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Chapter

Educational Technology at the

Study Program of Educational
Physics at the University of
Maribor in Slovenia
Milan Svetec, Robert Repnik, Robi Arcet and Eva Klemenčič

Abstract

Physics is an experimental scientific discipline and needs to be introduced as

such in schools. However, in recent decades, we witnessed intensive advancement
in the field of computers, sensors, and measurement devices and also educational
technologies, animations, and simulations, which one can use in teaching Physics.
With ICT integration in education, we can supplement, but not substitute, differ-
ent teaching methods, which include experiments. The modern teacher of Physics
needs to be well trained in the use of all kinds of educational technologies, in par-
ticular in the field of experimental work. In this contribution, we analyze the study
program of educational Physics at the University of Maribor in Slovenia, where we
focus on achieving adequate competences for appropriate use of ICT in teaching
theoretical topics as well as executing experiments.

Keywords: educational technology, experimental work, smart phone applications

1. Introduction

Information and communication technology (hereinafter referred to as ICT)

is one of the most important and irreplaceable technologies of the twenty-first
century. Among others, the rise of new technologies leads to important changes in
the field of education. Educational systems in most EU countries [1, 2], including
Slovenia, face a major problem of how to include the rapidly changing ICT field
systematically and on a daily basis into teaching and learning. Consequently, in
recent years, many studies of ICT integration [3–6] and its potential in the educa-
tional field were published.
ICT in education has a double role. Technology brings new tools that improve the
teaching and learning process, but at the same time, ICT is a part of the curriculum
with the goal of preparing students for life by providing them with all the neces-
sary skills and knowledge. Note, that by word “student,” we mean everyone who is
studying at any educational level. We need to be aware that technology itself cannot
be effective every time and does not necessarily improve students’ knowledge.
Teachers must have a good sense for planning when to include ICT, to what extent,
and how to actively involve students. We must emphasize that science subjects
require the development of experimental research skills and abilities, which cannot

1
The Role of Technology in Education

be fully developed, or even replaced with even the most sensible inclusion of
ICT. Experiments should not be substituted but supplemented by ICT tools. It is
important that Physics teachers are digitally literate and well trained in the use of
all kinds of educational technologies, particularly in the field of experimental skills.
In our opinion, only a smart combination of educational technologies can improve
the understanding of students. Furthermore, it can lead to the development of not
only digital and science competences but also entrepreneurship competences. The
EntreComp study [7] defines entrepreneurship as a transversal key competence that
act upon opportunities and transform ideas into value for others.
In our contribution, we use qualitative research methods based on a docu-
mentary research method and experience-based analysis. We analyze the study
program of educational Physics at the University of Maribor in Slovenia with a focus
on achieving adequate competences for appropriate ICT integration in teaching
theoretical topics and experimental work.

2. Information and communications technology

New technologies based on ICT are appearing in different areas. In the field
of education, ICT ignites important changes. Availability of ICT is an indicator
showing the progress and development of a society. ICT literacy has become one of
the most significant life skills or competences and has been influencing many areas
in life. An individual wanting to function in society in a socially acceptable manner
must, therefore, be digitally literate. Gerlič et al. [8] claims that a digitally compe-
tent individual using ICT is more successful, creative, and innovative, handles valid
and reliable data, and is aware of legal and ethical principles of safe and responsible
use of technology.
Digital literacy can be defined as the ability to use digital environments to
acquire important knowledge. A digitally literate individual can:

• recognize IT needs;

• effectively acquire necessary data;

• be critical to information and sources;

• incorporate gathered data into its own skill set;

• use the information to achieve set goals; and

• follow ethical rules and legal regulations regarding acquiring and use of
information [9].

ICT development is extremely fast, and the field is constantly changing and
upgrading. At first, ICT applies only to hardware, but today it also covers applica-
tions (software), networks (Internet), and services. One of the most important
ICT resources recently is mobile technology (smartphones, tablet PCs, handheld
devices, etc.), which has developed rapidly over the past decade. Its significance
has been increasing mostly due to mobility. With the help of the Internet, the user
can communicate and quickly access various content and information at any time.
ICT has become accessible and available immediately and almost everywhere. This
in itself offers not only many advantages but also disadvantages, which is seen as
excessive stress and abuse of information technology.

