the new scale and its application in evaluating four small heterogeneous groups' teamwork. Upon utilizing this newly developed scale to assess the diverse working teams, statistical analysis shows no significant differences in the three new dimensions, namely in communication skills (F=1.10, p=0.38), teamwork skills (F=0.20, p=0.89), or management skills (F=1.04, p=0.41). These findings suggest that despite variations in nationality, educational specializations, and gender, the teams displayed comparable competency in teamwork capabilities. The non-significant disparities underscore the potential effectiveness and equity of the new scale in appraising teamwork in diverse groups, emphasizing its utility in assessing cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaborations. This research contributes with insights into evaluating and enhancing multidisciplinary teamwork, offering a possible instrument for fostering successful collaboration in varied student groups. >> Read the article

Abstract Teachers have faced the challenge of adjusting their pedagogical approaches and teaching methods to help students with disabilities adapt to the distance education context, often without specific training or adequate resources. To address these challenges, the "Do IT Yourself" project aims to increase the involvement of students with disabilities in digital education. Its primary focus is promoting "innovative practices in the digital age" with a two-fold approach: encouraging social inclusion and using technological means to integrate vulnerable student groups. This study aims to highlight teachers' digitisation needs and the digital tools they use in the classroom. The data obtained supporting this quantitative study are part of the Erasmus Plus "Do It Yourself" project, of which Romania is a part, together with Portugal, Italy, Finland and Slovenia. The main objective of this study is to obtain data on the digitisation of education in Romania. The present study applies a research method that focuses on completing structured questions. In this research, 79 participants were involved, representing both pre-university teachers and school principals. The data collection process was carried out using a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions to evaluate the type of digital resources used in the teaching environment, the frequency of their use, and the level of training of the participants regarding the training courses for the integration of the tools digital or self-taught learning. >> Read the article

Abstract Feedback has become as the main performance metric that’s why meaningful and thoughtful feedback is important for improving students' learning path. It is provided by teachers to close the students’ knowledge gap. Positive outcomes are determined by informative, goal-oriented and friendly delivered feedback. However, students and teachers lack knowledge about the role of feedback and its contribution in learners’ progress. This article delves the significance of feedback on students’ performance and its role for students’ enhanced learning. The paper presents different types of formative feedback and their effectiveness for students’ performance improvement. It also shows how effective feedback works in the classroom and strategic choices for feedback implementation. Feedback is presented as an essential tool for improving quality of teaching and education in general. >> Read the article

Abstract In this study, some effective recommendations were established through which pupils' cultural competence can be developed. We started from the premise that developing pupils' ability to live with others facilitates the accelerated development of pupils' cultural competence. Therefore, interviews with school principals and online surveys were conducted for parents and teachers to make useful recommendations for teachers and school leaders. From the perspective of the management of educational activities, it is very important to strengthen the relations between the school and the members of the community. Also, the Erasmus+ and eTwinning projects play an extremely important role in the development of pupils' cultural competence. The study revealed the impact and benefits of establishing active partnerships between educational institutions and members of the local or international community. It is also recommended to develop educational projects through which pupils can come into contact with community members to better understand the historical past and cultural heritage of their country. The study is useful for school leaders and teachers interested in developing pupils' cultural competence. >> Read the article

Abstract The purpose of ecological education (EE), in addition to promoting understanding of environmental issues and the motivation to deal with them, is to ensure that preschoolers understand that humans are part of the biosphere and that they have the ability to impact its functionality in various levels. Kindergarten teachers are important agents of change in terms of creating opportunities for children to experience and internalise values based on ecological education. The objective of this study is to investigate teachers' perceptions of the EE programs in preschoolers, i.e. activities focusing on the direction of developing environmentally friendly behaviors and attitudes in children. Focus group methodological approach was used to collect the reflections of five kindergarten teachers in Romania. The focus group was guided by specific questions. Group members were convened online, being informed that the entire meeting would be recorded and that the data would be confidential and used strictly for research purposes Following the thematic qualitative analysis of the transcript, the idenitified themes indicate that teachers expressed openness and readiness to implement ecological educational activities in their own classes with the aim of fostering a friendly behavior of children with the environment. >> Read the article

