No.11 / 2024

Feedback plays an essential role in motor learning, facilitating error correction and performance improvement by providing precise and immediate information. Our study examines the impact of detailed and immediate feedback (audio and video) on the technical performance of novice volleyball players. The research involved 60 participants (mean age 10.5 ± 1.2 years, sports experience 1.48 ± 0.504 years), evaluated through two tests using an advanced feedback system. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS (Version 26), with a confidence interval of 95% (P<0.05). The paired samples t-test showed significant differences between conditions with and without feedback. The analysis revealed significant differences between the conditions with and without feedback (p < 0.001), indicating a significant reduction in the number of technical errors when feedback was provided immediately. These results highlight the importance of integrating feedback into sports training programs to optimize the motor learning process. The study's conclusions suggest that feedback-based strategies significantly improve the development of motor skills and the achievement of performance objectives in the sports field.

Teaching Romanian as a foreign language is a relatively new field of study, which owes its evolution and openness to alterity as a form of globalisation and facilitation of mutual knowledge. Multiculturality and interculturality are tangible aspects of our daily activity and not just mere theoretical concepts that hardly find their applicability in everything that concerns our existential horizon. In an ever-changing society, it is necessary to articulate coherently one's personal identity and self-image, so that dialogue can be carried out in an appropriate and informed manner, and so as to promote knowledge of the other from as many points of view as possible, especially when learning a foreign language.

This study investigates the varied learning preferences among dentistry and medicine students in a single higher education centre regarding medical English language acquisition. Through a detailed survey, students’ inclinations towards different learning methods for mastering medical English vocabulary and concepts were examined. The findings reveal a diverse spectrum of learning preferences, including visual aids, interactive exercises, collaborative learning, and technological integration. Notably, the research highlights the importance of tailoring teaching strategies to accommodate individual learning styles, emphasising the value of using technology and real-world medical contexts in language learning activities.

Integration and implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) in education is a widespread phenomenon in the pedagogical approach nowadays. Though this concept has been relatively new in the field of secondary education in Bangladesh, the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to adapt to technology-based education. Therefore, this small-scale qualitative study focused on finding how teachers react to integrating ICT into educational practices. The main objective of the study is to analyse the level of teachers’ acceptance of ICT as their teaching tool. The data was collected by interviewing 11 teachers from six different public and private secondary schools in Bangladesh. Despite many educators expressing agreement with the revised instructional approach, their motivation remains subdued due to various obstacles and a lack of recognition for the execution. To attain the objective of sustainable ICT integration in secondary schools across Bangladesh, teachers advocated for incentives and consistent oversight, alongside the enhancement of school infrastructure.

Academic writing is a pivotal concern in the tertiary phase of education, yet with a great deal of drawbacks and challenges. The current study investigates academic writing-related challenges and possible mechanisms to overcome them. Therefore, the study delves into the avenue of academic writing hurdles faced by undergraduate students whose second language (L2) is English, specifically in the domain of sciences. This also examines the tactics formulated, from the standpoint of lecturers in tackling these impediments effectively. This research underscores both commonalities and disparities that resonate with the themes documented in prior scholarly works by harnessing qualitative data from a sample of undergraduate students and lecturers. The investigation identifies substantial contrasts between the viewpoints of students and lecturers concerning the challenges inherent in academic writing. While the preeminent concern for most L2 undergraduate students pertains to intricacies at the compartmentalised linguistic features, the focal point for most lecturers revolves around the holistic level, which encompasses a wider range of linguistic attributes. Moreover, the study unravels specific coping mechanisms students employ to navigate academic writing challenges. These discernments carry profound pedagogical implications, accentuating the imperative for providing pertinent writing models and interventions tailored to the individual requirements of L2 science undergraduates.

Today educational institutions participate actively in empowering students to get involved in projects, to participate but also to collaborate in this major change in order to overcome internal and external vulnerabilities in the learning process. Digital education has great potential for innovations and investments, offering huge opportunities for universities to allow digital transformation and allow students to learn in their rhythm. Academic researchers are trying to secure the vulnerabilities of the online environment in higher education through the development of multiple digital tools. The work is based on a qualitative methodological approach, through content analysis. Content analysis was used as the main technique of data collection and analysis, from the specialised literature, from international databases, regarding the importance using digital tools in the higher education environment. Based on content analysis, this research presents the most important tools that support digital collaboration among students by offering a study case for overcoming learning barriers and focusing on students' creativity in how they approach problem-solving. The study case is based on "Six Thinking Hats" and it is used to support creative thinking in achieving a good collaboration between teams in an educational project. The tools that support digital collaboration among students facilitate communication, increasing the opportunities for academia to interact with as many users as possible.