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Educational Technology at the Study Program of Educational Physics at the University…
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85081

A large variety of things that people used to do by thinking, technology does

for them today. Spitzer [10] warns about the phenomenon of the so-called digital
dementia—the sneaking of mental abilities due to the use of digital technology.
For children, Spitzer even recommends all schools should ban all forms of digital
technology. However, this is highly unlikely. We should not abandon digital technol-
ogy as it does serve several educational benefits. Instead, we need to learn how to
use it responsibly to get the best out of technology and look after the mental health
of both the younger generation and ourselves. As Tearle [11] concludes, although
ICT requires additional work for a teacher, it enables positive learning outcomes.

3. Incorporating ICT in the educational process

Educational systems in most EU countries, including Slovenia, are facing a

major challenge of how to include the rapidly changing ICT field systematically into
teaching and learning. Because changes in education occur gradually and introduc-
ing new approaches is relatively slow, there is a discrepancy between general use of
ICT in everyday life and its use in education [1, 12].
By incorporating ICT in education, one can notice improvement of the teaching
and learning process. Furthermore, as ICT is a part of the curriculum, students
gain skills and knowledge that are important also in everyday life [13]. In addi-
tion, ICT can be a tool to develop other key competences. In order to utilize all ICT
advantages, we need to familiarize students with the basic skills to work with ICT,
starting with the early years of study. Content should be included in school subjects
in the most suitable manner allowing for the use of technology. Therefore, word
processing should be included in mother language and spreadsheets in mathematics
when learning about functions or data presentation. We believe regular inclusion of
current technology in the teaching process would accustom students to the practical
use of technology.
The updated curricula in Slovenia recommend the use of ICT in the educational
process. ICT is used in class by teachers according to their personal preferences,
which depends on their skills and attitude toward technology. Therefore, for the
development of digital competences of students, it is relevant that teachers possess
sufficient skills and competences to incorporate ICT in their teaching practices on a
daily basis.
Gerlič [8] gives five main advantages of the use of ICT in the learning process, as
follows:

• increased motivation of students (ICT provides interactive and multimedia

lessons which draw students’ attention);

• easier and improved access to information (teachers can prepare materials

and tools in advance and students can access them using computers and the
Internet);

• support of modern teaching approaches (problem lessons, teamwork lessons,

and cooperative learning);

• greater teacher efficiency (ICT helps teachers access various sources to form
lesson plans).

• improved information literacy (ICT helps improve teacher and student infor-
mation literacy).

3
The Role of Technology in Education

ICT gives students many positive changes that influence their motivation and
activity during lessons. We need to be aware that technology cannot be effective every
time and does not necessarily improve students’ knowledge. Sensible use of technol-
ogy requires a lot of knowledge and preparation. Teachers must have a good sense for
planning, when, how, and why include ICT and to what extent. In addition, teachers
must have skills in the didactically reasonable use of ICT during lessons [14, 15].
Science subjects require the development of experimental research skills and
abilities (observing, classifying, developing experimental techniques, comparison,
etc.), which cannot be fully developed or even replaced with even the most sensible
inclusion of ICT. Therefore, just using ICT in the classroom does not automatically
mean an increased contribution of ICT to the lesson and the students’ knowledge.

4. ICT deployment in Slovenian schools

In Slovenia, the systematic ICT deployment in education started in 1994 with

the project called RO—Computer Literacy. The program was designed to encourage
schools to increase the number of computers, hardware, and software equipment,
and thus affect the motivation of the lessons. The implementation of this project
took place during the years from 1994 until 2000. With the introduction of ICT,
curricula, textbooks, and didactic materials were updated. In addition, it was cru-
cial to educate teachers. Initially, teachers attended general introductory seminars in
order to update with technology, which was later used in a variety of administrative
matters and lesson planning. Later, they began not only to educate teachers in the
use of ICT in these areas but also in their individual subject areas.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport assured one of the major break-
throughs of the system from 2006, based on the upgraded Action plan for the
follow-up leap of the IT implementation in schools. With the resources of The
European Social Fund, The Ministry of Education and Sport carried out a variety
of public tenders and direct projects in public institutions (National Education
Institute Slovenia and ARNES) under the name of e-education.
Within the “e-education,” educational consultancy support and technical
assistance to schools were developed and implemented, as well as the development
and implementation of the standard called “e-competent teacher and principal”.
The proposal of the standard called “e-competent teacher,” which contains six
fundamental e-competences, was not formally introduced [16].
The six fundamental e-competences are as follows:

1. Knowledge of and ability to critically use the ICT.

2. The ability of communication and cooperation at a distance (teachers, educa-

tors, and other educational professionals, parents, and students).

