bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Identification and Promotion of Student Teachers’ Character Strengths in Their Professional Development
Authors: Gradišek Polona
Published: April 2023

Character strengths, defined as positive personality traits that are morally valued, are an important research topic in the field of positive psychology. In this study, 130 first-year student teachers participated in an online workshop, designed by the author, on identifying and promoting character strengths. Prior to the workshop, the students completed the VIA-IS survey on character strengths. After the workshop, they answered two open-ended questions for reflecting on the process of identification and promotion of their character strengths in relation to their personal and professional development. The students had the highest scores on the character strengths of Fairness, Kindness, Teamwork, Leadership, and Gratitude, and the lowest on Bravery, Self-regulation and Love of learning. The results of the qualitative analysis showed that the participants would most use Kindness, Fairness, Love, Teamwork and Humour in their future work, while they wished to further develop their Creativity, Perseverance, Courage and Selfregulation. The role of identification and promotion of student teachers’ character strengths in their professional development and the professional identity formation is then discussed.
Development of Primary School Teachers’ Competences in Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle and Well-Being in Children Aged 6 to 12
Authors: Zurc Joca , Laaksonen Camilla
Published: April 2023

Primary school teachers are one of the largest professional groups in education. Their competences cover a wide range of knowledge, abilities, and skills. However, the curricula for teacher education rarely contain topics related to children’s health and lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into the role of primary school teachers in supporting a healthy lifestyle and the well-being of children. A systematic literature review with meta-analysis was implemented on a sample of N = 37 studies. The results showed that teachers have a significant role in strengthening physical and mental health in schoolchildren aged between 6 to 12. School-based mental health promotion programs were statistically significantly more often implemented by primary school teachers undergoing special training for program implementation (p = .025). In their early school years, children are susceptible to establishing a longterm healthy lifestyle. Hence, the development of health promotion competences should be a priority in the curriculum of teacher education.
Management of an Educational Institution – The Principal’s Perspective
Authors: Valjan Vukić Violeta , Gulin Maja
Published: April 2023

The theoretical starting point of this paper are the competences and key tasks of the directors of institutions for early and preschool education. The development of many different professional competences is necessary when dealing with the complicated tasks of a principal. This paper presents the results of research conducted on a sample of principals from institutions for early and preschool education, municipal and privately funded, from the Šibenik-Knin and Zadar counties, relating to the assessment of competences and prescribed key tasks in the management of the institutions. Respondents assessed all competences as extremely important for the quality implementation of the process of leading and managing an institution for early and preschool education. The results showed that the respondents assessed most of the key tasks aimed at the organisation of educational work, as well as tasks and activities aimed at employees, parents and the community, as significant in the performance of their work. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to insist on new forms of education for principals of early and preschool educational institutions, where with the help of various examples, indicators and concrete situations from practice, principals will gain the necessary dose of new knowledge and competences for better management.
Changes in the Conditions of Pre-School Education in the Czech Republic in Relation to the Pandemic
Authors: Burkovičová Radmila , Fodorová Karin , Cocca Michaela
Published: April 2023

The study aimed at identifying the changes in the educational conditions of pre-school children in kindergartens in the Czech Republic in relation to the coronavirus pandemic and finding out the educational experiences gained as a result of the changed conditions. A standardized open-ended interview was used in the study. The sample consisted of 17 pedagogical staff and was selected based on convenience. The findings identified 1) changes in the distance education of pre-school children in kindergartens in the following areas: the form of education; its rules; the availability of digital technology; its ease and implementation; cooperation with parents; children’s participation; the objectives and content, and their implementation in activities; the evaluation of teachers’ activities with children; the evaluation of the form of education; and 2) the pedagogical workers’ experience with pre-school distance education in the mentioned areas. The discussion focused on the rules of distance education of pre-school children and the availability of digital technology.
The Modern Challenges of Teamwork in Kindergarten
Authors: Hmelak Maja , Vučak Karin , Bratina Tomaž
Published: April 2023