Abstract Literature review shows an increasing interest in investigating the impact that social media and the use of video games have on typically developed children and adolescents, as the number of users has grown significantly, social media being the most popular activity engaged in by individuals online. This situation along with some inappropriate behaviors the users display as a consequence of a long exposure to different online contents, determined the inclusion of a psychiatric disorder of gaming addiction in reference manuals related to mental health. Nevertheless, the number of studies regarding children with disabilities and their engagement in online activities, including social media and video games is significantly smaller. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between the use of social media and the occurrence of disruptive behaviors in students with special educational requirements, aged between 11 and 17 years old, according to the data collected from teachers, parents and relatives. >> Read the article

Abstract The present research aims to investigate the impact of satisfaction with learning, risk-taking behavior, impulsive buying behavior, attitudes, and openness toward adopting new applications, on 296 respondents. The study's results allows the significant highlighting of the relationship between satisfaction with learning and attitudes toward digital applications. Individuals exhibiting higher satisfaction with their learning experiences tended to display a slightly more favourable attitude towards adopting applications. Linear regression analyses revealed significant predictive factors, underscoring the influence of individual characteristics on attitudes and openness towards applications. Of particular importance were impulsive behaviour and satisfaction with learning, which emerged as consistent predictors, emphasizing the role of personal traits and experiences in shaping perceptions of digital applications. The findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge and hold implications for educational strategies, consumer behaviour, and technology adoption. >> Read the article

Abstract The widespread use of the internet has led to a growing concern about the impact of internet addiction on pre-service Mathematics teachers' learning. This paper investigates the impacts of internet addiction on the learning and professional development of pre-service Mathematics teachers. The population covers the undergraduate Mathematics education students from public universities in south-west Nigeria. The sample was randomly selected from 100 to 400 levels while the sample size was 200 pre-service teachers across the levels from one selected university. A well-structured questionnaire was used to get data from pre-service Mathematics teachers on internet addiction. This study employed a descriptive and inferential research design to create responses to the research questions. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for the two research questions while Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the hypothesis raised. There is a significant relationship between internet addiction and Mathematics learning. This yields a positive result that, the students who access the internet more frequently learn more effectively and highly motivated in learning Mathematics. It was suggested that the internet can be a useful tool for learning but must be used responsibly. However, addressing internet addiction through education, prevention, and intervention efforts should be integrated into the teacher education program to support pre-service mathematics teachers in developing healthy internet use habits and maintaining high levels of motivation to learn. >> Read the article

Abstract In education, student involvement in writing activities is crucial for enhancing their learning experience and developing multiple competences. The development of any national curriculum within Europe is based on the indispensable competences required for lifelong learning as outlined in the European Parliament’s Reference Framework. In response to the changing landscape of education, the Romanian national curriculum has undergone revisions that currently prioritise a competence-based approach to teaching writing. This approach aims to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively communicate through writing, enabling them to express their ideas and thoughts clearly and concisely. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that there has been a lack of research conducted to assess the efficacy of the didactic resources and materials developed to facilitate these educational goals. This study uses corpus linguistics methodologies to examine the correlation between the content of textbooks used for writing tasks in primary education, secondary education, and high schools and the pedagogical skills they aim to develop. For this purpose, we have constructed a preliminary textbook corpus called ROTEX, which consists of online materials, specifically Romanian language and communication textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education. The corpus includes three datasets, one for each educational level (4th grade, 8th grade, and 12th grade). Our analysis uses writing tasks to identify linguistic and thematic complexity patterns. This approach allows us to determine the competences that are effectively enhanced at each educational level. Our conclusions are backed up by quantitative linguistic evidence, which provides valuable insights into the dominant competences fostered within the educational framework. >> Read the article

Abstract Based on a methodological framework structured on quantitative and qualitative analysis methods pursuing a systematic literature review and literature collection design, following the steps proposed by Pickering and Byrne (2014), this study is focused on the analysis of imagined futures of higher education in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Our study aims to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the imagined future of higher education in the age of artificial intelligence? (2) What are the factors influencing the connection between higher education teaching process and artificial intelligence? (3)What are the effects of students and teachers improving databases and developing ChatGPT? The authors explore the impact of AI in the context of current governance arrangements and ethos of universities in the Western world. The in-depth analysis is aligned with some identified major challenges, opportunities and risks associated with the emergence of artificial intelligence systems, such as technological surveillance or the general access to AI and Large language Models such as ChatGPT in academia and constructs the argument for an informed selection and use of artificial intelligence solutions for learning and teaching in higher education. The analytical framework adopted for this research study is also used to summarise new directions for research in this field to restore the agency of universities, for quality enhancement of higher learning for students, academics and the common good. >> Read the article

