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The contents of calculus, known for their complexity, present significant challenges for students, particularly in mastering multiple integrals and effectively visualizing related concepts. The transition to distance learning prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the learning process in multiple integrals. In line with this and considering the potential of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), in this research we explore the impact of teaching in a CSCL environment on student achievements, focusing on students from the computer science study program. Through data analysis using ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, it was found that students exposed to collaborative learning in GeoGebra environment demonstrated higher levels of theoretical and practical knowledge compared to peers who acquired knowledge without using GeoGebra. Additionally, this group of students achieved results comparable to those of students who attended traditional in-person teaching, showing noticeable improvements in solving complex tasks. Our findings show the effectiveness of CSCL approach in context of distance learning and highlight potential of collaborative environments enhanced with technology in facilitating student understanding and achievements in calculus education.

ICAP is a framework that classifies learning processes based on students' explicit behaviors. The framework is developed for testing the hypothesis that interactive exercises are better than constructive exercises, and active exercises are better than the passive exercises for higher cognitive engagement and better learning outcomes. The ICAP Framework is intended to assist researchers, instruction designers and instructors in determining the activities appropriate for the aimed research and teaching. This study aims to evaluate articles based on or supported by the ICAP Framework from various aspects. In the study, employing the descriptive survey method, data collection was conducted through document analysis, while content analysis was utilized to analyze the data. The 71 articles reviewed within the study's scope were examined through the "data collection form" developed by the authors. In this context, the articles' general and methodological characteristics and themes and the findings related to ICAP contexts are presented. As a result of the research, no study regarding the ICAP Framework was conducted in Turkey. It was revealed that most of the studies, which have increased in number since 2017 in various countries, utilize the ICAP framework at the analytical level or create models-modules and develop toolsscales based on the ICAP Framework. Additionally, it was observed that mostly undergraduate and K12 students were studied in face-to-face education, with social sciences as the leading disciplinary field and teaching-learning approaches and design-development-evaluation as the most frequently studied topics, while in studies in which mixed and qualitative methods were the leading methods, exploratory and experimental approaches were more preferred. In line with these results, recommendations are presented to contribute to the field.

In recent decades, great importance has been attached to teaching that promotes an active role of students in the learning process, and therefore the development of critical and divergent thinking in the teaching process. The aim of the research approach is to encourage students to independently investigate, discover, conclude and thus arrive at knowledge with the appropriate instructions of the teacher. For this research, we aimed to examine the educational practice of teachers in the implementation of the research approach in teaching Nature and Society. The purpose was to find out how familiar the teachers are with the concept of research approach, as well as to provide insight into teachers' competences and motivation, the frequency of their implementation of the research approach in teaching Nature and Society, and the interaction patterns and teaching methods they use. The results show that The World Around Us and Nature and Society syllabuses sufficiently (60%) provide instructions for content study through research work, and that teachers acquired a solid amount of knowledge about the application of this way of working during their education (69.4%). More than 80% of teachers believe that they have the competence to plan and implement a research approach in teaching. The results also indicate that when implementing the research approach, teachers use interaction patterns and teaching methods that enable greater student activity. Despite the above said, this research approach is not sufficiently applied, and the explanation provided is the lack of time and resources needed for research.

Innovative concepts coupled with cutting-edge digital advancements have ushered in a transformative era for English language learners worldwide. This research delves into the efficacy of the WordUp mobile application in facilitating the acquisition of new English vocabulary. The application has notably organized English words based on their utility, thus streamlining the learning process. By identifying areas of knowledge deficit, WordUp tailors individualized learning pathways, focusing on one word at a time and prioritizing the most beneficial terms. This paper aims to assess students' perspectives regarding the utility of this application. To achieve this objective, a combination of focus group interviews and survey analysis was conducted among a cohort of students at Singidunum University in Belgrade. The findings underscored students' desire for innovative and engaging methods for mastering English vocabulary. The palpable enthusiasm among students suggests a compelling case for integrating mobile language learning applications into educational curricula. Notably, WordUp emerges as a preferred alternative to traditional dictionaries, offering a flexible and dynamic approach to enhancing English vocabulary skills for learners of all backgrounds.

This paper analyses the potential of micro-credentials in adult education through upcoming EU policies and initiatives, bearing in mind the increasing use of online learning platforms globally. Understanding national and international approaches to micro-credentials allows undergraduate programmes and teaching practices to flourish in economically less developed countries. The Republic of Serbia welcomes new approaches in the search for acceptable models of distance learning and equality in the labour market.

This study examined the impact on the motivation of students toward learning physics upon applying the Nikola Tesla Center (NTC) learning system. The research was conducted using a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design. The participants considered were a large group of 1371 students, from various grades and mixed genres, selected from the same district in Serbia. The instrument of this research was the students' motivation toward science learning (SMTSL), which has been adapted to measure the motivation of students and their learning strategies for physics. Statistical analysis included calculations of Cronbach alpha, chi-square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, independent Samples t-test and ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation test. The study found that using the NTC learning system had a positive effect on students' motivation to learn physics. The experimental group had significantly higher scores on various subscales of motivation such as self-efficacy, active learning strategy, physics learning value, performance goal, and learning environmental stimulation compared to the control group. The research results determined that the NTC learning system is an effective method for promoting motivation of students toward learning physics and it can be recommended for implementation in schools.

With this study we aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week manipulative skills exercise programme on the motor proficiency of young individuals with intellectual disabilities. A total of 32 learners diagnosed with mild intellectual disabilities, with an average age of 17.81 ± 1.44 years, were divided into 2 equal-sized groups: a control group and an experimental group engaged in a manipulative skills intervention programme. Motor proficiency was assessed using the shortform of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT™-2), while the participants' coordination level was evaluated using the Body Coordination composite of the BOT™-2. Results show that the manipulative skills intervention programme led to significant improvements in the experimental group's total motor proficiency score on the shortform BOT™-2 (45.31 ± 12.01 vs. 37.12 ± 7.00, ANCOVA: F = 48.65, p = 0.00) as well as the Body Coordination composite(42.69 ± 11.31 vs. 39.84 ± 11.75, ANCOVA: F = 44.35, p = 0.00). These findings suggest that the experimental exercise programme had a positive effect on enhancing the motor proficiency of young individuals with mild intellectual disabilities.

This article explores community-based rock music education as a site for strengthening social cohesion in a context of postwar, interethnic divisions. Focusing on small and incremental changes, it examines the practices of Music Connects, a project in the Western Balkans, and its goals of revitalizing rock culture in support of a more inclusive social life and greater freedom of movement in the region. The article explores the ways that an organizational and participant focus on aesthetic practices and artistic goals can still contribute to social goals. It highlights three key tasks connected to rock music education and revitalization, captured in the novel conceptual constructs of rehearsal space, the incubator, and the expansion of normal. Drawing upon qualitative data gathered in 2019 and 2021 from 40 participants, the article tells a story of small social changes through music-making that added up to significant developments in the region, musically and socially.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the world led to major changes in educational practices worldwide and presented many challenges for students from vulnerable groups. In this study, we examined protective and risk factors related to schooling from the perspective of students with learning disabilities (LD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the pandemic in three European countries. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 53 primary school students and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results showed that additional individualised educational support from the school was the most common protective factor, followed by the availability of synchronous teaching. On the other hand, lack of individualisation and additional educational support, and shortcomings in teaching strategies during distance education, were the most common risk factors. These findings lead to the conclusion that school professionals need additional training on academic accommodations for LD and/or ADHD students and how to provide them under the conditions of distance and hybrid education.

We aimed to evaluate the internal consistency of Stanford Social Dimensions Scale (SSDS) translated to Serbian and to test it against the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The sample consisted of 200 patients (32% ASD) of the Institute of Mental Health in Belgrade, Serbia (68 females, 132 males, M[subscript age]=9.61, SD[subscript age]=4.06). Internal consistency coefficients were within good/acceptable range for Social Motivation, Affiliation, Recognition and Unusual Approach subscales and below acceptable for Expressive Social Communication subscale. The non-autistic group scored higher on all subscales compared to the ASD group. All SSDS subscales positively correlated with SDQ Prosocial Behaviors scale. The SSDS is a valuable instrument for accessing sociobehavioral phenotype in both individuals on the autism spectrum and non-autistic individuals.

Research suggests that the effect of emergency remote education on the motivation of gifted students during the COVID-19 pandemic differs from that observed in traditional students. The main aim of the present study was to explore the lived experience of academic motivation among gifted high school students in Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 47 gifted students aged 15 to 18, using the same methodological procedure in the three countries with similar educational backgrounds. Grounded in gifted students' narratives about their academic motivation, we detected three groups of students who experienced decreased, no change in, or increased academic motivation. Furthermore, we identified group-specific patterns based on the most common activities and salient features of students' school context, learning, and leisure time during the pandemic.

The article focuses on adaptation and validation of the Academic Motivation Scale questionnaire (AMS-28) in higher education in four Eastern European countries: Czechia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Poland. The research was conducted with a total of 1711 respondents. We examined the construct validity of AMS-28 including measurement invariance and reliability according to national, gender and age groups. Our analysis confirmed its original seven-factor structure as well as its reliability. The tool is measurement invariant across all compared groups (gender, age, countries) except Poland, whose results are specific. The results identify new places on the world map where AMS-28 is functional. The tool appears functional in time, space and various language mutations. Despite satisfactory results, there is still room for future examination of the AMS-28 among different countries. In practice, the tool has a wide range of application possibilities.

Our main goal is to provide a preliminary, descriptive, and thematic overview of civic education courses in Serbia until 2020 from the perspectives of international political sociology, critical pedagogy and critical curriculum studies. After clarifying pertinent conceptual assumptions of curriculum analysis, we review the methodology employed to examine the curriculum. Firstly, our task is to describe how a civic education course in Serbia looks in relevant educational aspects. Secondly, we explore the role civic education plays in postsocialist and post-conflict Serbian society within the educational system and policies, considering transformative processes and reconciliation goals. Among the main findings, we emphasise the inadequacy of the initial phase of implementation of civic education in Serbia. There is insufficient recognition in the broader public regarding the cosmopolitan and social justice values crucial for generating a democratic political culture.

Even though the growing field of school safety research is multifaceted and multidisciplinary, discrepancies still exist among researchers and policymakers about how best to achieve the goal of creating a safe school environment. In response to ongoing concerns about bullying as one of the main school safety issues, schools are implementing various strategies to prevent it. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects that two dimensions of school safety (physical and psychological) have on reports of bullying victimization. In this study, data from 1526 (16-18 years old) students from 19 state schools in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. The findings showed a negative association between psychological safety and bullying victimization. In contrast, the dimension of physical safety showed no association with bullying victimization.

Based on the expectancy-value perspective on identity and identity formation, this paper explores the relationship between math identity (MI) and the dimensions of motivation (i.e. intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value and perceived competence) and math achievement in primary school. An additional aim of our research was to explore these relationships in different cultural contexts and investigate potential gender and grade differences concerning MI. The participants were 11,782 primary school students from Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Portugal and Serbia. All predictors from the motivation spectrum were significant for students' MI across the examined countries and had a stronger association with MI than math achievement. Among the motivational dimensions, intrinsic value had the strongest association with students' MI. Boys had significantly more positive math identities than girls in Estonia, Finland, Norway and Portugal. The results showed that the grade 4 students perceived themselves less as "math persons" than their grade 3 peers in all countries.

Research has shown that some students who underperform in mathematics overestimate their performance, while others who excel in mathematics underestimate it. Looking at this mismatch of performance and confidence judgement--the Dunning-Kruger effect (DKE)--the current study investigates how well students' confidence judgement and item-specific mathematics competence relate with each other and whether such a relationship differs across six European countries (i.e., Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Serbia and Portugal). We also examine whether perceived competence, mathematics identity, gender, socioeconomic status and immigration background predict this mismatch and whether these demographic factors function differently between the examined countries. The results show that the DKE could be found across grades three and four in all six countries. However, there are country-specific patterns regarding the relationship between performance, mathematics identity and perceived competence; the DKE; and how different demographic variables predict its occurrences in particular subpopulations.

Mathematics teachers' beliefs are central to mathematics teaching and student learning. Because different aspects of motivation and affect--particularly enjoyment--primarily develop within the classroom context, examining how different teachers' beliefs may affect student outcomes in mathematics is imperative. The current study examines teachers' beliefs about the nature and learning of mathematics in connection to students' motivation (i.e. intrinsic value, utility value and perceived competence) and enjoyment of mathematics across different settings by considering students' mathematics achievement, gender and classroom composition (i.e. socioeconomic and behavioural). Data were collected from 3rd- and 4th-grade mathematics teachers (N = 686) and their students (N = 11,782) in six countries (i.e. Norway, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Estonia and Serbia). A two-level structural equation modelling technique (TSEM) (i.e. student level and classroom level) with random slopes was employed to address our research questions. The results indicate that students' intrinsic value and perceived competence positively relate to their enjoyment of mathematics in all six countries. Teachers' beliefs about the nature and learning of mathematics moderate the within-classroom relationship between boys and girls and the motivation and enjoyment of learning mathematics in Portugal and Norway. Unlike boys, girls consistently perceive themselves as less competent in mastering mathematics, even in primary school. Classroom socioeconomic composition had a more pronounced influence on teachers' beliefs in Sweden, Norway and Serbia. In relation to teachers' beliefs, classroom behavioural composition was relevant in Estonia and Sweden. In Finland and Norway, classroom composition was essential to boys' and girls' differential motivation and enjoyment of mathematics learning.

School burnout syndrome is typically defined through exhaustion from academic demands, cynicism toward school, and feelings of inadequacy as a student, identically as occupational burnout syndrome. This approach neglects the context of education, while equating it with formal employment, overlooking differences between the status of a student and a worker. Therefore, this study aimed at better understanding diverse aspects of school burnout and its contextual risk factors in order to provide a more comprehensive conceptualization of this phenomenon. Methodologically relying on the grounded theory approach and conceptually on Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, we conducted and analyzed 25 semi-structured individual interviews with Serbian secondary school students that exhibited high scores on the School Burnout Inventory. Five interconnected main themes emerged: Loss of meaning, Intense emotional reactions and states, Perceived incompetence triggered by comparison with classmates, Guilt-induced withdrawal, and Impaired physical health. External factors included Unsupportive and pressuring family and Disengaged teachers. Finally, alongside advocating for preventative measures, such as educational policy and practice changes, we offer a novel theoretical conceptualization of school burnout syndrome. We also argue that the emergence of school burnout syndrome is not an individual's collapse stemming from inner limitations, but a symptom of systemic deficiencies within the educational system.