The article discusses teamwork as an important segment of quality educational work in kindergartens. In modern society, full of everyday challenges and many innovations, team (co)operation with the aim of quality educational work is essential. The theoretical part presents teamwork and tandem work in all dimensions, i.e., how they are formed, the problems that occur within the above, and members’ roles. The study on teamwork was conducted among educators and assistant educators in kindergartens in Pomurje and Austrian Styria. The authors investigated the factors that lead to team formation, the frequency of various causes of team inefficiency or inefficiency in the implementation of activities within the teamwork, as well as possible conflicts and reasons for their emergence. The authors were interested in how a team is formed and the possible problems in its operation, with an emphasis on the comparison between the work in Slovenia and the work in Austria. The study showed that the differences between Pomurje and Austrian Styria lie mainly in the concept of the tandem itself and the reasons for forming a team.
Competence Development in Early Childhood Education: Task-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning in Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republi
Authors: Loudová Stralczynská Barbora , Koželuhová Eva , Licardo Marta , Jurgec Ana Tina , Golob Nika , Šinko Sabina , Vargová Mária , Huľová Zlatica , Benyak Jozef , Antolin Drešar Darja
Published: April 2023

The paper focuses on the development of teachers’ competences in pre-primary education in Task-based Learning (TBL) and Project-based Learning (PBL). It presents the objectives and first results of the Learning by Doing – Attainment of Basic Competences in ECEC project supported by the ERASMUS+ Programme. The project aims to support the theoretical basis of TBL and PBL and their implementation in pre-schools in Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The paper presents theoretical backgrounds and the analysis of data obtained in the pilot, which focused on pre-school teachers’ existing experience in TBL and PBL. The study shows that verbal and demonstration methods still predominate in the practice of teachers from the research sample. The PBL method was mostly used by Slovenian teachers, and many respondents showed a misunderstanding of the basis of both methods and their use. Some of the obstacles mentioned were the insufficient expertise of teachers, size and diversity of the classes, material conditions, and lack of time.
Professional Development in Teaching Students with Special Educational Needs in France, Germany, Denmark, and Scotland
Authors: Vukelić Davor , Kušić Siniša , Zovko Anita
Published: April 2023

Contemporary teaching, among other things, emphasises the importance of inclusive education for students with special educational needs (SEN). The prerequisite for promoting inclusive teaching is an adequately trained teacher. The aim of this paper is to present and analyse the teacher professional development systems and programs for working with students with SEN. France, Germany, Denmark, and Scotland were sample countries selected for the analysis, all of which have high-quality SEN teacher training systems. The analysis identified certain similarities regarding legislation, decentralisation of in-service teacher training systems, heterogeneous platforms, program types, program content, program holders, lecturers, forms of teaching, teaching methods, and formalisation of in-service training certification for teachers. Based on the analysis results, it is necessary to consider possibilities for implementation of the identified examples of good practice from the sample countries in Croatia, considering the contextual factors.
Structure as an Element of Effective Learning
Authors: Rajšp Monika
Published: April 2023

For children, structure is safety. To achieve optimum functioning and progress, the quantity and types of structuring need to be adapted to an individual’s needs. While implementing the TEACCH method, elements of arranging the working environment, activity systems, visually structured tasks, and visual timetables were introduced. The study was based on a random research sample – a heterogenous group of preschool children with special needs, included in the special needs program, who have speech and language disorders of varying intensity and associated deficiencies (mental disability, autism, long-term illness, mobile impairment). To carry out the study, a qualitative method of pedagogical research was used – a case study. Prior to the implementation of the TEACCH method, a descriptive evaluation of the children’s functioning in various areas (flexibility, anxiety, social skills, communication and independence) was done with the help of assessment criteria. After three months of actively using the TEACCH method, another evaluation was done, which confirmed the system’s positive effects. The author noted that the observed children experienced progress in all five key areas. The biggest improvement was seen in their adjustment capabilities, the smallest in coping with anxiety. The implementation of structured teaching in the department turned out as successful and effective.
Evaluating the Use of the EGIFT Program in Pre-Service Teacher Educatio
Authors: Podlogar Neža , Žerak Urška , Juriševič Mojca
Published: April 2023

Teacher education in giftedness and teaching gifted students is crucial, as teachers are key to supporting gifted students in school. The European Gifted Education Training (EGIFT) online educational resource provides learning experiences aimed at improving professional competence in gifted education. For the present study, EGIFT was evaluated in the framework of the Gifted students in school elective course for 34 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ljubljana. The students generally reported having positive experiences with EGIFT, indicating that the contents were informative and interesting. They proposed different ideas about how its contents could be used in teaching practice. The main suggestions for improvement were equalizing the difficulty of questions in quizzes, the use of the Slovene language for better understanding, and more interactive videos. Overall, the evaluation revealed that EGIFT is a suitable enrichment tool in the curriculum of gifted education for preservice teachers. It is particularly useful in remote learning settings and for individual study.
The Association Between Career Anxiety and Life Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of a Fixed Mindset
Authors: Kranjec Eva , Tekavc Janja
Published: April 2023

