Peter Kuna

How to improve professional competences of technical subject teachers

In the paper the authors briefly describe the aims and content of an international project focused on modernization of tertiary education in the target countries (the Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia). The quality of teaching technical subjects is assured by providing practically oriented syllabi and modules in the embedded system environment and by creating remote laboratories in the target institutions.

Software Tools for Creating and Presenting Virtual 3D Models

The authors of the article define the criteria for a selection of the most suitable software tool for creating and presenting virtual 3D models in educational research. Geomagic Design system is presented as a software that meets the specified selection criteria to create 3D models and the software environment of Adobe Acrobat Reader is a convenient means of their presentation. The experience of the authors from the research application of virtual 3D models in the educational process confirms, that the pupils can work with the mentioned software products without any problems and without any instructions.

Innovation of CAD/CAE System Teaching at Upper Secondary Education

In the traditional methodology of CAD system teaching, one starts with acquirement of technical drawing principles and design of technical schemes and drawings based on manual drawing. Only consequently students learn to draw the schemes and technical drawings in some of the CAD systems. In their paper the authors present a new, by them created methodology of teaching modelling and simulation in CAD/CAE systems at which students (ISCED 3 level) start immediately with a machine element proposal (draft) and modelling. A key question related to the use of this innovative teaching methodology is whether the reduction of the technical drawing teaching will not have a negative impact on the students’ achievements. The answer to this question should result from a pedagogical experiment which the authors are going to carry out and a methodology of which, together with the research hypothesis and expected results, they present in the paper.

Student’s Behavior in Virtual Environment

The analysis of students behaviour in web learning environment within distance learning is one of the most significant areas for learning optimization. The aim of this article is to analyse student’s behaviour and the use of e-learning course in subject Discrete Mathematics. Data and results of this analysis are important for further adjustment and improvement of the e-course. Results of the course traffic analysis were estimated using association rules Discrete mathematics is compulsory for both bachelor and master study program Applied Informatics in full-time and distance form of study as well as bachelor and master study program Teaching of academic subjects in full-time and distance form of study. This electronic course is designed to use linear and branched teaching programs. In compiling the course we tried to take into consideration target audience - students of Computer Science. The course is designed to not require any special knowledge in IT field. Discrete Mathematics Course 1 consists of 10 thematic units (areas) replicating the length of the semester in weeks. Authors describe detail analysis of student’s behaviour which is made of data taken from LMS MOODLE database. We used specific types of data, which are indicating user traffic on every single page of the course. We used a log file that contains records of e-learning course with 107 students. To identify sessions, we used the STT (Session Timeout Threshold). Purpose of session identification is to divide access of all users into separate sessions (relations). Session side-effect may exclude users who are behind a NAT or proxy device. So we can identify users who are sharing a single computer, for example in a library. Students who used the e-course of Discrete Mathematics 1 were more successful in the final examination. The fact that the course is effective does not mean that all activities have been fully utilized. Based on the results of our analysis, we can optimize and improve the e-course and bring it closer to the student’s needs. After implementation of necessary changes we can evaluate impact of these changes in the efficacy of the course.

MATLAB and heat transfer in solid state

The article deals with the problems of heat transfer through solids. The calculation of the thermal resistance of the system consisting of several layers of solid materials having different thermal resistances on the intensive calculations and the time. In the first part we law of calorimetry equation. On this basis, we can build a theory of one-dimensional and multi-dimensional differential equation of thermal diffusion. The derived equations are then used to simulate the heat transfer in building applications. We had to adjust the thermal diffusion equation in such a shape that it can be addressed by using PDE toolbox.

Web application as support for learning methodology in informatics education

In this paper, the authors focus on the using of web applications in informatics education. Applications are part of a new model of learning in Discrete Mathematics course in the study program in Applied Informatics. The knowledge that students acquire in the subject are key. Learning and acquiring new knowledge is one of the priority skills for personal development of every person and thereby directly affecting the other direction. In teaching, we should lay stress on that students not only memorized knowledge but understand them and then they would easily be able to use in practice.

Web application as a support for teaching methodology in educating informatics curricula

In this paper, the authors focus on the problems of processing and using web applications in education. Applications are part of a new model of learning in Discrete Mathematics course in the study program in Applied Informatics. The knowledge that students acquire in the subject is key. Learning and acquiring new knowledge is one of the priority skills for personal development of every person and thereby directly affecting their other direction. In teaching, we should put stress on that students not only memorize knowledge but understand it so that they would be easily able to use it in practice.

Remote experiment at universities

The idea of sharing laboratories through the Internet for educational purposes emerged in the nineties of the last century in the USA. Since that time, remote real experiments have registered significant progress and currently are constantly developing. Several authors in their professional studies confirm their educational benefits. The paper presents observations and experiences of regular users of remote real experiments - university teachers from various places in the world to the use of remote real experiments in education.