Work experience of N. Kuprusevičienė, a chemistry teacher-expert,

Versmė High School

Summary

For mastering knowledge about the world, it is necessary to be able to perceive, therefore a teacher have to organise various types of activities, change techniques of his work, class ambience, promote interesting research projects, organise meetings with specialists in order to help pupils to more successfully remember and assimilate information, boost their motivation and arouse their curiosity for a subject.

1. For this reason, I employ the project method. The following research projects were carried out, in which I have encouraged to take part both teachers and pupils:

• The project carried out in 2002, “Pollution of wells by nitrates” in Elektrėnai Municipality. 5 schools have participated.
• The project carried out in 2004, “Biochemical analysis of water and investigation of plant diversity in the Elektrėnai water reservoir”, N. Kuprusevičienė, a chemistry teacher-expert, and B.Morkūnienė, biology teacher-methodologist.
• The project carried out in 2003, “The plant laboratory as a learning place”, a joint project with the Elektrėnai Power Plant, N. Kuprusevičienė.

2. Projects and creative works by pupils were presented at the “Natural Sciences conference” for natural sciences teachers of our Municipality, which I organise at the end of a school-year. With pleasure I have to note that a number of participants from among the pupils from basic schools is on the increase. They obtain here not only information regarding natural sciences or information technologies but also acquire communication and self-expression skills.

3. I encourage pupils to create educational computer programs-presentations. With a view of making easier memorizing ecological problems, we prepared the following computer slides: “Acid rain”, “Ozone”, “Greenhouse effect”, “Waste” and “Water pollution”. Some time later I started using project presentations during lessons, for example, to open a discussion. The pupils who created such programs are invited to attend at lessons and present these topics, and sometimes to conduct a lesson. For example, this year two girls from the seventh class have measured the radioactive background in premises of our school and prepared the presentation with PowerPoint program. Surely, they could be invited next year to eighth classes to tell about the radioactivity.

4. For educational purposes, I also use computer applications, mostly “Crocodile Clips” and “Science: 1 Elements”. I conducted a number of workshops on these topics for chemistry teachers on national level on: 25.11.2002, 02.12.2002, 17.03.2003, 04.06.2003,22.11.2004, PPRC; 15.04.2002, 08.11.2002, 11.04.2003, 12.06.2003, ITC, Elektrėnai ŠPC. Together with pupils we translated the “Crocodile Chemistry” in Lithuanian.

5. I try to use new educational aids, including manuals, as manuals are the main educational means. I took part in an experiment using a manual by R.Raudonis, “Chemistry for 9th class”. This year I used a manual by L.Ryan, “Chemistry for you” in eighth classes, and wrote annual plans of this course. Next year I intend to work using the manual prepared by this author in the ninth and tenth classes. Perhaps it would be possible to solve the chemistry problem in schools as the children consider it difficult and “not applicable”, for this reason, the pupils in lower classes do not like it and those in higher classes do not choose it.

25 June 2005