3. The ability to search, collect, process, and evaluate (critical assessment) data,
information, and concepts.

4. Safe use and compliance with the legal and ethical principles of information
use and information publication.

5. Designing, creating, updating, and posting products (materials).

6. The ability to design, implement, and evaluate teaching and learning with the
use of ICT.

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Educational Technology at the Study Program of Educational Physics at the University…
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85081

In addition to the aforementioned project “e-education,” a few other projects in

the field of ICT deployment were carried out between 2007 and 2013 with co-
financing from the European Social Fund: e-competences for teachers in bilingual
schools; Production of multimedia and interactive e-learning materials; e-books; a
project called e-schoolbag; and a project called IR optics.
After all these projects, it was found that the use of ICT in the classroom in
Slovenian schools is in accordance with the average use of ICT in classrooms of EU
countries [1, 2]. Slovene teachers participated in several trainings regarding the use
of ICT, which were beyond the development phase of the “basic training.” Now,
most of the training is in the area of pedagogical use of ICT.
In January 2016, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport adopted Strategic
guidelines for further implementation of ICT in the Slovenian education until 2020
[17]. This document presents current initiatives and policies in Slovenia and the
European Union. In addition, it defines the vision of providing an open, creative,
and sustainable learning environment supported by innovative use of ICT. The aim
of ICT integration is to improve the effectiveness and quality of obtained knowl-
edge and skills of key competences that one needs for successful integration into
society.
Other objectives are to provide a higher level of utilization of ICT skills within
the whole educational system and thereby contribute to the development of key
competences. The latter also includes participants in the adult education and
thereby represents the provision of comprehensive development of the compe-
tences of educators, teachers, coordinators, principals, and teachers in higher
education (formal education and further training) with effective forms of training.
This leads to the strengthening of the professional community, with the active
exchange of good practices, or through mutual learning and providing quality
services (counseling, assistance). This should also be pursued through the provision
of various forms of training (seminars, workshops, consultancy, etc.) of educators,
teachers, higher education faculty, and professional staff and principals for better
and more efficient education with the support of ICT.
In addition to ICT deployment and developing digital literacy, the Ministry of
Education, Science and Sport run the project called “Strengthening the competence
of entrepreneurship and promoting a flexible transition between education and the
environment in gymnasiums,” which started in 2018 and will finish in 2022. The
main objectives of the project are to establish, implement, and evaluate the model to
develop entrepreneurship competences among students. The latter can be achieved
by introducing flexible forms of learning, cross-curricular connections, student-
centered learning, authentic problem solving, and innovative use of ICT.

5. The use of ICT in education

The use of ICT in the educational process can be divided into three major areas.
The primary scope encompasses activities through which learners become familiar
with the operation and use of ICT (general educational area—ICT literacy), or
they upgrade their knowledge or decide about a vocational route (specific profes-
sional education area). The secondary area encompasses the ICT integration in the
educational process itself. In this case, ICT acts as a teaching resource or device in a
variety of learning activities, which are linked to the direct educational process in
the individual subjects. It can take part in all or only in certain stages of the learn-
ing process, such as introductory stage, processing new learning contents, practice
exercises, revision, knowledge testing, and decision-making on the workflow. The
tertiary area covers activities that accompany the educational process: business and

5
The Role of Technology in Education

technical-organizational elements characteristic of the educational system (admin-

istration, organization, information, and communication). Nowadays, the use of
ICT in this area is indispensable. The information system of education that allows
internal, local, national, and transnational networking through ICT is becoming an
increasingly important factor in the development of the tertiary area.
The critical review of ICT integration in education is done by Livingstone [18],
who presents both obstacles and challenges that schools face, and improvements in
learning outcomes.