COVID-19 has been an unexpected crisis period, directing the minds of people into ear and anxiety. Social distancing being a major preventive activity to overcome this contagious disease, which led to affect all aspects of life worldwide. The new pandemic experience has highly affected the psychosocial aspects of adolescents. Social media has become the centre of communication during this isolated period. Classroom learning has changed to virtual teaching during the lockdown period. A research was conducted to analyse the influence of COVID-19 on adolescents' social media usages. The study focused on social media usage and its impact on adolescents' psycho-social behaviour. Participants were 287 adolescent students from 6 mostly affected states of India. Data gathering was carried out during the COVID -19 Lockdown in India with a self-structured online questionnaire. The respondents have not agreed that online classes are better than classroom learning. There was a high increase in the use of social media during the lockdown period. Social media has helped them to cope with the isolated situation and has led to an increase in their creativity. WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are the prominent social media used during this pandemic situation.

This study aims to identify students' conceptual understanding of sound wave material through the Contextual Teaching and Learning (CTL) model at MAN 3 Sleman Yogyakarta—this quantitative research with descriptive analysis involved 20 students as respondents. Data were collected through a conceptual understanding test covering subtopics of sound waves such as definitions, properties, string sound sources, organ pipe sound sources, resonance, the Doppler effect, wave interference, intensity, and sound intensity level. The results showed that students' conceptual understanding of sound waves was very high, with an average correct answer percentage of 87.5%. The resonance and wave interference subtopics achieved the % correct answer percentage of 100%. In comparison, the definition of sound waves had the lowest correct answer percentage of 60%, falling into the "sufficient" understanding category. The high resonance and wave interference achievement was due to practical methods using everyday tools and materials, helping students understand these concepts in a real-world context. In conclusion, the CTL model effectively enhances students' understanding of physics concepts. It is recommended that the CTL model continues to be applied in physics and other subject areas to improve students' conceptual understanding

English is a necessity in the world we are inhabiting at present. Education all over the world is placing great importance on reaching proficiency in this language. In Romania, there is a strong tendency towards learning this language from very early ages and finding the most effective teaching methods to help students improve their language skills in English. The present article summarizes a small-scale investigation from a Romanian school where 50 upper secondary students and 2 EFL teachers participated in EFL classes that integrated the Creative Writing technique. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and the benefits of teaching English as a Foreign Language with the help of Creative Writing. The combination of various creative tasks led to students who were more engaged with the target language and more interested in improving their English.

The ALL TOGETHER – Building harmonious relationships for a successful school environment brochure presents some examples of activities experienced by the partners involved in the strategic partnership Erasmus +, All together being a source of inspiration for other educational institutions that want to improve the relationships in the school environment. This will offer them an institutional framework conducive to ensure a quality educational act. The central objective of the mentioned project was the development of five types of relationships in the school educational environment, namely: teacher-student relationships, student-student relationships, teacher-parent relationships, employee relationships and strengthening the school community.

The paper explores the synergistic integration of action research methodology and experiential learning in undergraduate logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) programs. We examine how this novel approach addresses the demands of the dynamic LSCM industry by combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills, enhancing critical thinking abilities, and real-world engagement. By examining case studies and extant literature, we illustrate how action research and experiential learning synergise to create a holistic educational experience. We present a comprehensive framework for integrating action research and experiential learning pedagogies that aims to empower students with the essential skills and adaptability to excel in the evolving world of LSCM. The study highlighted several critical elements for educators to implement this integrated approach successfully. Additionally, we explore the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching and learning within this integrated framework. The potential benefits and concerns when adapting AI within this integrated framework include enabling personalised learning, data-driven insights, collaborative engagement, and ethical considerations.