In 2018 a new, more inclusive concept, of preschool education was adopted in Serbia with plans to implement the change from September 2019 to 2022. This paper examines how the national reform in Early Childhood Education (ECE) was perceived by Hungarian kindergarten pedagogues, who are the largest ethnic minority group in Vojvodina, Serbia. To consider the possible impact this change has on both kindergarten pedagogues and children the research aims were to explore, and to increase scholarly awareness of, potential issues Hungarian ethnic kindergarten pedagogues are facing in their understanding of the new approach. Narratives from Hungarian kindergarten pedagogues who were working with preschool age children were collected. To illuminate different understandings, we propose to apply dialogical self, "I" positions and intersectionality as a fruitful approach for analysing personal and cultural positioning. Findings show uncertainty, resistance, and sentient ways educators interpret the new programme. Findings also demonstrated many kindergarten pedagogues applied a reflexive method of professional practice that remained unchanged for decades. It was demonstrated that in the professional context, the interactions between different selves, and intersection between different cultures contribute to different positions, and storylines, cumulatively resulting in new "we" and "they" positioning. Our recommendation is that further opportunities need to be developed to advance the kindergarten pedagogues' competencies how to deal with change.

Interdisciplinary teaching and learning is an approach that synthesizes the curricular objectives and methods of two or more disciplines or subjects focusing on a specific topic or issue. While it is being increasingly implemented in universities, at lower levels of education there are still countries where science subjects are taught and learned fragmentarily. To assess the significance of the interdisciplinary approach in primary school biology teaching, the paper aims at an experimental verification of the effectiveness of this method in relation to the quality and retention of student knowledge, compared to the monodisciplinary approach to teaching and learning biology. The paper also describes a scenario for teaching a topic in which biological and geographical contents correlate. The study applied a pedagogical experiment with parallel groups. In total, 180 students attending two primary schools in the city of Novi Sad participated in the experiment and were divided into an experimental and a control group. The findings suggest that the interdisciplinary approach improved the quality and retention of student knowledge. The experimental group was more successful in completing tasks that required comprehension and practical application of knowledge. The study thus emphasizes the need for a professional curriculum development that would enhance the interdisciplinary correlation of various disciplines.

This research is focused on the necessity to determine the impact of reflective practice on the quality of teaching conducted by means of various network platforms since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this research was to examine teachers' attitudes towards the applicative potentials of reflective practice considering the improvement of online teaching and learning. These attitudes were studied by means of the empirical method, i.e. the quantitative research method and the scaling technique. The sample comprised Serbian primary school teachers and was voluntary. The results of the research showed that teachers' reflective practice influenced the quality of online teaching during the pandemic. The findings proved that the influence of reflective practice on the quality of online teaching was recognized by primary school teachers, but that it was not applied consistently and accordingly by all teachers. The obtained results confirmed that for the reflective practice to become an inherent attribute of contemporary teachers, it would be necessary that it be acquired both as part of teachers' university education and their continuous professional training. There has been little research on reflective practice and its impact on the quality of teaching. Therefore, this study contributes to a further understanding of the reflective practice aspects that directly influence online teaching within the framework of the Serbian educational system.

Objective: This study is part of the broader research conducted to investigate the experiences of pupils, teachers, parents and students regarding online and blended (online and face-to-face classroom) instruction in the Republic of Serbia during the pandemic, focusing on students' perceptions of the changed form of schooling. Method: The subject of this study was the descriptions of teaching-related events that left a strong impression on 5th grade students in elementary schools in the Republic of Serbia during the first semester of 2020. Thematic analysis was used to collect data in the form of narratives. Findings: The 5th grade students value events related to the transition from classroom to subject teaching (getting to know the teacher and new subjects) more positively than events related to the change in teaching model caused by the coronavirus pandemic outside (lack of direct contact, inconsistency of online and face-to-face instruction, abbreviated classes). They also highlight the benefits of this instructional model, such as face-to-face teaching (albeit not on a daily basis) and learning about new educational technologies. Conclusion: The findings can be regarded as a modest contribution to a better understanding of this problem, which remains relevant in light of the current pandemic conditions.

