INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
SMART TECHNOLOGIES IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN
AND YOUTH
2 April 2014
Šiauliai Stasys Šalkauskis Gymnasium
2014 m. balandžio 2 d.
(S.Šalkauskio g. 3, Šiauliai)
Erika Masiliauskienė
THE IMAGE OF CHILD‘S COMPUTER ACTIVITIES IN ONLINE MEDIA
Cognition of nowadays children's cyber activities, as social reality, can be based on complementary
objective and subjective methods. One can observe that researchers, representing more traditional
educational culture, put special emphasis on the negative problems of children's interaction with a
computer. This concept analyzes the problem of children’s ability to empathize with the virtual world,
losing the need for interest in the natural environment.
New media-shaped cultural, social, and political space is being formed in nowadays society due to
modern information and communication technologies. The impact of the media is defined by
constructing the integration of values, norms and regulations. Current researches in communication
focus on the role the media plays in construction of the children and adult’s social reality. The report
presents the image of children’s computer activities described by the Lithuanian online media, as well
as computer-oriented attitudes, norms and values, formed by the media. Lithuanian media discourse
reveals that computer helps children become members of a new type of social community, connected
by computer activities. It is also a part of the children's social image, testifying contemporary, modern
and new social status.
Jurgita Smiltė Jasiulionė
CHILDREN ONLINE: CYBER BULLYING AND OTHER DANGERS
...My classmates posted a public video of me struggling to do certain sports exercise. Now everyone
comments this video and mocks me. What should I do?
...I guy I met on Facebook invited me to meet. He is wonderful, but I don't know him. Should I meet
him?
...My boyfriend asks me to send him my nude pictures. Should I send them?
Adults know correct answers to these topics usually. What about children? We will discuss if we,
adults, are aware of dangers of communication on internet in our presentation. How our point of view
is different from children's opinion? What kind of support can we provide to children facing these
dangers?
Daiva Kalinauskienė
INTERNET ADDICTION AND CONSEQUENCES
In a quickly developing modern life the internet has become for many of us a helper not only to find
textual, but also video and audio information. Today, a computer is an integral part of our lives. It
accompanies a young man even in the knowledge processes of the world: computer games have
changed Lego, graphics programs - pencils, internet – books and social websites -friends.
Unfortunately, this great tool has become not only our best friend, but an enemy leading to
addictiveness. Statistics shows that two-thirds of all Lithuanian children spend their free time at the
computer screen, and 73 per cent of children stay online more than 3 hours per day. Internet addiction
occurs, when there is a morbid need to spend time for hours every day at the computer surfing various
game, chat and dating sites. Since 1991, when the psychiatrist I.Golberg started to speak about this
problem of the twenty-first century, a lot of studies have been carried out. On the basis of the study
results five types of Internet addiction were identified, the main causes of occurrence and
consequences were distinguished. All this and more will be discussed in the report.
Liuba Vaigauskienė
MAKING THE INTERNET SAFE
The aim of the report is to share my experience as a class teacher in helping my schoolchildren use the
Internet safely. The Internet is like a house with a great number of windows. Are we always safe when
looking through them?
My schoolchildren have participated in different events and contests devoted for The Safer Internet
Days for five years. Afterwards they share their experience with their parents and schoolchildren from
other classes. This year they enjoyed acting as agents of the safe Internet and became engaged in
integrated activities during the Lithuanian language, mathematics, science, art and technology lessons.
The information they got was distributed among their close relations and the feedback of the activity
was photographs of their discussions at home. The report presents the activity and the film “Safe Web
Agents”.
The report is based on the reseach done by asking questions about the Internet safety and its possible
dangers. The respondents were schoolchildren and their parents from four different classes who
suggested ways how to avoid dangers of the Internet.
At the end of the report the film „Communicate Safely and Responsibly“ is demonstrated in which the
schoolchildren explain the differences of real and virtual communication. In the virtual world one can
hide behind the mask. Nevertheless, while communicating we must follow the golden rule which says
to treat the others the way you want to be treat.
Edita Puzarienė
FACEBOOK WORLD – SIMULATION REALITY OR MANIFESTATION OF MODERNITY
Modern society was formed on the basis of technological breakthroughs, and it constantly encourages
everyone to become regular users of those technologies. This is becoming the necessity rather than the
norm throughout the whole world. Mature personality is able to select the positive aspects of social
networks and use them in the right direction, but what about a wandering teenager who finds himself
in the flow of technological innovation? It is not easy not to get lost and to understand what is useful
and what can really hurt? Facebook provides a simulation reality which is basically a comfortable
space for the individual to unfold, to grow as a person and to become fully mature. This is a
multifunctional interactive space where teenagers are able to communicate and share ideas, to learn
and grow in a creative way. Unfortunately, being unfamiliar with the use of this modern creative
space teens can irreversibly harm both, themselves and others. Publicity dangers in the social network
can not only harm the young teenager's personality, they can even wreak the individual, criticism can
kill the growing potential and constant communication only in Facebook might even lead to the
isolation of personality and identity crisis.
