Regional studies within the context of education E-Book

Miriam Uhrinová

• Herausgeber: EDUCatt
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

This era is bringing us many scientific and technical conveniences, which are coming into each individual’s life at a relentless speed. These modern improvements, methods and procedures are to a large extent related to the educational process within contemporary education. In an era of continuous technical development and the improvement of IT and communication resources, it is important to stop and think about the important fact that at present there is a valuable cultural, historical and natural heritage in our immediate surroundings. It is necessary to consider this fact related to the real need for knowledge and the preservation of a cultural and natural heritage. Learning about culture plays an important role in the development of human personality. One possibility is the correct integration of Regional Studies in the educational process. In the current area ofeducation, Regional Studies is at the forefront and also plays an important role in getting to know the national heritage. The presented monograph is one of the outcomes of KEGA project no. 042 KU – 4/2011 European Values and Cultural Heritage – a New Challenge for Primary and Secondary School Education. It analyses the area of Regional Studies in the context of contemporary education, within a uniform theme, in pre-school, primary and secondary education. The authors are expressing their opinion about the status of values and cultural heritage in today’s education. The content, as well as the actual basis of the work, consists of selected theoretical aspects relating to the subject matter. The theoretical analysis is based upon the results of empirical research that is focused on identifying the level of student knowledge, in the Pre-school and Elementary Pedagogy study program, related to the knowledge of the curriculum content in Regional Studies, as well as finding out students’ opinions on Regional Studies in the context of the educational process. Conceptually, the monograph is divided into eight main chapters. The first chapter concentrates on the theoretical starting points of Regional Studies, as well as explaining the basic definitions of regions. The second, third and fourth chapters show historical, cultural and natural heritage within different themed areas. In these chapters, the authors look at history, state and municipal symbols and actually teach about patriotism. They also characterize the spiritual and material folk culture, with its fundamental aspects and contexts. In the fourth chapter, they look at the presentation of natural heritage, with regard to the educational trails and protected areas. In the fifth chapter, an analysis of Regional Studies is introduced in the context of the educational process. The didactic aspect of Regional Studies forms the content of chapter six. It looks at selected methodologies and organisational forms of teaching. The seventh chapter is more practically focused, showing us how to apply regional features to the educational process. The last chapter presents an empirical section focused on Regional Studies in the context of the educational process. We believe that the presented monograph, which is both professionally and theme focused on Regional Studies, will evaluate aspects that are, in the modern age, an essential part of the fundamental cultural and values literacy in contemporary education, as well as in society. (dall'Introduzione dell'Autore)

Leseprobe

Editorial Board

prof. PhDr. ThDr. Amantius Akimjak, PhD.

prof. dr. hab. Stanislaw Juszczyk

prof. PaedDr. ThDr. Jozef Leščinský, PhD.

prof. dr hab. Adam Stankowski, PhD.

doc. PhDr. PaedDr. Miroslav Gejdoš, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Tomáš Jablonský, PhD., m. prof. KU, president

doc. PhDr. Daniela Kolibová, CSc.

doc. ThLic. PaedDr. Alojz Kostelanský, PhD.

Reviewers

doc. PaedDr. Tomáš Jablonský, PhD., m. prof. KU

doc. PaedDr. PhDr. Miroslav Gejdoš, PhD.

Dr. Dušan Kováč-Petrovský, PhD.

PaedDr. Zuzana Chanasová, PhD.

Editing

PaedDr. Miriam Uhrinová, PhD.

Ing. Miloslav Korba

The publication was created as an outcome of KEGA project no. 042 KU – 4/2011 European Values and Cultural Heritage – a New Challenge for Primary and Secondary School Education

© 2014EDUCatt- Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario dell’Università Cattolica

Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan – tel. [phone] – fax [phone]

e-mail: [email protected] (produzione); [email protected] (distribuzione)

web: www.educatt.it/libri

Associato all’AIE – Associazione Italiana Editori

ISBN edizione cartacea: 978-88-6780-082-7

ISBN edizione ePub: 978-88-6780-420-7

copertina: progetto grafico Studio Editoriale EDUCatt

FotoKandráč family archive

finito di stampare nell’aprile 2014Prontostampa –Fara Gera d’Adda (BG)