Research suggests that teacher students are at particular risk for experiencing career anxiety compared to other professions (Daniels et al., 2006). The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of career anxiety in students in their final years of studies and the moderating role of a fixed mindset in the relationship between career anxiety and life satisfaction. The study examined 192 students in their final years of the Preschool Education and Primary Teacher Education study programs. Besides basic demographic information, the mindset questionnaire, the career anxiety scale, the SWLS life satisfaction questionnaire, and the STAI-X2 anxiety scale were used to obtain the data. The findings showed that the majority of students reported being satisfied with their life and that higher life satisfaction was positively connected with less trait anxiety and career anxiety, as well as a less fixed mindset. Furthermore, the results showed that a fixed mindset was an important moderator of the relationship between career anxiety and life satisfaction in future preschool and primary education teachers. Based on the obtained results, their implications were summarised for teacher education programs and counselling at university career centres.
In between Sports and Study: Getting to Know Student Athletes Better
Authors: Tekavc Janja
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore adolescent athletes’ perceptions of demands, challenges, and adversities they face in their combination of sports and study. The holistic athletic career model (Wylleman, Reints, De Knop, 2013) was used as a theoretical framework. 22 talented adolescent male and female athletes participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss their perceived demands and challenges in their combination of sport and study. Participants expressed their strong commitment to both, sports and education. In comparison with male athletes, female adolescent athletes expressed a greater level of dissatisfaction with their athletic work, strong educational motivation together with highly perceived school-induced stress. Peers (schoolmates, teammates, non-athletic friends) were identified as very influential for young athletes, serving as a source of both, positive as well as negative experiences. Study findings support taking a holistic approach when educating and working with adolescent athletes.
A New Digital Approach to Teaching and Developing Language Skills
Authors: Aladrović Slovaček Katarina , Rimac Jurinović Maša
Published: April 2023

Language is an abstract system of signs manifested through the language activities of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Encouraging development of all four language skills is one of the goals of Croatian language (mother tongue) classes at the Faculty of Teacher Education. Since the coronavirus pandemic has affected two school and academic years and caused the transition to online classes at faculties, teachers are facing the challenge of transferring knowledge to students and motivating them to actively take part in developing language skills in a virtual environment, especially the skills of active listening and speaking. Communication with students is made possible using digital tools, but they are less adequate for assessment and monitoring students’ progress. Therefore, a study was conducted via online questionnaire on students’ satisfaction with online classes, comparing online and physical classes, students’ media consumption, reading habits and their use of free time. The results showed that the students were satisfied with online classes, but they preferred face-to-face classes, and they thought that online classes should be more creative and more interactive.
Attitudes of Slovene Fourth-Grade Elementary School Students about Teaching and Learning a Foreign Language with the Support of Information and Communication Technology
Authors: Smajla Tilen
Published: April 2023

The paper presents the results of quantitative research into the attitudes of young Slovenian foreign language learners towards the learning of a foreign language with the help of information and communication technology (hereinafter ICT). Seven elementary schools agreed to participate, forming a 406- strong sample of 2nd to 4th graders. The students were specifically asked whether they used ICT during their English lessons and for homework. The results show that in the case of gender, the chi square test results showed a statistically significant difference in attitudes towards the use of mobile phones during English lessons and during homework. In the case of class, the regression showed a strong predictor for statistically significant difference. The results should encourage language teachers and policy-makers alike to adjust their teaching methods appropriately and allow for an aimed use of ICT in foreign language class.
The Views and Perceived Experiences of Prospective Primary and Subject Teachers on Forced Remote Education During the Second COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Dolenc Kosta , Ploj Virtič Mateja , Šorgo Andrej
Published: April 2023

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, university students and teachers had to adapt to distance learning during the closures. To better understand the student experience during the second closure, a study was conducted at the University of Maribor, Slovenia. The study aimed to analyze the views and experiences of 244 prospective primary and secondary teachers from three faculties. The study found that students had a higher workload during the closure, resulting in a preference for synchronous forms of online education over asynchronous ones. Despite this, students generally had positive experiences with their teachers, except for lack of spontaneous discussions. They also missed the social interactions with their classmates, which highlights the importance of the social dimension of education. Additionally, students were expected to participate in domestic activities, which could have mixed impacts on their educational outcomes. In summary, the student experiences with online distance learning were mixed, positively impacting quality of life but not necessarily on the quality of schooling. The findings can serve as a guide for organizing study programs or courses for prospective teachers in online distance education.
Supporting the Development of Technical Creativity Among Elementary Education Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Dolenc Kosta , Fošnarič Samo
Published: April 2023