Živilė Bielskienė, Jolanta Žukauskienė
APPLICATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES FOR PUPILS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL
NEEDS
The appearance of the new, modern information and technological tools leads to their tendentious
integration into all areas of life. School is no exception. The appearance of information technologies in
the learning process issues a challenge to the teacher and the learner. Modern technologies will not
replace the natural communication, but they may help to promote communication competence,
improve the transfer and adoption of information.
Our report aims to present FM "Edulink" system, which is used by the speech therapists of Šiauliai
Speech Therapy School to work with pupils.
"Edulink" is an ancillary system, which can help pupils to hear better. It is designed for pupils with
learning difficulties because of the specific cognitive (auditory perception), emotional, behavioral and
social development (self-regulation – attention, hyperactivity, excessive impulsivity, personality)
disorder.
Studies have shown that the system helps to maintain focus, to concentrate; children are less distracted
by extraneous stimuli. It influences the pupils' ability to recognize the long and short vowels, voiced
and voiceless consonants, vowels and diphthongs. Children more easily memorize and reproduce
verbal information. All this facilitates the learning process.
The speech therapists and pupils of Šiauliai Speech Therapy School were the first to use “Edulink” in
Lithuania.
Saulius Niauronis
PECULARITIES OF PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS,
DETERMINED BY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
New technology is a warrant of more convenient and higher quality future life. For a successful
technology development and installation, there is a need for even more and more precise and profound
knowledgeable specialists. There is a great demand for such specialists and this demand only
increases. Unfortunately, each year we observe more and more school graduates choosing to become
an engineer despite of the lack of personal characteristics needed for college or university to raise a
satisfactory engineer. Peculiarities of young people have changed because of the way they live. If we
want our higher education system to develop better engineers, it is essential, that the educational
methods used at school, were modified according to information technology influenced changes in the
youth’s lifestyle. Also it is essential to pay more attention in developing the characteristics of children,
which recently started and are still weakening.
Lina Ališauskienė
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES IN THE LIFE
OF YOUTH
The report will be about the intelligent technologies in youth’s life in general. The discussion will be
held on what technologies are predominant at home, at school and in the public space. The
advantages (pluses) and the disadvantages (minuses) of the intelligent technologies in youth’s life
will be discussed both in regard of the teachers and the youth itself. A brief analysis will be done on
the influence of the intelligent technologies on the youth’s life.
Keywords: intelligent technologies, youth, advantages (pluses), disadvantages (minuses), influence.
Rita Remeikienė, Raimonda Grundulienė
STUDENTS BUSYNESS ISSUES USING SMART TECHNOLOGY IN TAURAGE VOCATIONAL
TRAINING CENTRE
One of the most pressing problems among young people is a lack of interesting activities of daily
living. In Taurage vocational training centre was conducted students survey, which aims are to find out
the nature of the busyness of students not at the time of lessons, has shown that the majority of
students are not satisfied with their free time activities. The interviewed students are not busy during
their free time, and due to their families are in tight budget so the busyness forms and techniques are
not varied. A large proportion of the respondents would like to spend their leisure time using the smart
technology.
In order to attract young people with history of Taurage and routines and offer diverse, interesting
business opportunities that will help develop a comprehensive personality Taurage VTC was carried
out a month-long integrated information technology project using English "My Town – Taurage”. The
aim of the project is the use of smart technology to create informational brochures in Lithuanian and
English about their country's culture, interesting places, monuments and famous people.
The project results showed that wise and targeted use of smart technology is a great opportunity to
spend time, to improve, to raise the cultural level and the interest on the region’s culture. Also,
integrated multi-subjects activities can help solve not only professional, but as well as social problems
in students busyness.
Zita Gramailienė, Dalė Marcišauskienė
SIMULATIVE GAME „ECOSIM ELECTIONS“ IN THE LESSON
EcoSim – is a family of simulative games offering various activities applicable for teaching
economics, business as well as fostering pupils public spirit. At the same time the games provide
students with numerous opportunities to enjoy themselves in the process of learning.
EcoSim Elections – a game offering to try to simulate actions political parties take during the
preelection period. Initially teams or individuals represent different parties with similar financial
support and similar popularity ratings. The participants are to take steps and win the votes. Each step
is evaluated by the computer programme and the participants are periodically given the tables with
the results.
The teams are required to analize three socially important issues and voice their opinion on them.
Managing the funds and winning the votes by employing different media are the following steps
each team has to take. The team with the highest popularity rate is the winner.
The game enables to develop a wide range of skills and abilities, including political, patriotic,
negotiating, marketing, team working, investment, etc. It is a multipurpose game helping to discern
links between business and politics, to teach basics of debating and strategical planning. The game
provides teachers and pupils with many integrational opportunities.
