Faculty of Biology
University of Latvia
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY
AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Higher Professional Studies Programme
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Aim of the studies
To ensure the obtaining of the higher professional
education by the secondary school biology and
elementary school chemistry teachers, granting
the qualified biologists and chemists the right to
work in the corresponding Latvian educational
institutions in accordance with the contemporary
scientifical and technological, educational and
social requirements and paying a significant
contribution to the Latvian educational,
economical and cultural life.
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Tasks of the studies
1. Promote the education of a creative and
motivated biology and chemistry teacher.
2. Promote the formation of the pedagogic
interaction, analytical skill and the aptitude
to organize and evaluate individual and team
work of the students.
3. Ensure the cohesiveness of the theoretical and
practical skills of the prospective teachers, to
promote the application possibilities of the
theoretical knowledge and skills to the
Pedagogical practice.
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Eligibility requirements
1. Bachelor Degree in Biology
2. Previously acquired Biology-related higher
education
3. Bachelor Degree in other natural sciences Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Geography *
4. Previously acquired higher education in other
natural sciences - Chemistry, Physics,
Mathematics and Geography *
* • General Biology
• Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Contents of the study programme
Part A - compulsory courses (26 credit points)
Semesters and
credit points
Nr. Course Title
I
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4
2
4
4
Chemistry Teaching Methods
General Pedagogy
Methods of Biology Instructions
Pedagogical Practice
Qualification Paper
Exam
type
II
6
6
exam
exam
exam
test
test
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Contents of the study programme
Part B - elective courses (min 14 credit points required)
Nr. Course Title
Semesters and
credit points
I
II
2
Exam
type
1.
Demonstration of Chemistry
Methods in School
2.
Demonstration of Plant
Propagation Methods in School
2
exam
3.
Fauna of Latvia and
Protection of Animals
2
exam
4.
5.
General Didactics
General Psychology
4
2
exam
exam
exam
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Contents of the study programme
Part B - elective courses (min 14 credit points required)
Nr. Course Title
6.
7.
Human Anatomy
Interaction Psychology
8.
Methods of Composition and
Doing Sums in Genetics
9.
Methods of Doing Sums in
Chemistry
10.
Methods of Professional
Orientation in Chemistry
Semesters and
credit points
I
II
2
2
1
Exam.
form
exam
test
test
2
exam
2
exam
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Contents of the study programme
Part B - elective courses (min 14 credit points required)
Nr. Course Title
Semesters and
credit points
I
II
Exam.
form
11.
Methods of Teaching of Cell
Biology
2
exam
12.
Philosophy of Education
2
test
13.
Protection of Flora
14. Research Process in Pedagogy
2
test
1
test
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Contents of the study programme
Part B - elective courses (min 14 credit points required)
Nr. Course Title
Semesters and
credit points
I
II
15. Teaching of Microbiology and
Biotechnology Topics in School
2
16.
2
Use of Multimedia Technologies
for Teaching Biology and
Chemistry
Exam.
form
test
test
26 (Part A) + 14 (Part B) = 40 credit points
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
The certificate of the higher professional
education is awarded to the graduates who
have
fulfilled
the
following
study
programme requirements:
• successfully passed and completed Part A and Part
B exams and tests requirements, obtaining 24
credit points (incl. 10 points - Part A, 14 points Part B subjects)
• successfully completed the requirements of the
chosen Pedagogical Practice (10 points - Part A)
• successfully compiled and submitted the
Professional Qualification Paper (6 points - Part A)
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Staff involved in programme
implementation:
• Professors
4
• Associate Professors
6
• Assistant Professors
• Leading Researchers
2
1
• Lecturers
4
• Assistants
1
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Institutions of LU involved in
programme implementation
• Institute of Education and Psychology
• Institute of Biology
• Departments and laboratories of the Faculty
of Biology:
• Department of Botany and Ecology
• Department of Human and Animal Physiology
• Department of Zoology and Genetics
• Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Department of Molecular Biology
• Department of Plant Physiology
• Computer Lab
• GIS Laboratory
• Faculty of Chemistry
• Botanical Garden
• Experimental Rhododendron Nursery
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Questionnaire for assessing and improving the
teaching quality of the higher professional
studies programme “Secondary School Biology
and Elementary School Chemistry Teacher”
We seek your help in monitoring the quality of the higher professional studies
programme “Secondary School Biology and Elementary School Chemistry
Teacher”. Please answer the questions by marking the appropriate answer or
appropriate number (“0” – unsatisfactory, “10” – excellent). The questionnaire
is confidential!
1. Have you worked as a teacher prior to the studies in the programme? (Mark the
appropriate answer!)
a) yes
b) no
2. Your main reason behind obtaining the teacher’s certificate. (Mark the
appropriate answer!)
a) to evidence a higher professional education certificate
b) to qualify for a teacher’s position
c) to secure the current teaching position
d) to get the wage increase
e) other …………………………………………………
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
3. Sufficiency of your academic knowledge complies with the programme
requirements.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
4. Structure of the programme.
4.1. Part A (compulsory courses).
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
Your proposals for improving part A. …………………………………
4.2. Part B (complementary courses).
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
Your proposals for improving part B. …………………………………
5. Quality of contents of the courses.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
6. How do you assess the process of studies in the programme?
6.1. Relations and co-operation with the lecturers.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
6.2. Availability educational literature and didactic materials.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
6.3. Availability teaching aids.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
7. Chances of using computers during the studies process.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
8. The programme improves training and competitiveness in the labour market.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
9. The programme increases interest in teacher’s profession.
0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
10. What do you like about the programme? ………………………………
11. What you don’t like about the programme? ……………………………
12. Other comments about the programme ………………………………...
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Students choose the programme:
• to further work as a teacher
• to ensure themselves with a higher professional education
Evaluation of the programme by the students:
• the level of the academic education gained is sufficient for further
education in the professional study programme
8
• structure of the programme
• part A
• part B
• educational literature and didactic materials availability
• teaching aids availability
9
8
6
6
Comments indicate the need to increase the relative contribution
of the zoology teaching courses, attention on the teaching
methods, and the promotion of the programme.
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
The following areas of the programme are in
need of further development and improvement:
• study courses, with emphasis on the interdisciplinary
integration
• the classification and publication of the professional
qualification papers, and the methodological and didactical
reports
• course choice, especially Part B, flexibility with regard to the
likely changing labour market requirements
• integrating the guest lecturers to ensure successful proceedings
of the programme
• a better co-operation with the academic staff of the several
academic institutions
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Faculty of Biology
University of Latvia
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY
AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Higher Professional Studies Programme
SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER