|
|
Metaphors and Analogies in Economics and Economic Education
Langer, Tomáš ; Krpálek, Pavel (advisor) ; Šlosár, Rudolf (referee) ; Pavera, Libor (referee)
Presented thesis explores the ground at the intersection of three topics: education, relational thinking and economics. Within the sphere of economic education it investigates the use of concepts known from (i) conceptual metaphor theory, (ii) psychological model of analogical reasoning, (iii) model of generative learning from educational psychology and (iv) existing research on use of metaphors and analogies in natural sciences education. Thesis shows the potential of metaphorical origin of economic terminology for teaching economic concepts and educational use of economic media content. At the same time it proposes a notation for visualizing metaphorical mappings between domains. It addresses economic interpretation from the viewpoint of the relationship between theoretical economic models and actual economic situations, as well as from the viewpoint of the relationship between mathematical structure of the model and its economic meaning. In the first case, it shows interpretative skill, being framed within the revised Bloom taxonomy, as a complex cognitive task, in the second case it develops model of economic interpretation of mathematical structures on the basis of psychological model of analogical reasoning. In both cases it formulates highlights students should know about the analogical nature of economic models. On the basis of the model of generative learning it develops a set of visual methaphors applicable in the introductory topics of microeconomics and macroeconomics and examines effects of their use in the classes of economics. By undertaking such research it initiates the exploration of paths leading in the directions suggested by the theoretical analysis.
|
|
|
Analysis of Quality of 'Teaching of the Tertiary Professional School and Raising its Level with Emphasis on Competence for Employment and Entrepreneurial Activities and Thinking in the Environment of the Tertiary Business Entrepreneutial School
Bejdáková, Blanka ; Asztalos, Ondřej (advisor) ; Krpálek, Pavel (referee) ; Šlosár, Rudolf (referee)
It has been the primary objective of this doctoral thesis to determine the level of the quality of teaching at a particular tertiary professional school and suggest avenues leading to potential further improvement of the quality of the teaching. Quality of teaching is a relatively broad term; therefore, the thesis places emphasis primarily on the level of the students' key competences, primarily the competence for employment and entrepreneurial activities. In order to fulfil this objective we need to define the quality standards of the teaching at tertiary professional schools, obtain relevant information about contents and structure of curricula, teaching methods and forms deployed at the school and also information about the students' level of knowledge and skills. Last but not least, students and their future employers should express their opinion of the quality of teaching. Scientific benefit of this thesis is the creation of my own model of quality evaluation of the teaching at tertiary technical schools, which in the future, after further verification in practice, could become a basis for elaboration of a uniform methodology for quality evaluation of the teaching at tertiary professional schools, particularly those with economic specialisation. The secondary scientific benefit of the thesis can be found in obtaining the information about contents and methods of education used at a particular economic tertiary professional school and utilisation of such information for development of key competences, with emphasis on the competence for employment and entrepreneurial activities. Results of the research may also serve as a basis for creation of the teaching and learning document for similar branches and also as a basis for decision-making as to whether and in which form should the integrating subject be included into the teaching. The objective of the thesis has been achieved by means of the research made at the Tertiary Business Entrepreneurial School (Vyšší obchodní podnikatelská škola), Masná 13, Prague 1. The research consists in analysis of the contents, method and forms of education at this school, and also in the experiment when an integrating subject is included into the teaching in the third grade. The final output is the recommendations and generalisations applying to tertiary professional schools in general, particularly to tertiary professional schools with economic specialisation. The thesis deals with the issue from two points of view, advancing from the general to the specific so that generally valid recommendations can be pronounced in the conclusion again. The first part of the thesis introduces general startpoints for the ensuing research task. It is subdivided into five chapters. The first chapter describes the subject and methodology of the research. The second chapter defines the significance of human capital for competitiveness of the Czech Republic. The third chapter summarizes the startpoints and tools of the school reform with emphasis on educational objectives in the area of students' key competences. The fourth chapter deals with the substance and tools of entrepreneurial education and thinking. The fifth chapter describes the history and the present of tertiary professional school education, suggesting its potential development in the future. The subsequent part containing the research itself is subdivided into three chapters. The sixth chapter characterises the Tertiary Business Entrepreneurial School, analysing its conditions for educating students, monitoring its competitors and defining its strong and weak points, its opportunities and threats. The seventh chapter contains the substance of the research task itself. The eighth chapter subsequently evaluates the results of the research, verifies the hypotheses and formulates recommendations applicable to tertiary professional schools in general.
|
guest ::