5.1 e-learning

ICT has brought new opportunities for the acquisition and creation of knowl-
edge. It has become a vital element of the modern processes of education. In
general, the term e-learning refers to the possibility or the use of ICT in education
[19]. Gerlič et al. [8] cites three different approaches of the use of ICT in learning
and teaching. The first approach, a classic or traditional education, takes place in
the classroom. The teacher uses technology as mere interpretation assistance to
achieve greater student motivation. Students use classical textbooks, workbooks,
and e-materials. The second approach, e-education, is carried out with the help of
ICT in synchronous or asynchronous form. Synchronous learning means that com-
munication between participants takes place at the same time. This allows two-way
communication between teachers and students (audio-video conferencing, chat
rooms, the Internet, or classical telephony, etc.). In the case of asynchronous
forms, the educational process is delayed, participants are not logged on to the
network at the same time, and their communication takes place time indepen-
dently (e-mail, Internet forum, e-materials, etc.). The third approach represents a
combination of the above forms of teaching (blended learning). This means that
the concepts of learning and teaching are characterized by different styles of learn-
ing or teaching methods and using physical and virtual learning media, through
which a diverse range of learning outcomes and educational didactic effects are
achieved.
Finally, the so-called m-learning or mobile learning has occurred. It refers
to the use of more advanced, mobile technologies [20, 21]. m-learning is part of
e-learning, and the essential difference between them is in mobility. This type of
technology is accessible in every step of the way and allows us to communicate with
other users, logging onto the World Wide Web, it enables the use of a wide range of
services and applications, and is, at the same time, is easy to use [22].

5.2 ICT teacher

The use of ICT in the educational process has its own advantages [23, 24].
Nevertheless, the quality of the lessons still depends primarily on the teacher,
who forms learning objectives, content, forms of work, etc. The classic role of the
teacher as the transmitter of knowledge is diminishing, while the role of the teacher
as a facilitator, who directs and encourages the acquisition of new knowledge, is
increasing. The teacher’s guiding of information, obtained by a student with the
help of ICT, improves quality of knowledge and helps students to create a holistic
image of the world and themselves. At the same time, it represents the foundation
for learning and education development.
When using ICT, it is crucial that teachers are critical to the devices they use.
They need to use ICT intelligently and in particular in accordance with the edu-
cational objectives and the modern pedagogical principles. Use of ICT increases
teacher productivity and saves time mainly for the following:

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Educational Technology at the Study Program of Educational Physics at the University…
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85081

• daily lesson planning and updating,

• adapting to individual student’s needs,

• presentation of learning content,

• the creation and maintenance of the evaluation,

• the creation of a wide variety of exam questions, and

• keeping reports, records, and archives with the possibility of rapid data
acquisitions and additions.

Furthermore, teachers examining different ways of incorporating ICT in the

education process in order to increase the effectiveness of their work are also
developing their entrepreneurship competences.
The use of ICT during the teaching process is closely related to the teachers’
self-assessment of their own ICT competences, their assessment of the suitability of
ICT use, and to the accessibility of ICT in an individual school. The more teachers
feel confident about their ICT skills and competences, the more they are willing
to undergo further training in the field and to incorporate ICT-related activities in
their teaching at all levels of education. A survey from 2011, Condition and Trends
in the Use of ICT in Education, shows that teachers’ problems due to lack of experi-
ence on the application of ICT occur less often than the European average. At the
same time, however, teachers believe that they are poorly trained to deal with ICT
and need additional professional education. The computer is mostly used in class by
younger teachers; the frequency of use declines with the growing age of a teacher
[25–27].
Jimoyiannis and Komis [28] disclose that teachers recognize positive educational
benefits of the use of ICT, especially from the science teacher’s respective. On the
other hand, they also highlight problems regarding ICT integration in education in
terms of effectiveness and organization.
Gerlič believes it is particularly necessary to motivate and properly train teachers
and not only to provide adequate software and hardware. Future teachers should be
properly trained for the meaningful use of ICT in education during their studies.
The latter is also studied by Drent and Meelissen [29]. They point out that a lack
of ICT competence among teachers can often represent an obstacle. In their study,
they conclude that the innovative use of ICT demands personal entrepreneurship
competences. In addition, the innovative use of ICT enhances the learning process
of students and affects the development of entrepreneurship competences among
students themselves.

