“You have betrayed us for a little dirty money!” The Prague Spring as seen by primary school teachers

This study focuses on the everyday operation of primary schools in Czechoslovakia during the so-called Prague Spring and the subsequent communist political clampdown after the invasion by the Warsaw Pact forces. The authors focus primarily on the experiences of teachers, how events in this complex period affected their professional lives, and how the renewal of totalitarian power was reflected in their work. The research is based on oral history as a method which enabled us to acquire unique knowledge concerning the work and life of teachers in the period under study. Findings from extensive archival research are also an important part of the research. These show that during the Prague Spring, as in Czechoslovak society as a whole, the socio-political climate in primary schools relaxed and communist power weakened, as reflected both in school operation and in-class instruction. After the Warsaw Pact invasion in August 1968, the regime became stricter again in schools and elsewhere (similar to before the onset of the Prague Spring). This was manifested especially in the constant control of teachers’ activities during the Prague Spring, in their persecution, and through the increasing emphasis on ideological aspects of teacher training and pupil formation through instruction.     

THE RIGIDLY STRUCTURED CURRICULUM: AN OBSTACLE TO STUDENT MOBILITY

The mobility of students, especially their ability to move from one university to another without having to take extra time to obtain an academic degree, is greatly hindered if the curricula in the parent institution are rigidly structured and contain a predefined schedule for all courses or for the large majority of them.     

INTER‐UNIVERSITY UNKAGES VIA COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURES

The need for closer co‐operation among academic environments in Yugoslavia can be satisfied by making use of the services of the Yugoslav System for Scientific and Technological Information (SNTIJ). The establishment of the YUNET network and of the non‐profit organization, YUNAC, will permit the linking of Yugoslav networks, with international ones. Thus, the gap between the developed world and Yugoslavia will be bridged, and users will be able to gain access to databases in Yugoslavia and abroad, as well as being able to participate in the creation of new knowledge.     

‘Culture of Religion’ – a controversial secular school subject

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the context, emergence, organisation and curriculum of the school subject known as ‘Culture of Religions’ (Kultura religija), which is given as an example of good practice in the Toledo Guiding Principles of the OSCE. It was designed, piloted and to a certain extent introduced in state schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina by a collaboration of international organisations and institutions, together with representatives from various local organisations. This paper addresses the challenges and opportunities that render this school subject not only highly relevant but also a controversial issue of education policy today.     

Algebraic criteria for positive realness relative to the unit circle

A purely algebraic algorithm is developed for testing positive real character of real rational functions and matrices relative to the unit circle in the complex plane. Since the algorithm is entirely recursive and is performed in a finite number of steps, it is suitable for machine computations.     

The effectiveness of virtual and augmented reality in health sciences and medical anatomy

Although cadavers constitute the gold standard for teaching anatomy to medical and health science students, there are substantial financial, ethical, and supervisory constraints on their use. In addition, although anatomy remains one of the fundamental areas of medical education, universities have decreased the hours allocated to teaching gross anatomy in favor of applied clinical work. The release of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices allows learning to occur through hands‐on immersive experiences. The aim of this research was to assess whether learning structural anatomy utilizing VR or AR is as effective as tablet‐based (TB) applications, and whether these modes allowed enhanced student learning, engagement and performance. Participants (n = 59) were randomly allocated to one of the three learning modes: VR, AR, or TB and completed a lesson on skull anatomy, after which they completed an anatomical knowledge assessment. Student perceptions of each learning mode and any adverse effects experienced were recorded. No significant differences were found between mean assessment scores in VR, AR, or TB. During the lessons however, VR participants were more likely to exhibit adverse effects such as headaches (25% in VR P < 0.05), dizziness (40% in VR, P < 0.001), or blurred vision (35% in VR, P < 0.01). Both VR and AR are as valuable for teaching anatomy as tablet devices, but also promote intrinsic benefits such as increased learner immersion and engagement. These outcomes show great promise for the effective use of virtual and augmented reality as means to supplement lesson content in anatomical education. Anat Sci Educ 10: 549–559. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

STUDY ON LATVIAN MATHEMATICS TEACHERS’ ESPOUSED BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND REPORTED PRACTICES

The aim of the research was to compare espoused beliefs about teaching and learning and reported practices for the teachers of mathematics in Latvia. The sample consisted of 390 teachers of mathematics from different regions of Latvia. The present research is a part of an international comparative research within the NorBa project (Nordic–Baltic Comparative Research in Mathematics Education) that makes use of a quantitative questionnaire for mathematics teachers. The results show that the espoused beliefs of Latvian teachers of mathematics on efficient teaching tend more to a constructivist approach, whilst reported practices are more oriented to a traditional approach; yet, there exist statistically significant differences for teachers of different social and demographical groups. The research outcomes may be used for the improvement of teacher further education programmes.     

Aerodynamic behaviour of single sport jersey fabrics with different roughness and cover factors

Wind tunnel testing has been carried out on nine-knitted single jersey fabrics (100% polyester) using cylinder and leg models to determine its aerodynamic behaviour over a range of speeds (20–80 km/h) representative of sports activities. Strong correlation between fabric manufacturing (cover factor) and fabric roughness and aerodynamic parameters has been established. Similar aerodynamic behaviour of fabrics was observed when tested on the cylinder model and on the leg model.