Due to numerous reforms, modern teaching now asks for the role of the teacher to be redefined as well. One of the teacher's many tasks is to master the competencies which would enable them to encourage and stimulate their learners. In this article, authors report on a research conducted at Preschool Teachers' Training College in Kikinda, which aimed to contribute to a reflexive analysis of the role of the teacher in the context of contemporary teaching process. The goal of the research was to answer the question of which teachers' activities and strategies students at Preschool Teachers' Training College in Kikinda think best encourage the learning process. This question is also th research problem. Purposive and convenience sampling was used, and the sample consisted of students of Preschool Teachers' Training College (N=133). The instrument used in the research was the Excellent Faculty Member questionnaire by Jenrette and Napoli, 1994 (in Suzic, 2005, p. 861). The results obtained, frequency distribution and the mean of respondents' estimates reveal high scores on all the items. The highest rated items indicate that respondents have a high opinion on teachers' mastery of subject matter (M=3.857) and teachers' organization (M=3.857), but also on teachers giving feedback (M=3.805), listening to them carefully (M=3.789), respecting them (M=3.782) and maintaining high professional standards (M=3.767). The lowest rated item is related to teachers setting themselves challenging goals (M=3.436). Conclusions indicate that students find it motivating for learning when teachers exhibit mastery of subject matter, when their work organization is good, when they provide students with feedback, acknowledge and respect them while keeping in mind the students' abilities, skills, and previous knowledge, as well as when they are well prepared for the class and when they innovate the teaching contents. The students emphasized the importance of a positive emotional climate in the classroom to which humour, teacher-student relationship and challenging tasks and goals greatly contribute. [Paper presented at "Contemporary Education 2022" (Online, Apr 2, 2022).]

Objective: The purpose of this research was to understand the significant changes and challenges regarding teaching experiences during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in three universities, one each in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The study provides information on how teachers adapted to online teaching under COVID-19 conditions. Methods: We employed a descriptive phenomenology approach and used an online survey with open-ended questions to collect the data. Braun and Clarke's six steps of thematic analysis based on the traditions of descriptive phenomenology were employed to analyze the data. Results: The teachers' adaptive mechanisms to the COVID-19 crisis could be described through the following steps: identifying the teaching challenges, developing awareness of personal learning challenges, initiating the process of learning by doing, and recognizing the lessons learned. Conclusions: A global teacher's network could be established to encourage professionals from different fields of education to build conventional wisdom in the awareness of the need to constantly try out new strategies with cutting-edge technologies. Implication for Practice: The results provide evidence of ways that future reactions by higher education to global crises can be anticipated. Further, the research provides an understanding of teachers' adaptation strategies during the COVID-19 crisis. Complementary studies show that institutions should be prepared in terms of both material and human resources for emergency remote teaching (ERT), and students should also be prepared mentally and materially for such unprecedented online teaching delivery and learning. Findings of the present study point to the benefit of faculty using communities of practice as an environment for learning and adapting to emergency situations.

Although numerous studies show that intelligence, measured by various tests, is a significant predictor of school achievement, this cognitive variable can only explain about 50% of the variance. It is also known that communicative language ability represents an important basis for learning subject content in the early period of formal education. One of the most comprehensive models of language ability (Bahman, Palmer, 1996), in addition to strategic knowledge, includes language knowledge that includes organizational language knowledge (grammatical and textual) and pragmatic language knowledge. Although the non-cognitive factors de facto participate in the explanation of school success, the aim of the research presented in this paper was to determine the predictive influence of intelligence and communicative language ability, i.e. organizational and pragmatic language knowledge on differences in school achievement in Serbian, English and Mathematics at the end of the first half of the fifth grade. The research was conducted on the sample of 197 fifth-grade students (51% girls, average age 11.5 months) in elementary schools in Loznica. The authors of the paper applied an adapted form of the test of communicative language abilities that was applied in research in a bilingual context (Šimonji-Cernak, 2005). Revisk was used to test verbal and manipulative intelligence (Biro, 1997). We started from the assumption that organizational language knowledge, has a more significant predictive influence on differences in school performance in the above-mentioned subjects than intelligence. Hierarchical regression analysis model determined that the predictor variables of organizational language knowledge explain 36.8%-49.4% of the variance in school achievement, while the intelligence variables are related to the achievements in Serbian and Mathematics and explain 0.6%-3% of the variance. A significant partial contribution of pragmatic knowledge and knowledge of verbs as an element of grammatical language knowledge were determined in all three subjects, as well as the contribution of knowledge of grammatical rules only in the Serbian language.The results confirm the hypothesis and indicate that for success in the mother tongue, foreign language and mathematics it is important to develop grammatical knowledge, and pay special attention to the importance and strategies of developing pragmatic language function in the period of early formal education.

