This study aimed to explore and compare Polish and Romanian students’ opinions towards the integration of learning games in Higher Education subjects and to highlight the improved soft skills by participating in learning games. This article reports the results of a quantitative study that was designed to explore and compare the opinions of 103 students from 2 universities towards the integration of learning games in the Project Management subject. The students ranked 71 items found in the questionnaire in 7 scale questions. The items are presented in the form of skills that can be developed by participating in educational games and aspects that are important in Project Management. In the analysis of the data, the T test—two sample test—was used, and the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test, using the SAS Studio application to assess whether the average responses are different between the two groups (α = 0.05). There were significant differences in the case of some items related to the skills that can be developed by participating in two educational games (communication, empathy, awareness, problem-solving, work productivity, and time management), but also items that help students understand the importance of some aspects related to Project Management after participation in educational games (work productivity, team dimension, time management, and following request).
This research project is the first and only comprehensive regional study in Poland including all teachers and headteachers of primary and secondary schools. The aim of the study was to determine the factors influencing the learning process carried out remotely and to examine the potential of this form of education for primary and secondary school students and its future use to improve the quality and accessibility of education. An important aspect of this research was also the assessment of the respondents’ capabilities and competences in the area of operating and using digital tools in the educational process. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a total of 9070 teachers took part in this study. The method of data collection was an online survey. The research instrument consisted of a survey questionnaire. The survey was conducted electronically using tools provided by Google. The following methods were used to evaluate the data: count tables, which allowed for data exploration; a graphical method—cross-sectional analysis; and individual correlation analysis, which allowed for preliminary data evaluation. The results obtained within the research process conducted allowed us to achieve our goals. According to 42.4% of the teachers surveyed, remote learning is a good alternative to traditional teaching. The study also confirmed, inter alia, the presence of a correlation between technical conditions of classes and specific forms and levels of education, with 49.7% of respondents indicating that remote learning depends mainly on the quality of technical parameters, including a good or very good Internet connection. The biggest advantages of e-learning, as indicated by the respondents, were the possibility of working from home, conveniently sharing educational materials, and utilising additional teaching aids. Health issues and long times spent in front of the computer were highlighted as the greatest drawbacks of this teaching method. The results also showed that, as the age of the teachers increases, the acceptance and trust in distance learning activities increases while the fear of using this form of student learning decreases. This study lays the foundation for designing systemic, nationwide solutions, and thus, the authors are planning to continue their research in the context of comparative analysis of different regions and to analyse this process in the context of the entire country. The analyses performed form a part of a global line of research in the field of education and in the implementation of innovative tools and forms of education provision.
8 May 2019 in Economic Science for Rural Development
In recent years rural areas of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship have seen very significant changes, especially with the participation of the Rural Development Program 2007-2013. The aim of the article was to diagnose the factors determining the implementation and management of the Leader 2007-2013 program in the institutional and personnel aspect in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship, and to diagnose the functioning of the Local Action Groups as the actors responsible for shaping the regional and local sustainable rural development policy, RDP 2007-2013 program. As a result of the research, there is a need to continue research leading to an assessment of the effectiveness of LAG activities and the creation of local leaders, which may have a significant impact on local community participation in moderating local development.