The lockdown and the following closure of the University of Maribor created unequal working conditions among both students and staff in those areas of study where much emphasis is placed on practical work. In the Didactics of Science and Technics II course, the content of the course was adapted and designed to focus on technical creativity and monthly project activities instead of prefabricated exercises and products. The exercises consisted of four monthly projects, where students produced various products and reported and presented their results at the end of each project. An evaluation questionnaire was distributed to all participants in the course. The questionnaire was completed by 57 of the total 88 students. The results of the study show that the design of the course, based on technical creativity, fully met and exceeded the expectations of the students and, most importantly, compensated for inequalities and enabled each individual to successfully fulfil the course obligations.
Analysis of Pictorial Material in Textbooks for Environmental Studies and Social Studies
Authors: Jančič Hegediš Polona , Kidrič Vanesa , Lazički Barbara , Hus Vlasta
Published: April 2023

A textbook is a learning tool designed for students throughout the learning process. Pictorial material can significantly affect the quality of a textbook and is of great importance in textbooks. The purpose of the study was to examine the quality of pictorial material in textbooks for the subject of environmental studies in the first three grades of primary school and social studies in the fourth and fifth grades of primary school. The pictorial material in the textbooks was analysed according to the set criteria. It was established that the ratio between text and pictorial material in the textbooks was not appropriate in all publishers. The quality of the pictorial material also varied depending on the grade. In all analysed textbooks, photographs presented the largest part of the pictorial material. The pictorial material contributed the most to improving the understanding of the content in the textbooks for the third grade
Identifying Scientific and Non-Scientific Claims in the Natural Sciences
Authors: Golob Nika , Avguštin Polona
Published: April 2023

The purpose of the research was to establish whether elementary school students differentiate between scientific and non-scientific claims and whether the use of scientific criteria is effective. The study was carried out on 31 eighth and ninth graders from one primary school in Slovenia. Each student had to take a test consisting of ten claims that they had to classify as scientific or non-scientific at their own judgement. The test was followed by a discussion in which six scientific criteria were defined that the students had to use to classify ten other claims as scientific or non-scientific. The results show that there are no statistically significant differences in test performance between eighth and ninth graders and between tests. After a discussion with students, they were found to have many misconceptions. These were successfully overcome by having students express their own opinions and ideas to better understand science and develop the critical thinking needed in adult society
Arts and Cultural Education in Kindergartens and Elementary Schools in Slovenia
Authors: Denac Olga , Sicherl Kafol Barbara , Žnidaršič Jerneja
Published: April 2023

The study, involving Slovenian preschool teachers in kindergartens and teachers in elementary schools, focused on the assessment of preschool and elementary school teachers on the importance of different values for the life of an individual and society, and the teachers’ opinions on the inclusion of arts and cultural fields and objectives in the educational process. The results show that both preschool and elementary school teachers do not contribute significant meaning to spiritual, cultural and aesthetic values. Preschool teachers believe that when planning the inclusion of arts and cultural fields, performing arts, cultural heritage and musical arts should be given more attention, and the teachers in elementary school believe the focus should be on performing arts, cultural heritage, musical arts, and creating a reading culture. Although preschool and elementary teachers estimate that they often realise the majority of arts and cultural education’s objectives, the results show that they put less focus on the objectives, which impacts the shaping of a relationship towards our own and foreign national cultural heritage.
Sources and Components of Professional Stress from a Teacher’s Perspective
Authors: Ljubetić Maja , Maglica Toni , Grčić Ante
Published: April 2023

The teaching profession is often associated with stress, which has a negative impact on the individual and can have negative consequences on the academic achievements of students. To determine the components of individual sources of occupational stress on a sample of 538 teachers, qualitative methodology was used, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The research problems were as follows: gaining an insight into the components of the experience of stress in relation to individual sources of stress and gaining an insight into teachers’ actual difficulties and their thoughts, which the researchers assumed went beyond the sources of occupational stress in the workplace. Results: the components of individual sources of occupational stress are most often related to students, parents, expert associates and principals, excessive administrative tasks, and to a lack of professional training. The teachers also expressed their dissatisfaction with the social status of their profession and saw it as a significant source of stress.
Inclusion of Artwork in Various Subject Areas
Authors: Batič Janja , Lebar Kac Petra
Published: April 2023

