Elena Lucia Mara

Dr. Elena Lucia Mara

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
29 February 2024 in Education Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ACAdina Oana Campean
Adina Oana Campean
MBMușata Bocoș
Mușata Bocoș
ARAlina Roman
Alina Roman
Dana RadDana Rad
Dana Rad
CCClaudia Alina Crișan
Claudia Alina Crișan
Claudia RomanClaudia Roman
Claudia Roman
This study investigates the influence of positive feedback on students’ motivation and engagement in the classroom. It explores teachers’ perspectives on how positive feedback affects students’ learning involvement and motivation. The research focuses on various aspects of feedback delivery, particularly emphasizing the nuances of positive feedback. The main objective is to determine if there is a statistically significant correlation between the provision of positive feedback during educational activities and students’ motivation levels. The study underscores the crucial role of feedback in shaping student motivation and stresses the significance of positive feedback in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. The research question revolves around understanding how positive feedback influences students’ motivation and involvement in the classroom. The study employs qualitative methods, including interviews and surveys, to gather teachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding positive feedback practices. The results reveal that teachers perceive positive feedback as a powerful tool for enhancing students’ motivation and engagement in learning activities. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of incorporating positive feedback strategies in educational settings to foster a supportive and motivating learning environment for students.

28 December 2023 in Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MBMușata Bocoș
Mușata Bocoș
DMDANIEL MARA
DANIEL MARA
ARAlina Roman
Alina Roman
Dana RadDana Rad
Dana Rad
CCClaudia Alina Crișan
Claudia Alina Crișan
APAna-Maria Purcar
Ana-Maria Purcar
This paper conducts a comparative analysis of mentoring and metacognition in education, unveiling their intricate connections. Both concepts, though seemingly disparate, prove to be interdependent within the educational landscape. The analysis showcases the dynamic interplay between mentoring and metacognition, emphasizing their reciprocal influence. Metacognition, often perceived as self-awareness and introspection, is found to complement the relational and supportive nature of mentoring. Within this context, metacognitive education within mentoring emerges as a vital component. Practical recommendations are offered for effective metacognitive training, highlighting its role in enhancing cognitive and metacognitive skills. Moreover, the paper introduces the concept of a “mentoring scaffolding system.” This system emphasizes mentor-led gradual independence for mentees, facilitating their professional and personal growth. The necessity of fostering a metacognition culture in education is a central theme. Such a culture promotes improved performance and lifelong learning. The paper suggests integrating metacognition into curricula and empowering learners as essential steps toward achieving this culture. In conclusion, this paper advocates for the integration of metacognition into mentoring and education, fostering self-awareness, independence, and adaptability. These attributes are deemed crucial for individuals navigating the challenges of the information age.

19 April 2023 in Behavioral Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RARedes Diana Adela
Redes Diana Adela
Dana RadDana Rad
Dana Rad
ARAlina Felicia Roman
Alina Felicia Roman
MBMușata Bocoș
Mușata Bocoș
COCHIS OLGA
CHIS OLGA
CBCiprian Baciu
Ciprian Baciu
The concept of educational organizational climate relates to the relational, social, psychological, affective, intellectual, cultural and moral environment that characterizes educational/teaching and managerial activity at the level of a school organization. This study is based on the theory of planned behavior framework in measuring preschool teachers’ intentional integrative–qualitative behaviors and Marzano’s Model of Teaching Effectiveness. The Marzano Model outlines educational strategies and gives teachers and administrators tools to help teachers become more effective. A sample of 200 valid responses was gathered in an online investigation that targeted preschool educators from Romania. Marzano’s Model of Teaching Effectiveness is an evaluation tool used to measure the success of highly effective teachers, which is further utilized in this study to measure preschool teachers’ effectiveness in relation to intentional integrative–qualitative behaviors. The integrative–qualitative intentional behaviors are measured with the IQIB scale. This research assumes collegiality and professionalism as independent variables and interrogates preschool teachers’ behavioral intention toward adopting integrative–qualitative behaviors through the sequential mediators of Planning and Preparing, Reflecting on Teaching and Classroom Strategies and Behaviors from a top-down perspective. The results revealed a significant indirect effect of Collegiality and Professionalism on preschool teachers’ behavioral intention toward adopting intentional integrative–qualitative behaviors through the sequential mediators Planning and Preparing, Reflecting on Teaching and Classroom Strategies and Behaviors, confirming our hypothesis. Discussion and implications are offered from a top-down sustainable educational management perspective.

