This study focuses on the influence of particular teaching strategies that can be used in Environmental Education (EE) and examines how specific methods influence knowledge retention and attitude change. The aim of the study is to compare the 'traditional' lecture style method where learners are passive, with cooperative learning to determine their influence on learners’ knowledge retention and attitude towards marine conservation. Both methods can be considered effective teaching methods to increase knowledge retention and induce a positive change in environmental attitudes. However, this study suggests that the teaching method used in a particular school could influence the learning outcomes of the EE programme because of pre-existing abilities, skills the learners may have and context to which the learners are exposed. In conclusion, when offering an EE programme, for the programme to be successful one would need to determine which method of teaching is practised within schools and then ensure that the same method is used. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Environmental Education))

This study attempted to design and implement an intervention programme to improve the self-concepts and attitudes of prospective primary school teachers. The possible effects of the programme were researched by means of a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. A questionnaire to determine the effectiveness of the programme was also designed. Important findings of this study are that: (a) the Cronbach Alpha Coefficient indicated a 0,9 reliability of the designed questionnaire; (b) the average self-concepts of prospective teachers improved after the intervention programme was implemented, though not significantly and (c) the self-concepts of prospective teachers not majoring in Mathematics also improved after the intervention, though not significantly. A focus group interview was conducted to improve the intervention programme. On the basis of the responses of the participants in the focus group interview as well as of the quantitative study and of the literature reviewed, an improved version of the intervention programme was designed. According to the research, the programme should include: cooperative learning; everyday life contexts; manipulatives; hands-on activities, encouraging the asking of questions; a positive relationship between lecturer and student; writing assignments before doing a new topic; content relevance; a positive communication of assessment; games; various approaches to solving problems; understandable language; gender sensitivity and positive role modeling. The intervention programme implemented in this study was tested over a period of three months; hence the recommendation in this research for the replication thereof over a longer period. The study further recommends that since the study was conducted in one college of education only, there is a need for it to be conducted in a number of colleges, in order to elicit a broader and more representative picture of the impact of the intervention programme. The findings of this study advocate the need to combine both quantitative and qualitative research in studies: the results of the quantitative research did not conclusively indicate a positive impact of the intervention programme. However, the qualitative research saw respondents expressing improved confidence and attitudes. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Recent research has elucidated the sustained benefits of early mathematics instruction. With growing concern about the performance of South Africa’s senior learners in mathematics, it is imperative to look at long-term solutions within the education process. One such solution may be to focus on improved mathematics instruction as early as preprimary school. However, children at this young age are not typically suited to formal teaching. Alternative methods of mathematics instruction must be considered for maximum and effective impact. The study was conducted to test the notion that not all early methods of mathematics instruction are equal. During the empirical research approximately 200 preprimary school children in three different socio-economic environments (urban higher SES, township and rural) were tested after experiencing a teacher-guided play-based mathematics teaching intervention, or after experiencing a worksheet-based or free-flow play-based curriculum. The test performance of the participants was primarily compared to find relations between teaching methods and early mathematics performance. The study found that a teacher-guided play-based curriculum is superior to other curriculums in the instruction of mathematics in all educational settings, regardless of socioeconomic background. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

(in English): This thesis deals with the issues of teaching listening in Czech as a foreign language. It is based on studying theoretic sources, structured observing and the comparison of didactic materials, on questionnaires and informal interviews. In its theoretical part, it brings a brief overview of present knowledge in this field, using predominantly foreign sources that deal with teaching English as a foreign language. The second part enables the comparison of various didactic materials from the points of view acquired in the previous chapter, and it also provides an overview of the typology of listening tasks, including their evaluation. The last chapter designs some new sample materials based on what has been found out about their imperfections in this field so far, and it also mentions some suitable resources for designing the new listening tasks. The merit of this thesis on the theoretical level consists of making the main results of contemporary Anglo-American science accessible for the Czech auditory, on the practical level it lies in presenting an overall list of listening tasks and showing (in the Czech materials) some so far unknown possibilities of teaching the listening comprehension, these alternatives being accompanied with practical examples.

The main objective of the thesies is to compare a frontal teaching method and teaching by simulation. Two comparable groups of students were taught the same topic by the two methods. The topic was focused on an uneven world development. Following assumptions were set. Simulation is a more attractive teaching form, therefore it can help to raise the motivation of students. Frontal method is capable of transmitting more information. Simulation, however, can have bigger impact on students' values. The impact of simulation has a long-term impact in comparison to frontal teaching. These assumptions were confirmed by qualitative and quantitative methods.