This paper discusses a case study on exploring how works of art could be included in the teaching of various subject areas. The study included a sample of one class of fifth graders and their teacher. One week of lessons was organised in such a way that students discussed works of art before beginning a new unit in various subject areas. A questionnaire was used to obtain data from the students. Data were also obtained through participatory observation. The obtained data show that the implementation of lessons with the inclusion of works of art was very well received by the students, and the conversation about the works of art motivated the students with respect to further activities. At the same time, within a very short period, the students became familiar with many different works of art outside of art class.
Let the Music Speak in Joyful Music Lessons
Authors: Zalar Konstanca
Published: April 2023

Many elementary school teachers enjoy the state of students’ immersion in musical activities. However, researchers claim that a state of complete student engagement is difficult to achieve owing to their lack of experience in playing and creating with musical parameters. The aim of the illustrative case study was to explore future teachers’ awareness of music making. The aim was to find out how they included it in their preparations, how they described it in self-reflections, and how they evaluated it in peer descriptions. The analysis of the data revealed that future teachers planned the implementation of musical content carefully but were less aware of the factors that contribute to the achievement of group flow. The future teachers emphasised a lack of non-verbal communication skills in musical language, and a well-conducted lesson, where everyone was equally involved in achieving a common goal. Additionally, the teacher could perceive students’ ideas, and the group could be focused – all of which are elements of group flow. The study enables the planning of teacher education in a way to provide children with quality acquisition of musical experiences.
Music Lessons in Distance Learning and a Presentation of Musical Objectives in the Affective, Psychomotor and Cognitive Domains
Authors: Kovačič Bojan , Kolmanič Mateja , Lapuh Alja
Published: April 2023

The aim of the study was to determine the distribution of planned music objectives in the affective, psychomotor and cognitive domain in the associated taxonomic categories in the internship of student teachers (full-time students of primary education in the academic year 2019/20). The research sample included 84 third-year undergraduate students who conducted distance music lessons in pairs (n = 42) via video explanation, and 55 first-year Master of Elementary Education students who independently taught distance music lessons (n = 55) at the elementary level during a condensed two-week internship under the supervision of a general education teacher. This study utilised a descriptive method of empirical pedagogical research. Data were obtained by analysing 97 lesson plans. Using a t-test, some statistically significant differences between the two groups of student teachers were found. The conditions that were found and the differences can be attributed to several factors, such as the difference in the amount of acquired musical-professional and didactic competences between the two groups of students, the particularities of distance learning, and the fact that the 3rd year students had their practicum under the guidance of professional didacticians and the master’s students under the guidance of mentors at the elementary school.
Comparison of Education Documents in the National and School Curriculums with a Focus on Music Education in Primary School
Authors: Jurášová Šteigerová Jarmila
Published: April 2023

This article presents the results and interpretations of a study that aimed to compare the National curriculum for music education with the school educational programs and map the modification of the National music education curriculum and its implementation in school educational programs. Ten school educational programs were subjected to a qualitative content analysis and a mutual comparison. The most important finding was that the Thematic Educational Plans continue to be part of the curriculum even though their implementation is optional. The musical competences listed in the National curriculum are followed and developed by the schools through a wide range of musical activities. Varying criteria were used in the evaluation of students based on the school curriculum but all of them comply with the competences required by the National curriculum for music education. Despite a certain freedom in curriculum development, insufficient competence to modify educational standards can be observed among teachers.
Literary Works Including Children with Special Needs
Authors: Vizjak Puškar Nika , Haramija Dragica
Published: April 2023

Owing to their inclusion in the education system, teachers often encounter students with special needs during their work. When working with these students, the teacher’s level of empathy is extremely important, however it is difficult to achieve if they are not familiar with how these students think and feel. One way of becoming acquainted with individuals with special needs is by becoming familiar with their thinking patterns, especially their emotional responses. The paper presents literary sources related to the topic, wherein the sources are evaluated, and the selected works are analysed. Besides the method of analysis (protagonists, supporting characters, literary space, literary time, subject, theme, motifs, narrator, structure, and plot), the descriptive method for presenting theoretical starting points and the method of synthesis in the conclusion are also used.
Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Teaching Methods and the Realized Outcomes of Mother Tongue Teaching During Lockdown
Authors: Krumes Irena , Pongračić Luka , Marinac Ana Maria
Published: April 2023

