Birčáková L., 2011: Innovative approaches in teaching geology at elementary schools. Acta Geologica Slovaca, 3, 2, 193–197. (in Slovak with English summary)

Inovatívne prístupy vo výučbe geológie na základných školách

Innovative approaches in teaching geology at elementary schools

Lenka Birčáková

Geologický ústav, Prírodovedecká fakulta, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Mlynská dolina G, 842 15 Bratislava; bircakova@azet.sk

Abstract

The article contributes results of a pedagogical research on teaching geosciences at elementary schools. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of using worksheets at geoscientific excursions and to determine the pupils’ and teachers’ attitudes against Natural History 8 classes. The work’s main purpose was to create such materials that could be useful for teachers by planning and undertaking fieldworks. As a result serves an electronic database of geoscientific POIs (points of interest) of Slovakia and its software interface, GeoGuide. Another outcome is a set of 15 universal worksheets designed to be usable on any field trip within whole Slovakia. Both of these aids have already performed well at preparing and undertaking excursions. And at the same time, a pedagogical experiment has shown that pupils equipped with worksheets at the fieldworks generally acquire more valuable knowledge than those without it. Using worksheets has always significantly improved pupils’ score at final testing.

Key words: pedagogical research, pupils’ attitudes, worksheet, excursion, database of geoscientific POIs of Slovakia, GeoGuide software

Manuscript received: 2011-04-12

Revised version accepted: 2011-09-21