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This paper presents the results of a qualitative study based on a systematic scoping review that aimed to identify and analyse approaches to explore and model ecosystem dimensions of education. Seventy-six publications indexed in the Scopus database from the period 1999-2024 were selected and analysed. The results demonstrate that the study of educational ecosystems is based on mixed paradigm approaches combining constructivist and connectivist principles and constructs, and their modelling integrates two sets of characteristics - structural and value-functional - in a leading way. Structurally, the underlying ecosystem centres on school and higher education, lifelong learning and business-oriented learning. In value-functional terms, the guiding priorities are digitalisation, inclusion, good governance, innovation and sustainability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching methods in secondary education have undergone significant changes due to COVID-19. The paper examines the positive impact of investing in education through the Strategic Framework for the Development of Education, Training and Learning in the Republic of Bulgaria (2021-2030) and digital technologies. The aim of this paper is to identify key challenges and relevant solutions through a study of teaching methods in secondary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines a learning method in teaching website building technologies to students in a learning environment where a role-playing game from the practice of a software company is simulated. The data collection and evaluation of the results was carried out through the qualitative methods of participant observation, interviewing, content analysis and survey card. The article analyzes the state of the researched problem by reviewing the normative base of web design training at school, the scientific and educational literature on the methods of learning through role play and teamwork. A staging of the implementation of an experiment for web design training is presented, describing the general framework for organizing the learning process, the stages of conducting the research, as well as the plot and scenario of conducting. The final results of the research were analyzed on the basis of a discussion with students and data from survey cards. The training, according to the experiment, is in the form of a simulation game and takes place in six academic hours of 40 minutes in three consecutive weeks, passing through four stages. The work of two teams of students with representative roles was studied: manager, web designer, graphic designer, stylist and web programmer. The final product of the role-playing game is the development of a website, and its final result for the learning process is knowledge and skills acquired during the formal training by the teacher and the informal training between the students during their team work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on the results of an empirical report prepared in the context of the European project MAR.CH. and a review of the literature on the use of ICT in school. An original study on the role of the teacher in contemporary online (interactive) teaching is presented. The effectiveness of interactive methods for education was analyzed with the help of original online questionnaire. Our results contribute to understanding the effectiveness of interactive education in secondary schools in Bulgaria and Europe, as well. The conclusion is that in online lectures or distance learning via multimedia presentations, it is preferable to have good visualisation of the material. Furthermore, this type of teaching is mostly preferred by the students as a mean for self-training and to research additional information rather than as a primary method for learning new material. The role of the teacher’s actual appearance in the videos and multimedia presentations does not seem to be crucial to the teaching of the material. Much more important though are the technical characteristics and the postprocessing of the video, ensuring good visibility of the slides with the material. We also stress that, based on our research, distance learning is generally not preferred as a the principal method for teaching. The results, published here for the first time, have lead to a successful defense of a Master’s Thesis at the Faculty of Physics at the Sofia University in July 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a study of third year midwifery students’ opinion on information skills built in the subject “Informatics”. The survey was conducted with 30 students in midwifery from Medical University Plovdiv. Information skills are a part of the digital literacy, seen as an important literacy in today's technological world. The results indicated that the students enhanced their skills in all four investigated aspects: information problem definition; search and retrieval; evaluation of information on the internet; and ethical use of information, despite their different levels of skills acquired in the secondary education. Improved information skills are evaluated by the students as useful for both learning and future professional realization. Although its limitations, the study shows the value of the lessons learned in informatics from the point of view of the students. It can be extended to other healthcare specialties that study informatics as a compulsory discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National strategy for the development of higher education (period 2021 – 2030) places the technical fields among the priority areas and in the list of protected specialties. In this regard, engineering disciplines should also be protected and developed as educational priority subjects. The focus of the present publication is precisely such a discipline - "Engineering Graphics", as a universal fundamental technical subject studied in the vocational secondary school as "machine drawing" and as a specialized discipline "Marine Engineering Graphics" for students in naval specialities. Essentially, “Engineering Graphics” or “Machine Drawing” (in the past) is the universal international engineering language in which all engineers around the world need to be able to communicate. The aim of this publication is to trace the historical and content developments of the programs and teaching on "Machine