The past pandemic provoked completely new educational approaches and forced all teachers in the Republic of Croatia to embark on a completely new way of teaching and evaluating students. This paper will highlight the specifics of Croatian language teaching during distance learning in the spring of 2020; from 16 March 2020 until the end of the school year. A questionnaire on distance learning of the Croatian language was conducted (n = 170). A qualitative analysis of the responses and a descriptive analysis of attitudes were performed, and a one-way analysis of ANOVA variance was used for correlations. The ways in which teachers conducted teaching and the methods used to evaluate the achievement of educational outcomes are presented. Furthermore, the teachers expressed their views on whether the students completed learning tasks independently and whether they had contact and good communication with the students and parents. The position on the realization of educational outcomes during online teaching was compared with the similar position during direct teaching in school. The results showed that the teachers were less satisfied with the results achieved during emergency remote teaching, and they were dissatisfied with the level of cooperation with parents and the students’ level of independence.
The Effect of Integration Among 1st Grade Primary School Students on the Writing of Letters and Words
Authors: Ropič Kop Marija , Klar Zadravec Saša
Published: April 2023

The integration of immigrants into the Slovenian school environment is still topical. As a result, some primary schools have significantly more foreign students than others. The inclusion of multicultural students brings mainly difficulties in the knowledge of Slovene and also a lack of literacy. The study examined 190 first grade students. A comparative method was used at the level of describing facts with the aim of discovering similarities and differences in the writing of letters and words in 1st grade students. The first group included more foreign students than the second group. The results of the t-test for independent samples reflected a statistically significant difference between the groups in writing letters and words of varying difficulty. The inclusion of multicultural students influences the teaching of Slovene in the 1st grade and requires the differentiation and individualization of teaching
How Do Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Comics Influence Their Use in Slovene Language Classes?
Authors: Kerneža Maja
Published: April 2023

Teachers’ attitudes towards themes, largely impacted by the individual’s stereotyped perceptions, may have an important impact on the learning environment they consciously or subconsciously form. Comics are such a theme that, even after decades of prejudice, they are still paving their way into the classroom and are still a source of discomfort for some teachers. This quantitatively designed study included 139 participating teachers. The descriptive and non-experimental causal methods of empirical pedagogical research were used to verify the impact of teachers’ attitudes towards stereotypical themes on learning environment formation in terms of teachers’ attitudes towards the use of comics in Slovenian language classes. Variable data were obtained through questionnaires for Slovenian language teachers in primary school, focusing on 17 methods and purposes of using comics in class. Statistically significant differences were present in 11 points. The results showed that using comics in class was not particularly influenced by the teachers’ attitudes towards comics or their fondness of comics, rather it was influenced mostly by a lack of formed relationships towards comics. This work emphasizes the meaning of teacher education and training in all learning and teaching areas, where a greater inclination for forming stereotypical attitudes exists.
Milestones in Teacher Education: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Authors: Zgaga Pavel
Published: April 2023

Anniversaries are occasions for reflection, and this is also the purpose of this paper. On the occasion of the venerable anniversary of the academic institution dedicated to teacher education, we shall reflect on the milestones that mark the journey so far and, on the other hand, on the main ideas, dilemmas and conceptual solutions that have accompanied this journey through several stages. Since the middle of the last century, two important milestones have been identified: the beginning of teacher education at the tertiary level in the early post-war period and then, just at the time of Slovenia’s gradual independence, its full integration into the general framework of university studies. These two milestones mark the historical rise of the field of teacher education, which has been confronted with ever new challenges over the last three decades. As in the past, these challenges have been linked both to general societal changes and to the specific problems that these changes bring to the complexity of the field of education. Therefore, this paper will also focus on the challenges, questions and dilemmas in the midst of which we find ourselves today and to which we obviously do not yet have all the answers.
Do We Educate Future Teachers to Work in Extracurricular Activities?
Authors: Zrilić Smiljana , Mlinarević Vesnica , Marčina Travirka Karmen
Published: April 2023

Extracurricular activities are an integrated part of the elementary school curriculum. They offer students the possibility of well-spent leisure time, contribute to better social connections, and prevent the occurrence of various manifestations of unacceptable behaviour, therefore their organization is necessary. However, research conducted so far has shown that the real possibilities and creative potentials of students engaging in extracurricular activities have not been fully utilised, and the methods used by teachers are still not conducive to encouraging and developing creativity. The questions arise as to how much we prepare future teachers during their studies for organizing extracurricular activities, and how competent they are in recognizing interest, motivation, and the individual talents of students to be able to include them in extracurricular activities. It should be emphasized that the teacher has a difficult task in making extracurricular activities more interesting for students than leisure and play. Numerous dangers lurk in leisure time, and pedagogical activity must be directed to their prevention. This paper will analyse the integrated undergraduate and graduate study programs for teachers at six higher education institutions/teacher’s colleges in the Republic of Croatia, as well as the courses that determine the development of competences for work in extracurricular activities.
Systematically Guided Reflection on Teamwork as an Opportunity to Enhance the Personal and Professional Development of Student Teachers
Authors: Polak Alenka
Published: April 2023