Quality of life is a construction used to measure an individual's perspective on their well-being. In modern research, voice and speech disorders have been recognized as indicators of impaired quality of life in children. The aim of this research is to analyze the characteristics of quality of life in children with voice and speech disorders and children of typical development of younger school age. The research assessed the social, emotional and functional aspects of children's quality of life. The research is anonymous, done on a sample of parents of children of younger school age. The examined sample included 100 parents of children of I (53%) and II (47%) grades of primary school. Respondents were divided into two groups, the experimental group (children who go to a speech therapist due to voice and speech pathology (M = 1.55, SD = 0.44)) and the control group (children of typical development (M = 0.57, SD = 0.47)). The Pediatric Voice Handicap Index - pVHI was used to assess the quality of life in children. One-factor multivariate ANOVA was used in statistical data processing. The results of this study show that children with voice and speech disorders have impaired quality of life compared to children of typical development (p <0.05). The social and functional use of speech is worse in children with voice and speech disorders, and the emotional discomfort associated with voice and speech in these children far exceeds the emotional discomfort in children of typical development. As we stated in our work, many studies have shown that voice and speech disorders impair the physical and mental health of children. Due to all the above, the assessment of the quality of life in children with voice and speech disorders is especially important for psychologists and speech therapists during adolescence, so that they can identify problems in a timely manner and take the necessary support measures.

The topic of Direct current is one of the areas where the physics students' lack of deep understanding was identified. The aim of the research was to examine the effect of the blended learning approach on students' motivation for learning physics. The sample included 128 upper-secondary school students from Novi Sad (Serbia) with an average age of 16. Of these, 64 students made up the experimental group and 64 students made up the control group. In the control group, the students did not actively participate in simulated experiments, and in the experimental group learning was realized through the application of the blended learning approach (BLA), since the students had an active role in conducting simulations themselves. The obtained results showed that BLA contributes to the overall motivation for learning physics, as well as self-efficacy and physics learning value. Also, an increase in motivation was observed in two dimensions of motivation among female students in the experimental group. The implementation of BLA caused a significant increase in the motivation of students with lower achievement. Therefore, the main recommendation, based on the obtained research results, would be for teachers to apply BLA to a greater extent because it contributes to student motivation.

With the development of technology allowing for a rapid expansion of data science and machine learning in our everyday lives, a significant gap is forming in the global job market where the demand for qualified workers in these fields cannot be properly satisfied. This worrying trend calls for an immediate action in education, where these skills must be taught to students at all levels in an efficient and up-to-date manner. This paper gives an overview of the current state of data science and machine learning education globally and both at the high school and university levels, while outlining some illustrative and positive examples. Special focus is given to vocational education and training (VET), where the teaching of these skills is at its very beginning. Also presented and analysed are survey results concerning VET students in Slovenia, Serbia, and North Macedonia, and their knowledge, interests, and prerequisites regarding data science and machine learning. These results confirm the need for development of efficient and accessible curricula and courses on these subjects in vocational schools.

Based on the conceptual and empirical framework of five perspectives on teaching and earlier studies that have suggested a link between teaching perspectives and teachers' academic disciplines, this paper aimed to examine the differences in the university teachers' perspectives from various academic disciplines and faculties. This research also aimed tovalidate the Teaching Perspectives Inventory on a sample of 526 university teachers in Serbia. The results confirmed the differences in theuniversity teachers' perspectives and led to the conclusion that hard sciences teachers were more teacher-centred, while soft sciences teacherswere more student-centred. Additionally, exploratory factor analysisindicated that the slightly modified version of the TPI is applicable andreliable to use in other educational contexts. However, it can be concluded that research on teachers' perspectives is limited to specific cultural,educational, and research contexts.

The Bologna Process represents the most significant extensive reform of higher education in Europe. The particular aspects of the Bologna Process still incite critical evaluations as regards the successfulness of its implementation. The theoretical part of the paper analyzes the fundamental principles defined in the Bologna Declaration, requirements and critical views of the Bologna Process, as well as the relevant research conducted on this issue used for the comparative analysis. The introduction of the Bologna Process into the Serbian university education has initiated numerous changes, the increase of the student mobility being the most striking one. The empirical part of the paper focuses on the study of the following problem: the manner in which students of social sciences and humanities perceive the Bologna Process fifteen years after its implementation into the Serbian university education. Consequently, the subject matter of the research is the observation and description of students' attitudes to this phenomenon with the purpose of acquiring relevant information "firsthand." The achievable objective of the presented research reviews the context and condition of the Bologna Process during 2019/2020 academic year and its feasible improvements, which can contribute to comparative study of similar researches in the time of the pandemics. The specific research tasks include the study of the Bologna requirements, attitudes to the Bologna Process, benefits and restrictions of this reform, and particularly the attempt to suggest the improvement of the Bologna Process realization from the perspective of students of social sciences and humanities. The research sample consisted of the Bachelor students of social sciences and humanities from the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš (N=150). The survey technique and the scaling technique with a rating scale questionnaire were used (BOL-JM-JOZ). The questionnaire had five closed-ended questions, while the Likert scale was comprised of 23 items. The test of the instrument consistency proved its reliability. The obtained results were shown by the chi square test, which proved a statistically significant difference in the respondents' answers as regards the year of study, p<0.05. The main factors were extracted from the assessment scale by the application of the factor analysis. These factors examined the students' perceptions of the Bologna Process, comparing the answers provided by the students of the first, second, third and fourth year of study of social sciences and humanities, p<0.05.