Drawing", the transition to "Engineering Graphics" in the context of the Bulgarian secondary and higher education. The research and analysis are carried out through the prism of continuity between generations, presenting the work of the two authors, teachers of different generations and educational levels, but with the same mission - to pass on their experience, developing in students the technical literacy to read drawings. The main message of the research presented here is that the training related to reading and making technical drawings should not be neglected and overshadowed by the new disciplines related to artificial intelligence and computer technologies. Classical knowledge and skills, professional and functional intelligence must be developed to provide a solid foundation on which to build innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the goals of the International project MITE (Methods and Information Technologies in education) is to create conditions for identification and development of young talents. Among the active forms with proven efficiency is the International contest “Mathematics and Projecting”. The contest is very popular in Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Russia. In 2017 the nomination “Network Research Projects” was included in the contest program for a second time. The project “Mathematical Mosaic” was awarded first place in this nomination. The project was elaborated by a combined international group of students from three countries: Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Russia. The present paper summarizes details of the students' collaboration and presents the organizational methodology in their common work during the project preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a prototype of a computer system for preparation of paper-delivered test materials for evaluation of knowledge, skills and competence of students in classroom curriculum-based education. By using the system the teacher can quickly prepare and print multiple test sheets which are different from the students' viewpoint but assess one and the same knowledge or skill. The test generator integrates the following components: 1. Database with test problems. 2. Software module for printing in which: - The teacher enters the amount of test materials; - The teacher enters the subject, type, complexity and other parameters of the test problems; - The system automatically generates and prints the test materials with the defined criteria. 3. Software module for database management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational innovation and digital transformation are among the priorities in the Bulgarian educational policy for the period 2021-2030. The modernization of the secondary education in technology and entrepreneurship is related to the change of applied pedagogical technologies and models of education, enrichment of the learning content and subject-information environment. The directionality of the subject to the key competence of initiative and entrepreneurship and the multidisciplinary nature of technological literacy determine the need to constantly updating of the requirements for learning outcomes. The change of modern visions of technological education broadens the parameters of technological literacy and reflects on the selection and structuring of teaching content in the subject "technology and entrepreneurship" and the methodological toolkit for its mastery. The Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL), created by the International Technology Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA), outlines a significant role for technology education in the context of integrative education and the STEM approach and expands the notion of contemporary technology culture. The revised vision of technological literacy is concretized in three organizational structures and encompasses 24 underlying determinants. Engineering is identified with using scientific principles and mathematical reasoning to optimize materials and technologies in order to satisfy needs, according to defined criteria and given constraints. In terms of content, comparing the distinct subject areas of technology and entrepreneurship with the engineering contexts outlined in STEL identifies an overlap of a number of underlying constructs. The comparative analysis outlines directions for enriching the curriculum of secondary technology education with knowledge and skills from the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics, automation and biotechnology. It confirms the relevance of the leading learning approaches established in technology and entrepreneurship curricula, such as learning by doing, learning by inquiry and discovery, project-based learning, and the modular-integrative approach. The new framework for effective technology education requires that the focus of the educational process should be on the formation of systems thinking, creativity, critical thinking, ethics, communication and teamwork skills. Authenticity and stimulating activities are recommended when planning the learning process. Learning objectives should be related to the formation of a body of knowledge, skills and abilities that provide an understanding of the interactions between technology and societal development and enable students to use, and evaluate, current and emerging technologies. Achieving the stated goals requires an adequate, digitally provided learning environment and the application of appropriately constructed pedagogical design options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the outcomes of a study carried out at the Department of Classical Philology at the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology in Sofi a University, dealing with latest trends in classical education in the Balkan area. It aims to outline some crucial characteristics of teaching and learning ancient languages, history and culture in secondary and higher education in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula. Emphasis is put on the different ways by which different educational systems face the challenges in harmonizing their own national features with both the new development and research tendencies in classics and the new generations' requirements. In all the countries surveyed, a central issue comes to the fore: education in classics turns out to be a strong medium for actualizing both the