6 March 2024 in Education Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
APAna-Maria Purcar
Ana-Maria Purcar
MBMușata Bocoș
Mușata Bocoș
APAlexandra-Lucia Pop
Alexandra-Lucia Pop
ARAlina Roman
Alina Roman
Dana RadDana Rad
Dana Rad
DTDorin-Gheorghe Triff
Dorin-Gheorghe Triff
First-grade students often encounter challenges in understanding and solving arithmetic word problems due to their limited reading comprehension abilities. Despite these difficulties, students may employ arbitrary strategies, such as combining numbers based on specific keywords, even if they lack a full understanding of the problems. Research suggests that effective mathematical reasoning involves the use of visual mental representations during the problem-solving process. To address this, some studies have explored methods to enhance students’ comprehension of word problems. Building on this, the current study explores the impact of first-grade pupils creating visual representations of problem situations on their comprehension and the number of correct solutions. In a typical math class, 45 first graders received a paper-and-pencil task, and, in a visual context, they solved similar problems after reading and illustrating the situation. The findings reveal that while most participants correctly represented the problem situations through drawing, about half struggled to determine the numeric solutions. Nevertheless, the visual context led to an increase in the number of correct problem solutions compared to the normal context, suggesting the potential benefits of incorporating visual representations in enhancing comprehension and problem-solving skills.

1 June 2024 in International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EMElena Lucia Mara
Elena Lucia Mara
LMLucia-Larissa Morar
Lucia-Larissa Morar
The research paper explores the dynamics and perspectives of the mentor and mentored person relationship. A mentor, distinguished by knowledge and experience, collaborates with a novice educator as a colleague rather than an instructor-student dynamic. The mentor offers guidance to the mentored person, typically within the same field, fostering their professional growth through advice and support. Mentorship connections form through networks, personal bonds, or formal programs, with mentors serving as trusted advisors to those less experienced. Despite challenges such as communication gaps and time constraints, strategic solutions can enhance the mentorship experience. Mentors play pivotal roles in fostering growth, sharing knowledge, setting goals, maintaining accountability, providing encouragement, facilitating connections, offering constructive feedback, and sharing relevant experiences. Successful mentor-mentee relationships thrive on constant communication, mutual respect, goal-sharing, and feedback-seeking. Looking ahead, technological advancements and AI-driven matching algorithms promise to make mentoring more accessible and diverse, transcending geographical barriers and optimizing compatibility between mentors and mentees. Embracing the multifaceted nature of mentoring unlocks its full potential for personal and professional development, benefiting both mentors and mentees alike in shaping future leaders and innovators.

4 December 2024 in Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DMDANIEL MARA
DANIEL MARA
EMElena Lucia Mara
Elena Lucia Mara
MBMușata Bocoș
Mușata Bocoș
Dana RadDana Rad
Dana Rad
Daniel Ioan HunyadiDaniel Ioan Hunyadi
Daniel Ioan Hunyadi
RMRadiana Marcu
Radiana Marcu
This study evaluates the preparedness of Romanian public pre-university teachers for digital pedagogy training as part of the R.E.D. Teacher Education project, which aims to enhance lifelong learning and educational quality, in alignment with European Union (EU) standards and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). Data were collected from 1,864 educators through a structured questionnaire aligned with global digital competency frameworks. Results indicate a strong interest in digital tools, though challenges remain, particularly in fostering collaboration and ensuring equitable access to digital resources. The study concludes that targeted professional development is needed to enhance teachers' digital literacy and address the digital divide. Key recommendations include improving access to digital platforms, promoting collaboration, and ensuring responsible use of digital resources to support inclusive, equitable education.