Teamwork is an important generic competence in teachers today, therefore well-developed teamwork skills in student teachers should be an important study goal in modern teacher education. Students’ teamwork competence can be developed indirectly – using teamwork as an approach within various courses, and directly – within a specific course, based on a systematically-guided process of personal and professional development in teamwork. A team represents a powerful learning context; several intrapersonal and interpersonal processes cause rich self-reflective and metacognitive learning. Within the qualitative research approach, the method of content analysis was used on 132 students’ written self-reflections on teamwork experience as a part of the students’ portfolios. The findings indicate that students’ in-depth self-reflection on their own teamwork experience contributes significantly to their personal and professional development. The findings are discussed in relation to various theoretical models of team dynamics. Some suggestions for future teacher education and ideas for future research are highlighted.
INSHIP: Towards Quality in Teaching Practice of Pre-service Teachers
Authors: Žerak Urška , Podlogar Neža , Magajna Zlatan , Juriševič Mojca
Published: April 2023

In this paper, the authors present the results of a qualitative study about teaching practice in pre-service teacher education. The study is part of the international project INSHIP, which aims to develop educational innovation through a complementary partnership model for teaching practice. Using the SWOT matrix, the authors explored the views of university teachers, teacher mentors, students, and deputy head teachers about the teaching practice in two study programs at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education. The results showed that participants expressed both strengths (e.g., students gain experience and insight into the teaching process; schools meet potential future employees) and weaknesses (e.g., the gap between theory and practice) of the existing teaching practice. The participants’ perceptions of opportunities and threats were directed toward improving the quality of the organizational (e.g., duration and schedule) and systemic (e.g., mentor selection) elements of teaching practice, as well as its content and interpersonal relationships among different stakeholders involved in teaching practice. The findings suggest that greater involvement of schools is needed in systemic, organizational, and content issues pertaining to teaching practice. Collaborative partnerships between faculties and schools are crucial for the effective implementation of teaching practice.
Coaching – A New Trend in the Field of Teacher Education
Authors: Cajnko Petra
Published: April 2023

The teacher represents the foundation of the education process. It is important that the teacher feels good in their work environment and that they are motivated to work. It is also important that the teacher masters the skills of passing on material to listeners, as this affects the satisfaction of the listeners and the amount of knowledge passed on. In recent times, there have been many turbulent adjustments and changes. The question arose as to how to adapt to the situation. And based on this, the decision was made to conduct research on how to connect the following two concepts in new times, the times of the pandemic: the concept of current methods of teacher education and the concept of introducing coaching in the field of teacher education. The study is based on the use of theory and empirical research. Depending on the time period, the study is retrospective.
Endogenous TOM20 Proximity Labelling: A Swiss-Knife for the Study of Mitochondrial Proteins in Human Cells
Authors: Meurant Sébastien , Mauclet Lorris , Dieu Marc , Arnould Thierry , Eyckerman Sven , Renard Patricia
Published: April 2023

Biotin-based proximity labeling approaches, such as BioID, have demonstrated their use for the study of mitochondria proteomes in living cells. The use of genetically engineered BioID cell lines enables the detailed characterization of poorly characterized processes such as mitochondrial co-translational import. In this process, translation is coupled to the translocation of the mitochon-drial proteins, alleviating the energy cost typically associated with the post-translational import relying on chaperone systems. However, the mechanisms are still unclear with only few actors identified but none that have been described in mammals yet. We thus profiled the TOM20 prox-isome using BioID, assuming that some of identified proteins could be molecular actors of the co-translational import in human cells. The obtained results showed a high enrichment of RNA bind-ing proteins close to the TOM complex. However, for the few selected candidates, we could not demonstrate a role in the mitochondrial co-translational import process. Nonetheless, we were able to demonstrate additional uses of our BioID cell line. Indeed, the experimental approach used in this study is thus proposed for the identification of mitochondrial co-translational import effec-tors and for the monitoring of protein entry inside mitochondria with a potential application in the prediction of mitochondrial protein half-life.
Resolution of the 3n+1 Problem Using Inequality Relation Between Indices of 2 and 3
Authors: Goyal Gaurav
Published: April 2023