This paper aims to identify the proper means of integration of education for sustainable education (ESD) into the educational practice of all areas, since an early age. ESD is considered a catalyst for transforming individuals and society, offering values and competences that will contribute to building a sustainable future. The first part of the paper presents the concept and a brief history of ESD, while the second part introduces an original set of entry points needed in instructional practice of any subject to lead to a sustainability-oriented education. This set of best practices is to be used by teachers in their routine educational practice and has the potential to produce transformative shifts into the present pupils and future adults. The results may increase the literacy on sustainable development making the teaching process more oriented on sustainability goals. The findings of this paper may accelerate the desired behavioural change needed to progress building a sustainable future.

The study assessed the impact of core activation and toning programs on the static and dynamic balance of students with special educational needs (SEN) in middle school physical education classes. We found that over a period of 6 weeks, with 2 lessons per week, these programs led to significant improvements in the students’ balance, regardless of the type of disability. Students with visual impairments and sedentary lifestyles showed the greatest progress. Somatic and functional measurements were conducted on the 15 students with special needs, and 9 tests (Bass Test, Flamingo Test, Functional Reach Test, Unipodal Test with left eye closed, Unipodal Test with right eye closed, Unipodal Test with left eye open, Unipodal Test with right eye open, Y-Balance Test left, Y-Balance Test right) were administered to assess static and dynamic balance. After implementing the core activation and toning program, a correlation analysis between the two variables was conducted, followed by the calculation of the t-test for paired samples to assess if there were significant differences between the two sets of measurements and tests. After 6 weeks of using core activation and toning exercises with a frequency of 2 lessons per week for students with special needs, we observed a favourable increase in both static and dynamic balance for six pairs of tests. The differences were statistically significant at a significance level of 0.05 out of the 9 tests conducted. Proprioceptive stimulation played a crucial role in these improvements in static and dynamic balance among those with various types of disabilities (intellectual, visual, and auditory). We recommend incorporating core activation and toning programs into physical education for children with disabilities to enhance muscle tone and balance. However, the small sample size reminds us that data generalization should be done with caution, and we suggest conducting further studies with a larger number of participants and a longer training duration. This study emphasizes the importance of balance development among students with SEN and the potential benefits of a core-focused approach in middle school physical education.

The book Biblioteca 2.0 Apomediator al cunoașterii, comunicării și cooperării [Library 2.0: Mediator of Knowledge, Communication, and Cooperation] has its origins in the PhD thesis of Mrs. Voichița Dragomir, a well-known name in the field of information science and documentation in Romania, with a solid professional culture, rich experience, and accomplishments in the world of academic libraries in our country. Engineer by background, Mrs. Voichița Dragomir has a vast expertise in automation of academic libraries and library management, being a former deputy director of BCU Bucharest, and currently the director of SNSPA Library.

The main role of inclusive education is to respond to the needs of all beneficiaries of education, regardless of their biopsychological and sociocultural characteristics, respecting their age and individual particularities, with the ultimate goal of social and professional inclusion. The book by Dr. Karla Melinda BARTH, University lecturer, addresses the topic of inclusion, more precisely inclusive education, which is also a current and controversial topic in the field of Educational Sciences. Through this book, the author emphasizes the role of inclusive education, both through theoretical and practical aspects, combining them harmoniously, providing a logical structure of information.

This paper investigates how sociodemographic factors and the family background contribute to the development of children’s social competence. Social competence is interpreted within an integrative approach, being analysed according to two indicators: the development level of social skills and interpersonal coping forms of children. The present article focused on negotiation, which has been found to be the most adaptive coping among preschool age children. Measurements were obtained using questionnaires: a Social Competence Screening about Preschoolers filled in by teachers, a Questionnaire on Coping Strategies completed both from children and teachers, and a Family Background Questionnaire compiled only for parents. Data was collected for a total of 536 preschoolers, of whom 309 parents provided data about home environment. In the linear regression models conducted the most influential demographic factors were the age and gender of the children and the age of the parents. Microsocial factors as the parents’, in particular the mother’s, employment was determinate in the models, and other sociocultural aspects, as the child’s participation in extracurricular activities beside short screentime, the lack of conflicts and disease in family, marital satisfaction are among influencing factors. The study offers various prospects for new research and nuances our views on social competence and child-development.

Breakouts are learning strategies that can stimulate the motivation of learning through challenges. During an educational breakout session, students must work as a team and use their reasoning, knowledge, and skills to solve puzzles and challenges related to the content of the curriculum in a limited time. This study intends to examine the impact of educational breakouts on classroom flow, academic performance, motivation, behaviour, and overall satisfaction of the first-year students of Applied Modern Languages, West University of Timişoara. In performing this experiment quantitative and qualitative techniques were used and the results showed a significant improvement in classroom engagement, flow, the feeling of well-being, autonomy, and loss of the notion of time and support the conclusion that the use of educational breakout is fun and motivating for students and facilitates knowledge accumulation.