5.3 Guidelines for using ICT in Physics lessons

In the ICT deployment in Slovenian schools, the curriculum of individual

subjects had been changed and supplemented. Therefore, in up-to-date curricula, it
is recommended the implementation of ICT in the pedagogical process. The Physics
curriculum in Slovenia allows great opportunities for meaningful inclusion of ICT
in class.
The curriculum refers to reasonable use of the World Wide Web and computer-
based measurement with interfaces and sensors. A computer with an interface
and a set of sensors should become a measurement system for data acquisition
and processing and a tool for analyzing and presenting measurements. Computer

7
The Role of Technology in Education

simulations and animations could be a useful complement to Physics lessons,

especially when the nature of the phenomenon is such that it cannot be shown by an
appropriate experiment. Teaching can be enhanced using a computer classroom and
appropriate software, selection of e-materials, animations, and access to the World
Wide Web.
Curricula also point out that the use of information technology can only comple-
ment experimentation rather than to substitute it. Computer simulation does not
achieve the motivational or didactic effect of a well-demonstrated experiment.
The curriculum does not restrict the way ICT is used but encourages it. Thus,
ICT can be used in lessons in many ways:

• electronic answering machines can be used to check and evaluate knowledge

(Student Response System Socrative, Clicker, Plickers, Microsoft Interactive
Classroom, Turning Point, Google Drive, Moodle, etc.)

• web classrooms can be used to track work done, collect students’ materials,
check knowledge, collaborate work, etc. (Moodle, Google Classroom, etc.) and

• use of e-materials in combination with doing a worksheet when adopting a

new subject matter (e-textbooks., sio.si, e-va.e-um.eu, nauk.si, etc.)

In the field of Physics, there are many examples of the use of ICT in teaching
in the Slovene language, as well as some sets of e-materials that cover curriculum
content, but we must consider the fact that they were created at different times and
that the curricula had already changed in the meantime. In the proceedings of the
international conference Sirikt, which is the largest in our area in the field of the use
of ICT in education in Slovenia, there are many examples of the use of ICT in teach-
ing Physics. There is also a lot of contributions published in the magazine Physics at
School.
By examining the meaningful use of ICT in the classroom, we cannot ignore a
collection of manuals published by the public institution of The National Education
Institute of Slovenia: Modernization of lessons in High School practice—PHYSICS,
mechanics, heat, oscillation (Part 1); Updates of lessons in Elementary School
practice—PHYSICS and Challenges of developing and evaluating knowledge in
High School practice—PHYSICS, electricity and magnetism, wave, modern physics
(Part 2).

5.4 Models in natural science teaching

Čepič emphasizes the importance of experimentation and demonstration when

she interprets three various models of the description of a scientific phenomenon:
the theoretical model, the computer model, and the experimental model. Of course,
all the models mentioned concern the planned simplification and neglect of the
various circumstances of the scientific phenomena examined in exchange for the
possibility of organized methods of exploration and experimentation [30].
In the theoretical model, one describes natural events using abstract mathemati-
cal description that allows for quantitative predictions and hypothesis testing using
measurements. Theoretical models are always used by students whenever their task
is something to calculate. Using ICT, we can create a computer model with various
simulations or animations of natural science phenomena. Thus, students acquiring
some experience, associated with natural phenomena, do not observe this phenom-
enon directly. We must be aware that the computer model is the preprogramed flow
of the test resulting from the theoretical model. The maximum value of computer

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Educational Technology at the Study Program of Educational Physics at the University…
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85081

models is the point of view of the symbolic representation of phenomena that we

cannot see and the possibility of integrating developments at the sub microscopic
level. In experimental models using devices and tools, we can present complex
natural phenomena in the classroom. Such model successfully develops skills and
competences in experimental research. Students can do practical work by gain-
ing practical experience in new areas while leading them to an understanding of
complex phenomena of nature. Virtual experiments using ICT (computer, mobile
device) are also considered to be part of an experiment in the broader view. The
results of such experiments are predefined with the program itself and do not allow
any experimental error in terms of improper implementation of the experiment,
overlook the circumstances of the actual experiment, the imprecise measurement,
and others.
The study conducted by Jimoyiannis and Komis [31] confirms the positive
outcome of the use of ICT and computer simulation in physics class. Additionally,
it shows that the use of ICT can improve students understanding of the examined
topic of the trajectory motion.
It is important that simulations and animations do not replace experiments.
Computer models should be applied rationally and especially as a complement to
experiments. Students, who discover natural phenomena only through ICT, will
never acquire experimental skills.

