RESEARCH APPROACH AS MODERN TEACHING OR A MERE DEVIATION FROM TRADITIONAL TEACHING? TEACHERS’ OPINIONS ON THE RESEARCH APPROACH IN TEACHING THE SUBJECT NATURE AND SOCIETY

Authors: Dunja Anđić, Karmen Vidas

Paper categorization: Preliminary communication

DOI: https://ffst.unist.hr/en/skolski_vjesnik/archives/2021/sv_70_1/70_1_6

2021. Vol. 70. No. 1. – D.-Anđić-K.-Vidas

Abstract:

The research approach in teaching Nature and Society is considered a new approach in learning and teaching in primary school. However, we wonder if this is really so? For this reason, research was conducted with the aim of examining the educational practice of early primary school teachers in the implementation of the research approach in teaching Nature and Society. The research was conducted using a qualitative methodology on a sample of 24 primary school teachers. For the purposes of the research, a semi-structured interview was constructed. The results of the research indicate the teachers’ familiarity with the research approach and their motivation for its implementation in teaching Nature and Society. The obtained results also indicate that teachers largely believe that they have certain competencies for its implementation, while in the implementation they use teaching methods and teaching forms that allow greater pupil activity. It is concluded that it is necessary to further educate teachers, because, although this is a modern approach, its implementation is still not at the expected satisfactory level and is, therefore, only the first step towards more modern teaching in schools.

Keywords:

competencies, curriculum, educational practice, motivation, research approach