The concept of Education 4.0 emerged linked to trends regarding Industry 4.0 and Internet 4.0 and is based on the integration of emerging technologies to revolutionize the way education is delivered. The use of these emerging technologies has created a vast amount of data that requires careful and thorough management in order to obtain the most possible benefits such as developing personalized learning experiences, smart ways of tracking student progress and providing feedback to all parties involved in the educational process. Therefore, knowledge management tools and strategies are gaining more importance, especially in the context of higher education institutions which have been identified as important sources of knowledge creation and sharing. The implementation of specific knowledge management strategies can furthermore help facilitate the transition to Education 4.0 by embracing key aspects of Industry 4.0 and Internet 4.0 such as promoting a culture of innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, providing a support system for streamlining administrative processes, cost reduction and improving the decision-making process. In the current paper, the authors analyse the current trends regarding knowledge management strategies deployed in Education 4.0 and propose a set of possible approaches which take into account knowledge management practices for an efficient transition to Education 4.0. The set of possible approaches and Industry 4.0 tools that could facilitate the transition have been organized in a structured, easy to follow model based on a four-stage process that relies on the feedback loops from both the process inputs and outputs. Using the proposed model facilitates the transition to Education 4.0 and helps practitioners understand the main aspects of each stage and select the Industry 4.0 tools that can be used in their respective context in order to yield most benefits.

This study focuses on ways to improve assessment and feedback in the educational context. Assessment and feedback are critical elements of the learning process and have a significant impact on student performance. The study aims to identify directions and best practices to support the improvement of feedback and assessment in the educational context. The study examines various bibliographic sources to identify constructive and effective approaches to providing negative feedback and ways to improve the evaluation process. In order to carry out this research, we considered the systematic analysis of the specialized literature. Thus, the Google Academic search engine was queried regarding “assessment in the learning process” and “feedback in the learning process” from the period 1980-2023. We obtained 70100 results for “assessment in the learning process” and 445000 results for “feedback in the learning process”. We finally selected 29 articles to fit our study. The results indicate that feedback and assessment can be improved by adopting a constructive approach, as well as by using educational technologies and diverse assessment methods. This study has important implications for teachers and educators who wish to improve student learning and performance by providing more effective and constructive feedback and assessment.

The aim of this article is to assess the level of involvement of Romanian older persons in volunteer activities and lifelong learning, as well as the factors that restrict their participation. To respond to this objective, a survey among older persons (65 years and over) was conducted at national level. Our study reveals that Romanian older persons reported a very low participation rate in volunteer activities organized by different organizations and the main reason was the lack of information regarding the availability of such activities in the community where they live or the poor health status. Regarding the participation in volunteer activities people aged 75-84, men or respondents living in rural areas have the highest rates of participation. In case of older persons enrolled in lifelong learning courses, less than ten percent of respondents selected at least one course they attended over the last 12 months. Male respondents had a higher participation rate compared to women in healthy lifestyle courses. The results of our study highlight the need for appropriate medium and long-term policy measures in the field of active ageing.

Adolescence is the age of transformation and spending most of the time in the education system, the wellbeing of the teenager is influenced by every experience had in this system: relationships with colleagues, teachers, the grades, what they learn in school. At the age of twelve there is a step which, once it’s taken, welcomes the child into an age of changes. This research investigates the relationship between burnout, school satisfaction, and life satisfaction as children and adolescents get older, an aspect which is not so talked about in literature. The participants in this study were 3460 students between 10 and 19 years old, of which 1751 were boys and 1709 were girls, and 67.6% were from urban environments and 32.4% were from rural environments. It was noticed that the burnout level grows progressively after the age of 12, which deteriorates the level of school satisfaction through a ‘bottom-up’ process, which causes its decrease. The level of Overall Life Satisfaction (OLS) also decreases with age, one of the reasons being the exhaustion caused by too many or too difficult school tasks.