common European identity of diverse nationhoods and the countries' own national distinctiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper was to study the educational and age structure of persons employed in dairy sheep breeding farms, situated in Sofia and Pernik districts. Information had been collected from 6 dairy sheep breeding farms in Bulgaria, in which 22 persons were employed in farm activities. It was found that the greatest share had the persons under an employment contracts (manager and shepherds) - 41%, followed by the owners - 32% and the unpaid family workers - 27%. The share of men was 77.3% and that of women - 22.7%. Almost half of the persons had lower secondary or less education; a little over 1/3 had upper secondary education; persons with higher education were 18.2%. Only 18.2% of the employed persons had attended vocational training courses. In the group of owners prevailed men (85.7%). The largest share occupied the owners aged 35 to 44 (42.8%). 57.1% of them had upper secondary education and 42.9% were university graduates. Almost half of the owners had attended vocational training courses. Only in one of the farms a manager under an employment contract was assigned. Shepherds were relatively evenly distributed in the age groups from 15 to 64 years, there was no person aged 65 or above. Men in this category were 7 times more than women. 7 times more were the shepherds with lower secondary or less education compared to the shepherds with upper secondary education. Only 1 shepherd had attended a vocational training course in livestock breeding. In the category of unpaid family workers 50% of the persons were aged 15 to 24. They were children of farms' owners. The remaining 50% were parents of owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Media literacy is one of the key competencies and skills for living and working in the 21st century. Media literacy training is a life-long process, but it is of particular importance that it starts from early childhood, is continued and built on in secondary and higher education with the efforts of all formal and informal institutions and organizations. The research team from the Department of “Media and Public Communications” at the University of National and World Economy has been working on the project dedicated to media literacy training practices in secondary and higher schools in Bulgaria for three years. An important part of the research was the analysis of the results of the survey among teachers, conducted in the period 07.01.2022 – 23.02.2022 via the Microsoft Forms platform, in which 534 respondents participated. The survey showed that teachers understand the importance and significance of media literacy, integrate important related topics in the learning process of various school subjects, but also need to improve their qualifications for teaching media literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article seeks to draw the attention of government institutions, schools, universities and the tourism business so as to link educational policies in such a way that young people would be motivated in the profession they choose and would have a guaranteed job in tourism. The aim is to innovate educational systems in order to improve the quality of knowledge and skills and increase competencies and competency models. The possibility for validation of knowledge and skills in the work environment has been considered and a constructive differentiated system, star class qualification for a specific position has been proposed. Education is focused on market demand and the possibility of establishing a link between secondary and higher education, credit recognition in certain disciplines, and creating opportunities for upgrading in the profession and certification of knowledge and skills. We are looking for an opportunity for freedom in education, duality and class in business training, which will materialize in adequate financial remuneration for the work invested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article comments the education of secondary school students during their participation in a computer programming course for obtaining the professional qualification “Application programmer”. European and international recommendations for the elaboration of learning programs for students in the field of Computer Science are analyzed and their comparison with the curriculum and learning programs for the occupation of “Application programmer” is realized. The aims of the presented teaching, the methods and the instruments of the process during the course and the preparation of teachers in the field of Computer sciences are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article traces the performance on the labor market, the income, and some personal characteristics of a sample of 231 young Roma with secondary or higher education based on the level of segregation in the schools they attended at different levels of education. We look at how educational segregation is linked to income after graduation, current status and typical short-term transitions on the labor market and personal characteristics. Our main conclusion is that learning in a segregated or desegregated environment and the transitions between them have controversial effects on learning, income, activity, and chances of finding a job and are related to the development of different socio-emotional skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate how students understand thermodynamic concepts such as temperature, heat and energy, and how they can enhance understanding of these concepts more easily via computer models. Students often show difficulties imagining matter molecules, temperature, heat and heat energy, some of the subjects studied at high schools in most of developed countries.Semi-structured interviews and writ-ten exams were used to explore students‟ ideas and their mental models. In addition, computers and computer applications are used for this purpose. With 6th grade students, computer models are compared with the traditional educational methods currently dominant in Turkey. They are considered to possess some level of developed concepts of temperature, heat, energy, and matter structure because they have already taken some fundamental courses on these topics. The implications and recommendations for pedagogy are discussed in the conclusion section of this paper.