6. Study program of educational physics

We have determined that sensible and rational use of technology requires a lot of
knowledge on the teacher’s part. Besides mastering ICT, a teacher should be able to
make sensible use of information technology during class.
The modern Physics teacher needs to be well trained in the use of all kinds of
educational technologies, particularly in the field of experimental work. It is there-
fore important for students during their studies to achieve adequate competences
for an appropriate use of ICT in teaching theoretical topics as well as in executing
experiments.
According to Gerlič, it is of great relevance that study programs for teach-
ers should include subjects and content covering the competences and skills
listed below:
General ICT and Computer Sciences (regardless of their specialization, students
must acquire basic knowledge and skills in ICT and Computer Sciences, in using
information systems and the computer in class, as well as for school administration.
Students of Science, Mathematics, Craft, and Technologies also need basic skills in
the field of designing simple educational software; they need an in-depth insight into
computer networks, the multimedia, conference systems, distance learning, etc.).
Specific competences for the use of a computer in the field of their specific
subject (students are familiarized with the use of the computer and information
systems in the field of their specific subject).
Specialized didactics competences (within the course of specialized didactics,
students of any subject specialization are familiarized with the possibilities of ICT
use in their chosen subject field) [32].
We analyzed the study program of educational physics at the University of
Maribor in Slovenia. The study program Physics teacher follows the principles of
the Bologna process and includes modern study content, various organizational
approaches, and modern work methods, which ensure greater connectivity between
theory and practice. This means that during their studies, students have more
practical training and they start with it sooner, which ensures a better integration of

9
The Role of Technology in Education

students in the school environment and gives them a better insight into what they
will have to do after finishing their studies at the university.

6.1 Subjects in the field of ICT

The student of the Physics teacher program has several subjects with ICT
content [33]. Information and Communications Technology and The Computer in
Physics are taught in the first year. Both are core subjects. Students acquire knowl-
edge in the theoretical and practical field of use of ICT in education and the profes-
sion. Students can work independently and creatively to solve practical problems in
education and studies and can use computer tools to process and display the results
of measurements. Working with a computer is particularly important for all lab
work and writing physical texts.
Among the subjects that are optional, some subjects develop competences in the
ICT field in depth. In the fourth year, students can choose the subject e-education
and information technology in Physics and in the fifth year, e-learning and
Computer-aided Laboratory Work.
Given the rapid development of ICT technology, it may be better if those
subjects would not be of the optional type.
In ICT-based subjects, students can develop some of the entrepreneurship
competences, for example as defined by EntreComp [7] mobilizing resources
and mobilizing others. They also get acquainted with ICT tools that can enhance
motivation and the active role of students.

6.2 Subjects in the field of physical experiments

Because Science subjects require the development of experimental research

skills and abilities, let us now look in which subjects’ students of the Physics Teacher
Program acquire the necessary competences for experimental work.
Subjects are spread across the entire study path. In the first year of the study,
students have Physical Experiments 1, in the second year Physical Experiments 2,
in the third year Physics Experiments 3 and Physical Experiments 4, and in fourth
year Physical Measurements.
Students in these subjects refresh and extend their knowledge obtained from
attending lectures, especially topics that are essential for the successful and correct
execution of laboratory work. Students also acquire experience and laboratory skills
that are essential for autonomous execution of demonstrative physics experiments.
They learn how to use their theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as informa-
tion offered from secondary sources to master problems that might occur during
experimental work and report on their findings.
In the subject Physical experiments 1, students take laboratory work with topics
from mechanics. Experiments are in the following topics: Kinematics, Dynamics,
Hydrostatics, and Hydrodynamics [34].
In the subject Physical experiments 2, students take laboratory work in ther-
modynamics and electromagnetism. Experiments are done in the following topics:
Clausius-Clapeyron equation, Thermal expansion, Ideal gas equation, Specific heat
of metals and liquids, Heat of fusion, and Heat of vaporization [35].
In the subject Physical experiments 3, students take laboratory work in oscil-
lations and waves and in wave and geometrical optics. Experiments are done in
the following topics: Undamped and damped oscillations, forced oscillations and
resonance, Electrical oscillation circuit, Traveling and standing waves, Lenses
and mirrors, Systems of lenses, Diffraction and interference, Spectroscopy, and
Blackbody radiation [36].

