Five Minds for the Future: An Overview
Howard Gardner,
Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138, USA

Abstract
In this paper, I portray the kinds of minds that we should cultivate in the future. Specifically, I introduce three kinds of minds that are primarily cognitive: the disciplined mind, the synthesizing mind, and the creating mind. Complementing this cognitive emphasis, I then describe two minds that deal with the human sphere: the respectful mind and the ethical mind. In each case I indicate the major features of this form of mind: the ways in which it can be shaped; the ways in which it can be distorted or misshaped. In conclusion, I describe some of the tensions among these kinds of minds and offer suggestions of how one might integrate these minds further in a single productive human being.

Keywords: mind; disciplines; synthesisis; creativity; respect; ethics

The issue of authority, an obsolete problem?
Emil Stan
Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Ploiesti, 100680, Romania
Abstract
This study intends to analyze the teacher-student relationship as an authority based relation. The logical
apparatus built by J.M.Bochenski is used towards this aim. At the same time the results obtained as
such are compared with the results obtained from an earlier research on the role and endorsement of
authority in school. This research was applied on a sample of one hundred teachers and it consisted of
the application of a questionnaire and the institution of three focus-groups aimed at studying authority
issues and authority crisis in school.
Keywords: authority; authority abuse; authority crisis; education; teacher; student.

Social Media and the Social (Re)Construction of the Educational Reality
Constantin Florin Domunco
“Stefan cel Mare” University from Suceava, 720229, Romania
Abstract
Social Media represents a major change in the way that people discover, read and share news, information and contents. The easy access to the benefits Social Media offer made them very popular. Today Social Media are perceived as a ubiquitous mechanism in constructing and reconstructing the social reality. The
main category of the population that is affected by this social phenomenon is the young people who are in a large measure joint to the educational activities. This study offer reasons to utilize, contextually, Social Media and also to avoid the miscellaneous forms of Social Media in educational sphere. It comes from the influence that Social Media have between the young people. By their position of educated they have a very important role in the social (re)constructing of the contemporary educational reality.
Keywords: network society; social media; university organizational culture; educational reality

Emotional Competences of Educational Practices
Laurentiu Soitu, Carmen Rusu, Oana Panaite
“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania
Abstract
In this paper we propose new directions to define the process of improving the educational practices. Called by D. Chabot and M. Chabot (2004) emotional pedagogy this domain entails new strategies to understand and assess the educational practice by developing the emotional competence of teachers.
Keywords: education; educational practice; emotional competence; emotional pedagogy

Subjective Well-Being Among Teachers of Children With Special Needs in Cyprus
Zafer Bekirogullari
Cag Univeresitesi, Adana Mersin Karayolu üzeri 33800 Yenice /Tarsus/Mersin, TURKEY
Abstract
Teachers of students with special needs, often young adults who are recent college graduates, serve as educational and social mentors to students and their families. These teachers instruct students with a wide range of academic, social, physical, and psychological differences and instructional needs. This study investigated SWB among a sample of principally less experienced teachers of children with special needs in Cyprus, teachers affected by factors related to teacher attrition including low salary, lack of empowerment, lack of intellectual challenges, and lack of prestige. To ensure that children in regular classrooms and children with special needs in Cyprus receive the education they need demands that teachers work in schools that provide adequate working conditions.
Keywords: subjective well-being; life satisfaction; teacher; special education; Cyprus

The Evaluation of Empathic Skills of Turkish Teacher Candidates in Terms of Some Variables
M. Metin Arslan, Sevda Aslan
Kirikkale University Department of Educational Sciences, Kirikkale and 71450, Turkey
Abstract
This study aims to determine whether the empathy levels of teacher candidates vary according to the departments and faculties they graduated from. A total of 367 teacher candidates ( 250 females and 109 males ) who are from different fields of education preparing for KPSS Teacher Examination participated in the study during the academic year 2007-2008 in Ankara. Emphatic Skill Scale B-Form was employed in this study. Emphatic Skill Scale B-Form consists of 72 statements composed of 6 situations and 12 reaction statements per situation. T test and one way ANOVA were used in the analysis of the data. It was determined that the difference was significant in the scores of the teacher candidates according to their gender who were preparing for the KPSS Exam.
Keywords: emphatic skill; teacher candidate; empathic level

Teachers’ Training on Emotional Education. Needs Assessment
Ignat Aurora-Adina, Clipa Otilia, Rusu Petruta Paraschiva
“Stefan cel Mare” University, Str. Universitatii, Suceava, 720229, Romania
Abstract
The main question of the study is about the professional competence of the teachers for providing emotional learning frames within the classroom. The study intends to revise the most important training needs of the Romanian teachers regarding the emotional education. We try to clarify if there is any perceived need, if these needs differ in terms of different variables. We are also interested in figuring out in what extent the emotional and social needs of the students are addressed in our school settings and what are the perceptions of the teachers regarding the emotional and social skills development in school and family. The results show that there is a need of professional development within emotional education field, and also, there is a need of developed curricula.
Keywords: emotional education; need assessment

The curriculum for pre-service teacher training – a critical approach
Luminita Draghicescu, Ana-Maria Petrescu, Maria Savu-Cristescu, Ioana Stancescu, Alina Lebidov
DPPD, Universitatea “Valahia” din Târgoviste, Strada Moldovei, nr.5, Târgoviste,130093 , România
Abstract
By means of the present study we aim to achieve a critical, objective analysis meant to clarify the extent to which the pre-service teacher training helps the future teachers acquire an adequate experience in order to satisfactorily practice the specific roles of the didactic profession. In this sense, we undertook a micro-research on a sample of graduates of the Level One Program of Psycho-pedagogical Studies, whose purpose is to identify the difficulties the beginner teachers are faced with in the educational practice and to estimate the degree of correlation that exists between these difficulties and the pre-service teacher training curriculum.
Keywords: the curriculum for pre-service teacher training; program of psycho-pedagogical studies; professional competences; transversal competences; didactic profession.