The game was played in forms 9 and 10 in civic maturity lessons. The introductory lesson in which
preparation for the game took place was integrated with the English Language lesson. This
integration helped to vary the process of developing communicative skills, revising the vocabulary on
topic “Character traits“ and consolidating “If type sentences“.
Rita Nemanienė
ROBOTICS: MOTIVATING ACTIVITIES OF EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
New technologies have become routine in students’ lives. We wish the time spent with them would be
useful and not only in teaching ICT competencies but also develop logical, algorithmic, critical
thinking and the ability to solve problems.
The purpose of the report is to reveal the possibilities of application of robotics in education. Siauliai
“Romuvos” progymnasium has got classes on "Robotics" for 4-8 formers. Students acquiring
knowledge on robotics in Information Technology classes can successfully enhance skills in nonformal education (classes after school). In order to create a motivating learning environment, meeting
the needs of students’ knowledge, information and training, one of the means is to use innovative
LEGO Education methodology and playful robots that make the educational process more colourful
and attractive. Robotics is a science, which practically integrates mathematics, physics, biology,
computer science and industrial design. Robotics is successfully applied in formal and non-formal
education. Students in Siauliai “Romuvos” progymnasium use LEGO MINDSTORMS robot
constructors in Information Technology classes and in non-formal education (classes after school).
Students can develop and realize creativity, find the answers on how and where to apply the
knowledge obtained in Robotics classes in practice.
Dalia Ralytė, Ingrida Strockienė
ICT MODIFICATIONS IN SOCIAL COMPETENCE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
The purpose of modern education is to go from personal knowledge towards excellence. Educational
aspirations are the ability to learn, to function and to be. This report discusses the importance of
development of social competence in school of general education which has students with different
abilities and needs in the twenty-first century. Educating students with different abilities and
inclinations it is important to focus on the personal student's education in his own active, conscious
learning, providing him an appropriate support for developing important skills for his life. Finding
innovative educational methods ICT is used frequently, which today is no longer a novelty, but as it is
a rapidly growing and renewing it can offer new opportunities. Adequate and appropriate application
of ICT can become an essential tool for new pedagogical innovations or innovative pedagogical
process of educating students with different abilities and needs. But, do the latest technologies always
give a positive effect on students' social skills development?...The report is based on the results of the
survey of the teachers, students and parents from Siauliai “Romuvos” progymnasium. The survey
revealed the influence of ICT on students with special educational needs in social competence training.
Students are different and the best results are achieved in different ways. They can learn, gain
experience, develop competencies not only in the classroom but also at home, during informal
activities and only targeted ICT can be used as one of the means to improve social competence.
Inga Paškūnienė
INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD FOR TEACHING SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION OF THE
LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE
Students' literacy problem has become a matter of concern in Lithuania recently. Studies of public
language preference indicate that some of the stated reasons for illiteracy are a negative impact of
information technologies and the flawed Lithuanian language teaching methodology. Therefore, it
would be appropriate to use a whiteboard (Smart Board) more often alongside with books - the most
important teaching tool at school, as it can be applied in various types of lessons and in various stages
of a lesson. Most students have visual or kinesthetic learning style, whereas the interactive tools of a
Smart Board allow to provide structured educational material (Venn diagram, Anagram template, text
splitter), split it and group it in different ways (vortex sort, column sort, matching pairs) and create
images; text template procedure helps improve spelling skills. The contact with a Smart Board is
important for kinesthetic students. The board helps a teacher to present the material in such a way that
students are not passive listeners but active participants; it is a great tool to customize the task. Finally,
students feel safer communicating in the learning process, as technology environment is familiar to
them.
Rita Mikalauskienė
COMPUTER – NOT A BORING ASSISTANT IN THE LITHUANIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS
The Internet is storage of the huge variety of relatively cheap information, a tool which provides
excellent opportunities to communicate widely and develop the competencies required for the future.
More and more often smart technologies help in the learning process. Interviews with students reveal
that all of them in one way or another use computer and internet facilities to prepare for Lithuanian
language lessons or working in class. Reading texts, carrying out various tests, preparing presentations,
collecting material, having virtual museum tours are the most common online activities. A Lithuanian
language lesson is not just reading, analysing, learning to spell or punctuate, it develops students’
public speaking skills as well. Making plot-movies, TV shows and presentations on various topics,
participating in debates or discussions, students learn to get used to public speaking easier and faster;
analysis of the footage of such lessons teaches students critical thinking and evaluation. The computer
and the Internet add variety to the learning process and offer great opportunities to develop diversified
life and work competencies.
CONFERENCE IS HELD WITHIN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
COMENIUS MULTILATERAL SCHOOL PARTNESHIP PROJECT
“INTERNETless”
(Project coordinator – Ebubekir Kocabay, Turkey,
Anatolian High School)