Content

Introduction

Chapter 1Theoretical starting points of Regional Studies

1.1 Introducing the regions of Slovakia

1.2 Regional Studies

Chapter 2Historical Heritage

2.1 The History and Symbols of the Municipality

2.2 Teaching patriotism

2.2.1 National Symbols

2.2.2 Municipal Symbols and Signs

Chapter 3Cultural Heritage

3.1 Material folk culture

3.1.1 Agriculture

3.1.2 Hunter – Gathering

3.1.3 Transportation

3.1.4 Folk Food

3.1.5 Folk Crafts

3.1.6 Folk Architecture

3.1.7 Folk Clothing

3.1.8 Folk Textiles

3.2 Spiritual Culture

3.2.1 Popular Piety

3.2.2 Family and Family Customs

3.2.3 Folk Healing and Cures

3.2.4 Folk Metrology

3.2.5 Folk Art

3.2.6 Folklore

Chapter 4Natural Heritage

4.1 Protected territories in Slovakia

4.2 Educational trails and localities

Chapter 5Regional Studies as part of the Educational Process

5.1 Regional Studies in Pre-primary Education

5.2 Regional Studies in Primary Education

5.3 Regional Studies in Secondary Education

Chapter 6Selected methods and forms of teaching Regional Studies

6.1 Didactic Methods

6.2 Organizational Forms of Teaching

6.2.1 Outings and field trips

6.2.2 Educational trails in the educational process

6.2.3 Teaching in a museum

Chapter 7The Possibilities of Applying Regional Elements to theEducational Process

7.1 The conservation and recovery of historical heritage

7.2 The conservation and recovery of cultural heritage

7.3 Preservation of Natural Wealth

Chapter 8Survey focused on Regional Studies in the educational process

8.1 Survey Methodology

8.2 Analysis and interpretation of survey results

8.3 Conclusions of the Survey

Conclusion

List of Bibliographic References

Appendix A

Introduction

“The mediocre teacher tells,

the good teacher explains,

the superior teacher demonstrates,

the great teacher inspires”.

W.A. Ward

This era is bringing us many scientific and technical conveniences, which are coming into each individual’s life at a relentless speed. These modern improvements, methods and procedures are to a large extent related to the educational process within contemporary education. In an era of continuous technical development and the improvement of IT and communication resources, it is important to stop and think about the important fact that at present there is a valuable cultural, historical and natural heritage in our immediate surroundings. It is necessary to consider this fact related to the real need for knowledge and the preservation of a cultural and natural heritage. Learning about culture plays an important role in the development of human personality. One possibility is the correct integration of Regional Studies in the educational process. In the current area ofeducation, Regional Studies is at the forefront and also plays an important role in getting to know the national heritage.

The presented monograph is one of the outcomes of KEGA project no. 042 KU – 4/2011 European Values and Cultural Heritage – a New Challenge for Primary and Secondary School Education. It analyses the area of Regional Studies in the context of contemporary education, within a uniform theme, in pre-school, primary and secondary education. The authors are expressing their opinion about the status of values and cultural heritage in today’s education. The content, as well as the actual basis of the work, consists of selected theoretical aspects relating to the subject matter. The theoretical analysis is based upon the results of empirical research that is focused on identifying the level of student knowledge, in the Pre-school and Elementary Pedagogy study program, related to the knowledge of the curriculum content in Regional Studies, as well as finding out students’ opinions on Regional Studies in the context of the educational process.

Conceptually, the monograph is divided into eight main chapters. The first chapter concentrates on the theoretical starting points of Regional Studies, as well as explaining the basic definitions of regions. The second, third and fourth chapters show historical, cultural and natural heritage within different themed areas. In these chapters, the authors look at history, state and municipal symbols and actually teach about patriotism. They also characterize the spiritual and material folk culture, with its fundamental aspects and contexts. In the fourth chapter, they look at the presentation of natural heritage, with regard to the educational trails and protected areas. In the fifth chapter, an analysis of Regional Studies is introduced in the context of the educational process. The didactic aspect of Regional Studies forms the content of chapter six. It looks at selected methodologies and organisational forms of teaching. The seventh chapter is more practically focused, showing us how to apply regional features to the educational process.The last chapter presents an empirical section focused on Regional Studies in the context of the educational process.

We believe that the presented monograph, which is both professionally and theme focused on Regional Studies, will evaluate aspects that are, in the modern age, an essential part of the fundamental cultural and values literacy in contemporary education, as well as in society.

Chapter 1 Theoretical starting points ofRegional Studies

When defining the essential concept of Regional Studies we will pay attention to the concept of “region” and then focus on the basic characteristics of Regional Studies.

1.1 Introducing the regions of Slovakia

Within the concept of “region”, we encounter a variety of contexts and scientific disciplines.

Region (from the latin “Region” – country, territory) is characterised as a defined territorial unit with specific features, which arise from its geographical position and the appearance, density and character of the settlement, the social-class constellation and the ethnic predispositions. It is intrinsically linked with various political, economic, social and cultural relationships, shaped by the natural environment and specific historical development (Navratilova et al., 2002).

According to Lauko (In: Bašovský-Lauko, 1990) a region is a complex dynamic geographic system that originated on the Earth’s surface under the interaction of natural and socio-economic phenomena. Tatar (2002, p. 43) characterises a region as “a territory with certain specific features in one or more levels of social and natural activity existence.”

Bagin (In: Lomenčík, 2000, p 19) states that a region, as a specific location, in which territorial and language factors are present, can be described as a defined territorial unit, intrinsically linked with various social, economic and cultural relationships, shaped by the natural environment and specific historical development.