The purpose of the article was to put into perspective the qualities and proficiencies required/needed of teaching staff when working with a group of pupils in Romania. We conducted a Focus Group with 10 teachers to kick off the research, and then we used a quantitative tool to confirm the findings. The Focus Group approach was selected because it offers freedom and a greater range for creativity and minimize researcher bias. Only teachers who were interested in the topic from the perspectives of their own experiences in the department as well as from the perspectives of their experiences as parents, grandparents, or aunts of pupils in the educational system attended the Focus Group. Thus resulted a map of traits and competencies required for a positive evolution of the professorial profession, divided into broad categories of traits. To confirm the Focus Group results or identify new trends, we invited the original participants and 33 additional teachers to reassess the specific competencies and characteristics in the same categories after 18 months. The list thus obtained helps us to better prepare the candidates for what is really needed in class and outlines a Romanian teacher’s profile.

The study aims to present the Mureș Valley through the castles, appealing to educational tourism. Educational tourism can be used as one of the tools to rediscover and appreciating the significance of cultural heritage in this aria. This paper used the study case method to analyse the current state of Mureș Valley castles. These castles and parks were documented, and interviews with some community members and the castle owners were conducted as part of the research process. A field trip that exemplifies these educational aspects is suggested by the current study. The main objectives of this trip are to promote rail tourism in Transylvania and Banat, to provide a more environmentally friendly travel option, and to increase understanding of the importance of the area's cultural landscape. There is not much research on educational tourism in Romania because it is a relatively new concept. Although there have been some studies on educational travel, the researcher was unable to find any studies that were solely focused on educational tourism. As a result, the trip might be both a non-formal and a formal kind of education. The unifying element between the two types of education might be the educational tour.

On the labour market, an important aspect is the resizing of jobs due to automation, respectively globalization. Technological changes have led to the need to acquire higher skills. The acquired knowledge and skills can lead to an increase in the ability of graduates to enter the labour market. Thus, for the member countries of the European Union, the article presents an analysis of the share of the population with age between 25 and 64 years, with a tertiary level of education. Likewise, the degree of insertion of graduates of tertiary education programs can be influenced by the economic activities carried out by economic agents. Analysis of employment rates for graduates of tertiary education programs is important. From this point of view, an analysis of the educational fields of the graduates is presented. The used comparative statistical analysis considered the study of the evolution of the number of tertiary level graduates, as well as of the educational fields, for the period 2013-2020, for the member countries of the European Union. Also, the 25-64 age group was selected, and for this the evolution of the share of people with tertiary education was studied. The importance of the degree to which graduates occupy a job after graduation, led to the selection of another indicator – the employment rate (for the period 2012-2021). The rate of participation in continuing professional education and training programs was another indicator for which a comparative statistical analysis was carried out. For all these analyses the existing database on the EUROSTAT website was used. The creation of new jobs involves, and also requires, new skills. For people in the field of work, the updating of skills, respectively their improvement, can be achieved by participating in education and professional training programs. At the same time, this subsequent participation in education and professional training programs is an indicator analysed in the article. The presented data show us that in 2021, approximately half of the population aged between 25 and 64, with tertiary education, was the majority in Ireland, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Sweden, Lithuania. The evolution of the number of graduates, at the level of the European Union, shows us that the number of graduates is increasing, so that in 2020 there were 4.24 million tertiary level graduates. It was found that in 2020 most graduates came from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland. Also, in 2020, the most graduates were for the field of business, administration, and law, followed by: engineering, manufacturing and construction, health and welfare, and education. The lowest share of graduates was for the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary. It was found that in 2021 the employment rate for people aged between 25 and 64, with a tertiary level of education, was high for: Malta, Poland, Hungary, Romania. The lowest values were registered in: Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus. At the same time, in the period 2013-2019, the values of the participation rate in education and professional training programs for people aged between 25 and 64, with a tertiary level of education, remained relatively constant, oscillating between 18.0% and 18.7%.

The work Social dialogue, problems, and solutions in education. Online education in the pandemic, led by Professor Valeriu Frunzaru and Oana Ștefăniță is an important part of the project no. 2019/101974 “Development of tripartite and bipartite dialogue and consultation structures in the education sector”, project implemented by the Federation of Free Trade Unions in Education, in partnership with Skolenes Landsforbund Norway. The results of the study are disseminated in two volumes. This book is the first volume and focuses on teachers' perception on education in 2020, while the second volume will provide a comparative analysis between 2014 and 2020.