Abstract The Sonic Pi app has been available since 2013, the main purpose for which it was developed being to make teaching programming accessible to students as young as 10 years old. The present study traces the impact of the academic literature on the educational use of Sonic Pi during the first 10 years its availability, conducting a literature review based on the querying of 3 databases. During the search, there were identified 18 relevant, 4 theoretical and 14 research articles. It was found that the theoretical articles put forward a series of assumptions that come with the premise of improving the teaching-learning process, through an interdisciplinary openness of the didactic act, making contents accessible, offering a positive experience with a first programming language, as well as achieving funny activities and products. These aspects were correlated with the results of the research articles selected for analysis. The amount of work published on this topic, even if it is not large, remains unchanged in relation to the time variable and recommends the use of Sonic Pi in education as a suitable tool for working on creativity through a programming language, including young ages, because playing with codes and sounds respects a child's right: the right to play. >> Read the article

Abstract The field of advertising has been increasingly using psychological concepts to push consumers towards buying and changing their attitudes about the product and even about the whole brand. Accordingly, using emotions as a tool for persuasion and raising behavioural intention should be discussed from a psychological point of view. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an extensive explanation and an experimental proposal for the relationship between three distinct negative emotions and behavioural intention in the context of video advertising. The main advertising concept that we have discussed is the awareness of advertising campaigns, specifically ones on the topic of climate change. In addition, to increase the specificity of the information presented, we analysed several emotions individually: fear, guilt and anger, and their potential of inducing behavioural intention. The three negative distinct emotions were chosen specifically because of the motivational factor that they include, if used in certain conditions, they induce a drive for action, a want for behavioural change - which is preferable in awareness campaigns. We have also discussed some technical details that can be considered important when creating emotional appeals - especially anger, fear or guilt inducing. This paper also offers future directions and represents a guideline for creating emotion inducing advertisements. On top of that, it represents proof that the field of advertising can benefit from research in the psychological field, and that publicity can be used not only as a means for persuading consumers, but also shifting behaviours towards sustainability. >> Read the article

Abstract There is considerable empirical support for the study of factors that positively or negatively influence academic performance, including achievement goal orientation and fear of failure. According to research, fear of failure can, in some situations, threaten students' academic performance by affecting their engagement in learning activities. If remedial action is not taken to reduce it, this can affect students academic future. At the same time, earlier research has indicated that fear of failure influences thenature of achievement goals that students pursue. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of studies that have explored the connection interplay between learning goal orientation, the fear of failure, and academic achievement. Based on data from 120 university students, we conducted correlational analyses to test the relationships between achievement goal orientation, fear of failure and academic performance. The findings showed significant correlations between fear of failure and mastery-avoidance goal, as well as between students' academic performance. Pedagogical implications and future research directions were discussed. >> Read the article

Abstract Education needs to reshape the individual's role in the societies of the future. In an unknown world of different technologies, job requirements, and societal structures, the current education systems may not be sufficient to equip young generations with the competences needed to succeed and thrive in the world they will inhabit as adults. In order to develop the skills needed for the future, learners should have access to an education that emphasizes both the importance of hard skills and life skills in a close relationship and interdependence. Built upon the impact of teachers’ belief system on educational practice and using an inductive approach, our study aims to investigate perceptions and experiences of high-school teachers and professors from different faculties regarding life skills. Our foci were on the perceptions of life skills needed in education, barriers and effective practices related to life skills development and educators’ life skills. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 7 professors from 3 universities and 13 teachers from 13 high-schools in Romania. The findings from the thematic analysis revealed three main themes emerging from participants' responses: “the conceptualization and impact of life skills”, “educating life skills”, “teachers’ and professors’ life-skills in action”. Practical implications and recommendations are discussed. >> Read the article