Purpose: Education policy implementation is as important as policy design. This study applies a literature-based, multi-dimensional framework for success factors and barriers to vocational education and training (VET) reform implementation in the case of a new dual VET law in Serbia. We use the framework to assess factors related to implementation, then relate these factors to actual implementation progress to determine how factors relate to progress. In this application of the framework, we examine whether implementation success requires high scores in every dimension. Methods: This is a mixed methods study. We conduct document analysis of key resources related to the structure and intention of the reform. We also statistically analyze a dataset of two rounds of interviews conducted during the pre- and early-implementation phases. These interviews include key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, and from national, regional, and local-level actors. We examine how the framework's dimensions and determinants relate to implementation progress. Results: The implementation of the law is moving forward in Serbia, making this a successful case of progress in policy implementation. Despite this progress, the factors for implementation are not all strong. We find that the content dimension of the framework is a barrier, capacity is unclear, and context, commitment, and clients--actors' engagement--drive implementation progress. Thus, although the implementation process is imperfect in its determinants, it is successfully progressing and already forming the new system. Conclusions: Based on our results we argue that--even if the framework describes factors that affect VET reform implementation--not all elements are necessary for VET reform implementation to progress. Policymakers can start without perfect implementation conditions and may benefit from striving for "good enough" across dimensions rather than perfect in any one dimension. We discuss potential mechanisms and identify pathways for future research, including moving in the direction of causal research.

As our classrooms become more heterogeneous due to migration, education, geography and bilingualism have become the creators of international needs. Through a closed-ended questionnaire we sought to examine quantitative information about the advantages of teaching geography bilingually. With this research we studied 5 secondary schools in Serbia where geography was presented bilingually. The lack of similar research and the freshness of this learning model led us to the subject for the article, which is based on revealing the motives and preferences of students for this type of teaching. Using comparison with standard teaching in the mother tongue as method, the interest of students in bilingual teaching was determined. We also investigated the possibility of applying didactic-methodical principles for organising study without time limiting learning. A certain number of students found language competencies, more diversity in the teaching process and significant individual work activities as a step towards academic and personal achievement -- almost as an employment advantage. This justifies the aim with our study by emphasising the benefits and the need to study geography bilingually.

Although teachers' attitudes towards gifted students and gifted education have been monitored more intensively since the 1990s, we still do not have a clear and definitive picture. Therefore, with the research reported on here we examined teachers' opinions about the connection between gifted education and elitism and how they viewed the need for grouping gifted students. The sample consisted of 432 primary and secondary school teachers. The main results show teachers' neutral opinions towards the grouping of gifted students and the correlation to elitism. Significant differences were obtained in the teachers' opinions for demographic characteristics, i.e. the school type (primary or secondary) and the school location (urban or rural). The results are in line with the general idea that education should be accessible to everyone according to their abilities in order to overcome equating gifted education with the rich elite.

To make it easier for students to learn the contents of physics and increase their motivation to learn, physics teachers need to apply different teaching strategies. With this study we aimed to examine the impact of the modified Know-Want-Learn (mKWL) strategy in physics teaching on elementary school students' metacognition. The pedagogical experiment with parallel groups was applied to determine whether the mKWL strategy affected students' metacognition. The students in the experimental group were taught by applying the mKWL strategy with a specific chart. The chart consisted of columns: T -- What I think and what I know, Q -- What questions I have, H -- How can I find out, L -- What I Learned (TQHL chart). The students in the control group were taught (the same physics curriculum) by using the traditional teaching model, without this TQHL chart. A questionnaire on metacognition was used for the evaluation of sixth-grade students' metacognition. The statistical analysis of data included descriptive statistics, as well as paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests. Research results, based on the scores obtained using the questionnaire on metacognition, imply that the use of the proposed mKWL strategy increases students' metacognition. Considering the positive effect of this teaching strategy on students' metacognition, its further application in other teaching subjects is planned as well as the training of a large number of elementary school teachers for its application.

Emoticons have become a common phenomenon in email correspondence between students and professors. Even though the use of emoticons in formal writing is considered inappropriate and unprofessional, more and more students are using these nonverbal communication tools to add context or emphasis to their email messages to professors. This paper examines the association between the use of emoticons and professors' perceptions of higher education students' email messages with and without emoticons in two countries, Serbia and Slovenia. The students' emails were collected and assessed on several levels. The students' messages were examined with particular attention to the appropriateness of the students' writing style. In addition, the students' level of digital literacy, their attitude toward a professor, and gender differences in the use of emoticons were examined. Furthermore, an online questionnaire was used to identify characteristic differences between students who use emoticons and students who do not. The results show that messages with emoticons are rated lower on several dimensions than messages without emoticons. In addition, students who use emoticons show lower digital literacy and perceive their professors as more understanding and helpful. Emoticon use is not related to gender. The results suggest that students should avoid using emoticons even if they have a positive attitude toward their professor.