Collatz conjecture states that an integer $n$ reduces to $1$ when certain simple operations are applied to it. Mathematically, the Collatz function is written as $f^k(n) = \frac{3^kn + C}{2^z}$, where $z, k, C \geq 1$. Suppose the integer $n$ violates Collatz conjecture by reappearing as $2^in$, where $i \geq 1$, then the equation modifies to $ n = \left(1 - \frac{3^k}{2^z2^i}\right)^{-1} \frac{C}{2^z2^i}$. The article takes an elementary approach to this problem by calculating the bounds on the values of $\frac{C}{2^z2^i}$ and $\frac{3^k}{2^z2^i}$. Correspondingly, an upper limit on the integer $n$ is placed that can re-appear in the sequence. The integer $n$ is found to lie in the $(-\infty, 7]$ range. Finally, it is shown that no integer chain exists that does not lead to 1.
A Simulation Based Solution Approach for the Capacitated Lot-Sizing Problem With Remanufacturing
Authors: Rocha Luis
Published: April 2023

We present a new model formulation for a class of capacitated lot-sizing problem considering setup costs, product returns, and remanufacturing (CLSP-RM). We investigate a broad class of instances that fall into two groups, in the first group we can reformulate the problem with a relaxation and test whether the original problem is solvable. The relaxation gives near optimal solutions and the solution of this class does not give any difficulty to known solvers such as Cplex, Gurobi or Xpress. The second group of instances are of category NP and will be solved with a simple period-by-period simulation
Bismuth Decorated Honeycomb-like Carbon Nanoﬁbers: An Active Electrocatalyst for Construction of Sensitive Nitrite Sensor
Authors: Wang Fengyi , Li Ye , Yan Chenglu , Ma Qiuting , Yang Xiaofeng , Peng Huaqiao , Wang Huiyong , Du Juan , Zheng Baozhan , Guo Yong
Published: April 2023

Existence of carcinogenic nitrite in food has attracted much attention, however, it is still a challenge to develop nitrite sensor with higher sensitivity and selectivity to enlarge its applications in daily life. Herein, one-dimensional honeycomb-like carbon nanofibers (HCNFs) were synthesized with an electrospun technology, and its specific structure enables the controlling growth and highly dispersed bismuth nanoparticles (Bi NPs) on its surface, which endows the obtained Bi/HCNFs with excellent electrocatalytic activity toward nitrite oxidation. By modifying Bi/HCNFs on screen-printed electrode, the constructed Bi/HCNFs electrode (Bi/HCNFs-SPE) can be used for nitrite detection in one drop of solution, and exhibits higher sensitivity (1269.9 μA mM-1 cm-2) in a wide range of 0.1~800 μM with lower detection limit (19 nM). Impressively, the Bi/HCNFs-SPE has been successfully used for nitrite detection in food and environment samples, the satisfactory property and recovery indicates its feasibility in further practical applications.
Antifungal Activity of Fresh and Stored Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW) and Its Ethyl Acetate Extract against Plant Pathogens Fungi
Authors: Jarboui Raja , Azab Mona S. , Moustafa Shaimaa M.N. , Bilel Hallouma
Published: April 2023

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) has serious environmental problems considering its high organic matter, especially its phenolic compounds. The OMW application in crop protection is an alternative environmentally eco-friendly method reducing the chemicals pesticides impact on human health and environment. The present work aimed to study the antifungal activity of fresh and stored OMW and its ethyl acetate extract against phytopathogenic fungi: Syncephalastrum racemosum (S. racemosum), Paramyrothecium roridum (P. roridum), Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) and Verticilium dahlia (V. dahlia). The OMW was stored at 25 and 45 °C for 3 months. Fresh and stored OMW were used non-sterile, sterile and centrifuged. Phenolic and flavonoid compounds were extracted and identified by HPLC analysis. High inhibition of studied fungi was shown by fresh OMW and its derivative compounds, while OMW storage, sterilization, and centrifugation increased mycelium growth of studied fungi, especially S. racemosum that showed a relative resistance against stored OMW effect and its ethyl acetate extract. Under storage conditions, some phenolic and flavonoid compounds disappeared (resorcinol and vanillic acid), while the concentration of other compounds increased (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and quercetin). This work highlighted the ability to use fresh OMW as a bio-agent to protect plants from fungi diseases.