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In the subject Physical Experiments, four students take laboratory work in the
field of Modern Physics. Experiments are done in the following topics: Experiments
with Roentgen rays, Experiments with microwaves, Franck-Hertz experiment,
Photo-effect, Measurement of the Planck constant, Gaussian distribution,
Measurement of the ideal gain of a heat engine, Diffusion of liquids, Magnetic
resonance spectroscopy, Gamma ray spectroscopy, Michelson interferometer,
Diffraction of beta rays in an electromagnetic field, and Absorption of beta and
gamma rays [37].
In the subject Measurements in Physics, students acquire basic theoretical and
practical knowledge in the field of measurements. Among the contents are the fol-
lowing topics: Description of the measurement of the scalar and vector quantities,
Tensors and transfer function, feedback to the system, thermic noise. Basic electri-
cal circuits, Measurement of the constant quantity, statistics, tests, least squares
method, Respond of the system to the periodical disturbance, Measurement of the
time and frequency, feedback loop, and standards, Sensors of displacement, and
Temperature sensors [38].
Within described subjects, students develop entrepreneurship competences,
which are reflected in creativity, valuing ideas, mobilizing resources, taking initia-
tive and planning, and management skills. The development of entrepreneurship
competences can be supported by the way experimental laboratory work is carried
out. For example, instead of executing an experimental work step by step in accor-
dance with instructions, we could only present to students what we want for them
to measure or which information they have to obtain by experiment.

6.3 Subjects in the field of didactics

Students of the Physics teacher program learn about the possibilities of using a
computer in the classroom with specific didactics subjects. The following didactics
subject matter is linked indirectly to the study program on ICT and experimental
work: Didactics of physics 1 with practicum; Didactics of physics 2 with practicum;
Pedagogical practice for teaching physics 1; Pedagogical practice for teaching physics 2.
The objectives of these subjects are the acquisition of teaching experience in the
development of Physics teacher skills and technology. In addition to the first experi-
ences with lessons planning, students also learn about the possibilities of using ICT
in the classroom and deepen their knowledge in the field of physical experimenta-
tion at school. Students develop skills of safe design, execution of experimental
exercises, and competence in writing and verbal expression to the professional
and lay audiences. They are able to prepare the self-developed practice exercise in
a manner, which is suitable for its inclusion in the teaching of physics. They are
skilled to execute measurements in various physical fields of school Physics and to
use the computer with interface and sensors within these measurements.
Having thoroughly reviewed the study program, we can conclude that the
young Physics teacher acquires enough knowledge to use ICT in class, especially
in the field of experimental work. It goes without saying, however, that the educa-
tional program cannot provide all the competences needed by a young teacher for
practical work. Certain competences can only be acquired through experience and
additional training.

7. Conclusions

In Slovenia, several projects in the field of ICT were implemented at the national
level [16, 17]. Upon the completion of all these projects, it was found that [2] the