Effects Of Visual Reinforcement Of Teleteaching On Student Performance And Perceptions
Nayereh Shahmohammadi
Ministry of Education - Text book Development, Tehran, 13439, IRAN
Abstract
This study investigated the use of television production techniques to maximize the learning outcomes of tele-teaching. The impact of variations in certain visual production techniques which can be easily incorporated in a tele-lecture was measured on dependent variables of academic performance and attitude of 150 students studying in class X to the presentation and presenter by using a completely randomized single-factor post-test only control-group experimental design. The study showed a significant effect of visual reinforcement of tele-lecture using certain production techniques upon the post-test knowledge (F= 65.87, p< 0.01) and attitudes of the students. The results of this study provide empirical support for developing guidelines for the improvement of tele-teaching and draw the attention of decision-makers and teachers to the importance of message design and effective presentation techniques in tele-teaching.
Keywords: teleteaching ; televsion screen; pretest; post test; presenter; investigator

Quantity research on teachers` attitude and behaviour regarding teacher training courses and activities
Gyönös Erika
Transilvania University, Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Brasov
Abstract
Lifelong learning is the basic pillar of current education, and, in the meantime, one of the most important factors of the development of economy. As for teachers, in their case lifelong learning is even more important as they are considered to be the key elements of the education system. The main topic of this article is the description of the process of searching for appropriate answers to the following two questions: How can this knowledge be used during everyday teaching activity? Which are the factors that influence teachers to take part in training courses?
Keywords: lifelong learning; quantity research; test χ²;variation analysis

What can professional satisfaction and sense of support tell us about teachers’ learning at work?
Mihaela Mitescu Lupu
University of Arts George Enescu Iasi, Str. Horia No. 7-9, 700126, Romania
Abstract
The article reports on findings of a study-in-progress exploring how beginning teachers form their understanding of the practical context of the school once they have graduated from a program of initial teacher education and enter the field of professional practice. Data collected in a survey exploring the degree of professional satisfaction, sense of professional and institutional support and conceptions of learning of 150 beginning and experienced Romanian teachers working in secondary education serve as empirical support for the claims and discussions presented. Data was analyzed in relation to developments of policies concerning teacher education in Romania. This work is supported by CNCSIS-UEFISCSU, project number RU_PD 21/2010.
Keywords: teachers learning; teaching conceptions; educational policies; teacher education

The drama of the teaching profession
Gabriel Albu
Petroleum Gas University, Blvd. Bucuresti, nr. 39, Ploiesti, 100600, Romania
Abstract
No matter the level of education - pre-primary, primary, secondary or higher – the teaching profession, like all professions, exudes not only fascination, but also dramas. This study formulates and analyzes only two of them: the drama of aging (in relation to the youth of successive generations of students) and the drama of loneliness (relative to the large number of students whom he works with). The teacher can treat it with resignation or they can turn it into moments of self-knowledge, deeper understanding of life, culture, man for the benefit of their students, their soul and humanity.
Keywords: teaching profession; drama; aging; loneliness; pupil

An exploration of the reasons why adolescents engage in traditional and cyber bullying
Cortney Wilton, Marilyn Campbell
Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Campus Qld 4059, Australia
Abstract
This study explored the reasons underlying adolescents’ perceptions of why their peers engage in bullying in the real and the cyber world. While there has been much research on why bullies engage in such behaviour, ranging from personality characteristics to social or familial reasons, the perceptions of young people on the motives of cyberbullies has not been researched. A new instrument, based on interviews and a literature review was piloted to measure young people’s perceptions of why their peers engage in both traditional and cyberbullying behaviour, according to their role in bullying. Four hundred students were surveyed in three co-educational independent secondary schools. A comparison between perceptions of bullies’ motives in traditional and cyberbullying was made. Implications for interventions with bullies are discussed.
Keywords: Cyberbullying; bullying; young people; motives

The Impact of Stress Reactivity and Length in Service on Gestural Communication
Alina Margaritoiu
Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, Romania
Abstract
The present paper aims to investigate the impact of teachers’ stress reactivity and length in service on the gestural communication. Our research has analysed gestural communication on a sample of 100 teachers from three high schools with different specialisations, and was observed by 500 students (5 students for each investigated teacher). An important finding demonstrated that the teachers’ high reactivity to stress produces dysfunctional gestures in didactic communication; while teachers’ length in service does not influence gestural communication. Research findings show the need of a gestural communication efficiency program in teachers’ initial and further qualification.
Keywords: stress reactivity, length in service, gestural communication.

Cognitive Tasks in Digital Era. Vygotsky reframed
Cristian Vasile
Petroleum Gas University, Blvd. Bucuresti, nr. 39, Ploiesti, 100600, Romania
Abstract
Emphasized using of the computer in the last decades appears to have lead to different changes in PC operators’ cognitive functioning. Furthermore, some studies have been focused on cognitive changes that have emerged among children and adolescents using frequently the computer. The cognitive tasks are not the same in the last 10 years as before 90’s. Within this frame Vygotsky’ theory should be adjusted in order to be functional for the new challenging digital era.
Keywords: cognition; digital era; virtual world; Vygotsky