This diploma thesis, which has a descriptive and analytical feature, comprises a determination of emotional disorders with their various manifestations and symptoms. I also described social consequences of a neurotic child because they are neurotic children's crucial factor having significant consequences in the process of education. I also analysed the omitted topic of emotional intelligence, which has been studied in the field of science recently. The crucial part of the diploma thesis includes the analysis of a neurotic child motivation within the process of education and the adequate pedagogical and educational attitudes which involve specific treatments. Regarding the basic part of child's emotional life consists of upbringing within a particular family, it precedes not only the period of school education but also it forms its core and is a natural continuance of the prenatal period. The end of the diploma thesis comprises a description and analysis of a large variety of therapeutic options and alternative ways of treating emotional disorders. Nowadays it is possible to treat emotional disorders effectively even without a pharmacological therapy and their correction can be rather permanent. CRUCIAL VOCABULARY: emotional disorders/defects anxiety tension self-concept family upbringing family...

This master thesis deals with history teaching from 1948 up to 1970. The main focus is not put on the way how the teaching looked really like, but it deals with the teaching methods how history should be taught. The major sources are journals of education for history teaching, mostly Dějepis ve škole and the preceding and following journals. The basic question is whether the magazines could have really helped the teachers in terms of teaching methodology and what was this support like. In the first chapter the history of education is described, the second chapter deals with the journals of education for history teaching. Next is described how a lesson should look like, the whole-class presentation, examination, revision, using a textbook. Special chapter deals with various tools for history teaching, including maps, images, audiovisual aids and literature. Moreover there is covered regional history, excursions, cooperation with museums and archives. In the end the basic question is answered; the journals were able to help the teachers well, many interesting and inspiring articles were in them. Nowadays, the problems of history teaching are almost the same, the have not been solved yet. Furthermore in the end are discussed special methodological debates in the half-public space that were present in...

The thesis is concerned with the application of Feuerstein's theory of mediated learning experience to teaching in the first year of primary school. It summarises basic information about Feuerstein's work, the theories of mediated learning experience and structural cognitive modifiability. It also deals with the application of mediated learning experience to teaching in the first year of primary school. In this respect, it characterises the period of early school age and the role of the teacher. The central theme of the work, the theory of mediated learning experience, is an approach targeted at the process and structure of thought. The application of this theory is aimed at the individual's general cognitive development, especially the development of the thinking process. The principal goal of the thesis is to introduce the possibilities of applying the theory of mediated learning to teaching in school and thus contribute to the spread of this methodology only recently introduced to the Czech Republic, which can be considered a helpful and meaningful way to enrich teaching and support the children's cognitive development.

The diploma thesis focuses on teaching grammar in the context of in-company language courses. What needs to be taken into consideration are both the psychological aspects of adult learners and the sociological characteristics of a typical course participant, their position of a client which is connected to high expectations of the service provided - language tuition. The role of the teacher in an in-company course is much less authoritative than in a traditional course and teachers become rather partners or coaches for the learners. The pedagogical research conducted among 172 Czech in-company learners with the help of an electronic questionnaire shows that the main aim of in-company students is to be able to communicate efficiently in real-life situations from their private and working lives. It is the role of the teacher, or the coursebook author, to choose which grammar structures are necessary to succeed in the respective situations. Therefore, the most suitable method for teaching grammar in the context of in-company courses is the Engage, Study, Activate method combined with the eclectic method.

Den svenska gymnasieskolans läroplan understryker att undervisning ska ge elever de väsentliga insikter som krävs för att förstå hur de själva kan främja en hållbar utveckling (Skolverket 2011: 7). Denna litteraturstudie syftar huvudsakligen till att undersöka huruvida implementeringen av utbildning för hållbar utveckling har främjat elevers förståelse för hållbar utveckling. Ett ytterligare delsyfte är att analysera deliberativa samtal som undervisningsmetod kopplat till hållbar utveckling. Syftet besvaras genom två preciserade frågeställningar. De vetenskapliga artiklar som används i denna studie riktar sig i synnerhet mot den svenska gymnasieskolans verksamhet och all insamlad data har analyserats genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Uppsatsen utgår ifrån teorin om deliberativa samtal som undervisningsmetod men tar också avstamp i den normativa, faktabaserade och pluralistiska lärandetraditionen. Studien visar att implementeringen av utbildning för hållbar utveckling inte har resulterat i att elever signifikant ökat sin förståelse för hållbar utveckling. Denna studie påvisar dock att det deliberativa samtalet kan bidra till elevers förståelse för hållbar utveckling i den bemärkelsen att det ökar elevers kommunikationsförmåga, förståelse för andras perspektiv och engagemang. Vidare visar studien att det deliberativa samtalet uppfyller många kriterier för den pluralistiska undervisningstraditionen. Detta indikerar att metoden kan bidra till en förståelse för hållbar utveckling och att den således kan vara ett alternativ vid undervisning för hållbar utveckling.