Teachers around the world are expected to respect the diversity of students and differentiate instruction. Therefore, it is important to identify factors that are related to the use of differentiated instruction. The aim of this study was to examine the indirect effects of transformational school leadership on teachers' use of differentiated instruction. Data were collected from 314 Serbian teachers who work in different school settings. Structural equation modelling with latent variables showed that teacher collaboration and self-efficacy had significant direct effects on the use of differentiated instruction. Transformational school leadership positively predicted differentiated instruction via teacher collaboration. Moreover, the obtained results revealed that both teacher collaboration and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between transformational school leadership and teachers' use of differentiated instruction. Implications for educational policy and practice were discussed.

Online eikaiwa, or English conversations via teleconferencing platforms, is a popular informal English learning avenue among Japanese nationals. Although online eikaiwa has received scholarly attention in recent years, only a few studies have investigated the current diversification efforts in the industry in terms of hiring teachers from various ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Using critical discourse analysis, this paper analyzed multimodal semiotic resources of texts, videos, and photos found on online eikaiwa companies' websites and student customers' reviews. The findings reveal that the diversification trend initiated by online eikaiwa schools supports everyday discourses that hierarchise unequal Englishes and reinforce native-speakerism. We also found that despite the ubiquity of native speaker bias, female teachers from the Philippines and Serbia are highly commodified because of the unequal social and gendered relations among teachers and student customers. Our analysis shows that male Japanese consumers engaged in conversations with female LX (Dewaele, J. M. 2018. "Why the Dichotomy 'L1 Versus LX User' is Better Than 'Native Versus non-Native Speaker'." "Applied Linguistics" 39 (2): 236-240) English speaking teachers (ESTs) not primarily for language development but for their desire and fetishes for female teachers. The paper ends by arguing that the inequities and gendered formations found in online eikaiwa intersect with pre-existing economic, historical, and political connections between Japan and the host countries of LX ESTs.

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 influenced all aspects of school life. Teaching and learning moved only online, with different software solutions emerging for teachers to make the most of them. These educational platforms provided more than just a traditional teaching which is focused on the transmission and access to information. Their added value is in a student-centred approach which promotes diverse competencies as regarded to be 21st century skills. This study focused on promoting 21st century digital skills using educational platforms in the times of COVID-19 during school lockdowns. It examined teachers' responses about the extent to which this promotion was attained during their online teaching using these technologies. A sample of 667 schoolteachers from Serbia was used and relevant data were collected using an online questionnaire. The analysis showed there were significant differences between these medians of promotion of digital skills for different groups of teachers favouring certain groups. These differences could be explained by the fact that teachers in those favoured groups were more experienced in using educational platforms and arranged teamwork within them more often. Additional analysis showed that experience and teamwork were related and that they jointly contributed to digital skills promotion. Suggestions for practice and research are included.

Early career investigators (ECIs) in the Social Sciences and Humanities need to receive adequate information so that they will be empowered to progress in their academic career and deal with the various evaluation processes that constitute an essential part of their professional development. This article relies on an informational-ecosystemic approach originally developed in the context of resilience studies and crisis communication and uses it as a theoretical framework to analyse and understand the "early academic career building information ecosystems" (EACBIEs), into which ECIs professionally develop. The characteristics of these ecosystems are then refined through the analysis of interviews conducted with ECIs from all around Europe in the framework of the European Network for Research Evaluation in Social Sciences and Humanities (ENRESSH), European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action. The analysis reveals the remarkable heterogeneity of the information ecosystems into which early career researchers have to build their career in Europe, articulating a diversity of formal, non-formal and informal learning environments, and several related information channels, as well as showing a geographical spread that covers institutional, national and international levels. Furthermore, although the diverse information channels at hand and geographical levels at which they operate appear in some cases to be complementary, and even mutually reinforcing, they can also, in other cases, be dysfunctional, fragmented and unfair to some extent.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the temporary closure of schools around the world. Due to the sudden and complete transition to online instruction, teachers were faced with various challenges. The assessment of student performance is one of the integrative segments of remote teaching. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between teachers' perceptions of online assessment and different facets of self-efficacy. The study involved 147 primary and secondary school teachers who completed an online survey. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed significant effects of teachers' ICT self-efficacy and teachers' self-efficacy concerning student engagement on the perception of some aspects of online assessment. On the other hand, teacher self-efficacy for instructional strategies was not a relevant predictor. In light of the obtained results, suggestions for future research were discussed.