11
The Role of Technology in Education

use of ICT in the classroom in Slovenian schools is in accordance with the average
use of ICT in classrooms of EU countries. In the final report of the survey of ICT
in education prepared for the European Commission [12], Slovenia ranks among
top countries regarding the percentage of students that are in digitally supportive
schools, and have high access to ICT and high-speed Internet. Furthermore, the
study indicates that Slovenia has the highest percentage of students that are taught
by digitally supportive teachers. One of the main obstacles in some countries is
insufficient ICT equipment [3, 6], which, regarding this study, cannot be true for
Slovenia.
Several studies confirm [4, 24] that integration of ICT in education brings
new opportunities and tools that improve the teaching and learning process. As
Livingstone [18] points out, ICT enables mobilization of resources, collaborative
learning, and can improve motivation and learning outcomes. The abilities of mobi-
lization of resources and collaborative learning are in the EntreComp framework
[7] two of entrepreneurship competences.
Besides mastering ICT, a teacher should be able to make sensible use of informa-
tion technology in class. Education in the field of training Slovene teachers for the
use of ICT was beyond the development phase of “basic training.” Nevertheless,
Gerlič [32] addressed shortcomings regarding some training programs of teachers
which do not include contents of information and computer science. Nowadays,
most training programs focus on the area of didactic use of ICT [8, 13].
The updated curricula in Slovenia recommend the use of ICT in the educa-
tional process. Teachers use ICT in teaching at their own discretion, depending on
their knowledge and attitude to technology [14, 15, 24–26]. Sang et al. [27] shows
that ICT integration in education correlates with teacher attitudes and beliefs,
which is confirmed by the study of Jimoyiannis and Komis [28]. The Physics
curriculum allows many opportunities for a meaningful integration of ICT into
teaching [30, 31].
The modern Physics teacher needs to be well trained in the use of all kinds of
educational technologies and ICT, particularly in the field of experimental work.
It is therefore important for students, during their studies, to achieve adequate
competences for appropriate use of ICT in teaching theoretical topics as well as in
executing experiments. These competences are digital competence, mathemati-
cal competence, and basic competences in science and technology. In addition,
we think during studies, students can work on various activities that lead to the
development of entrepreneurship competences. One of such activities could be an
innovative and smart use of ICT that results in increasing the time efficiency and
improving learning outcomes at the same time. Furthermore, ICT provides devel-
opment of other entrepreneurship competences such as mobilizing resources and
others, financial and economic literacy, planning and management, working with
others, and learning through experience.
Based on the study program review [33–38], we can conclude that the young
Physics teachers acquire enough knowledge to use ICT in class and to do experimen-
tal work. Students have several mandatory subjects with ICT content, in which they
acquire knowledge in the theoretical and practical field of ICT use in education and
the teaching profession. In specialized didactics subjects, students learn about the
different possibilities of the pedagogical use of ICT in class.
Because Science is primarily concerned with the development of experimental
and research skills, students have many subjects in this field across the entire
study course. In these subjects, students refresh and extend their knowledge
obtained from attending lectures and also acquire experience and laboratory
skills that are essential for autonomous execution of demonstrative physics
experiments.

12
Educational Technology at the Study Program of Educational Physics at the University…
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85081

Of course, the educational program cannot provide all competences needed in

practice by a young teacher. Certain competences can only be acquired by experience
and additional training. The fact is that the teacher will have to regularly acquire new
competences in the rapidly changing ICT field by consistently undergoing additional
training. In this contribution, we present one example that is m-learning. With the
rapid development of mobile technology over the past decade, most students have
smartphones, but they use them more or less exclusively for entertainment. Despite
the fact that smartphones are powerful devices, students do not consider using them
for educational purpose. With a multitude of built-in sensors, a smartphone can eas-
ily become a measuring device for physics experiments. The teacher should be able
to take advantage of all the potential that these devices possess in the educational
process. In most schools, the use of smartphones is prohibited. In our opinion, the
attitude toward the use of smartphones will have to change over time, if we want
students to be prepared for life and use these devices sensibly.
Regardless of all the positive outcomes, we must be aware that excessive use
of technology also brings negative consequences that are reflected in addiction,
excessive stress, and abuse of information technology. But the fact remains that
digital technology offers many benefits in education. We need to learn how to use it
responsibly so that we can get the best out of technology and look after the mental
health of both, the younger generation and ourselves.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by financial support from the Ministry of Education,
Science and Sport (project “Krepitev kompetence podjetnosti in spodbujanje
prožnega prehajanja med izobraževanjem in okoljem v gimnazijah – PODVIG,”
translated: Strengthening the competence of entrepreneurship and promoting a
flexible transition between education and the environment in gymnasiums).
This research was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency (Grant
P1-0403).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author details

Milan Svetec, Robert Repnik*, Robi Arcet and Eva Klemenčič

Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor,
Slovenia

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms
of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited.

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The Role of Technology in Education

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