BOOK REVIEW: A humanistic approach to education, by Gabriel Albu
Venera-Mihaela Cojocariu
“Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau, Calea Marasesti, nr. 157, Bacau, 600115, Romania
Abstract
The latest volume proposed by the university Professor GABRIEL ALBU from University of Ploiesti was published under the successful and inspired care of PARALELA 45 publishing house from Pitesti. “O abordare umanista a educatiei” / “A Humanistic Approach to Education” brings to the attention of those interested in the problem of the formative approach some defining dimensions from the perspective of respecting the humane by referring to the less humanly, concretely manifested slippages along the process design and unfolding, at least at the formal level.
Conceived from a synthetic and integrative perspective, the work is the expression of the author's essential concerns throughout his entire career, representing a mature work in which he re-assumes his beliefs and values, systematises his area of preoccupations, reminds us again about the current dilemmas and problems of Romanian education (and not only!) and outlines, at the general and axiological level, within each chapter and for each analysed problem, possible solutions for reflection and operationalization for the education agents. Beyond the fact that the work is, at the same time, the author's habilitation thesis, it is necessitated by the actuality of the debate that he always keeps alive in the professional ethos, promoting a different kind of pedagogical approach and writing with which, even if we have become accustomed to it, he continues to surprise us (always in a pleasant manner !!!) burning, always rebelliously, towards a time, a system and a process in which he seems unable to find his own values and aspirations and which he constantly lays under a critical magnifying glass, identifying faults, falls, inaccuracies that he would like to find absent or outdated.

Augmented Technologies in the education: AR apps
Hamdi Serina
100 mt. Street, Near Filkey Baz (Square), Across Qazi Muhammad, Erbil, 44001, KRG/IRAQ
Abstract
The efficient use of technology in every part of the life has changed not only the expectations of learners but also their area of interest. In the educational settings, different technologies are specifically required to be able to draw attention of learners who are also called as the ‘kids of the age of technology’. Recently, the popularity of the augmented reality applications has increased. This technology which is abbreviated as AR, can be defined as an atmosphere of blended reality in which virtual data is added on the real-world image simultaneously. The attitudes of the educators and learners who are in the position of practitioners have a key role in enabling augmented reality applications to be used smoothly in educational settings. This paper defines AR and its use in educational environment.
Keywords: augmented technologies; education; education technology

Comparative study on primary and preschool pedagogy and technical university students’ attitude towards Mathematics
Iuliana Zsoldos-Marchis, Liliana Ciascai
Babes-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu, Cluj-Napoca, 400084, Romania
Abstract
The aim of this research was to study the attitude towards Mathematics of two different specialization students’: one group of Preschool and Primary School Pedagogy (PPP) students, who will teach Mathematics and one group Technical University (TU) students, who will only use their mathematical knowledge in their career. The research tool was a questionnaire. The results show that half of the students like Mathematics and consider that they know Mathematics, with only a small difference between the two groups. But only one tenth of PPP students and one quarter of TU students consider that they can think like a mathematician. PPP students are less confident in obtaining good results on mathematical test than TU students.
Keywords: attitude towards Mathematics; future primary and preschool teachers, engineering students

Examining the relationship between pre-service teachers’ perceptions on individual differences and attitudes towards individuals with special needs
Basak Baglama, Zohre Serttas, Mukaddes Sakalli Demirok
Department of Special Education, Atatürk Education Faculty, Near East University, North Cyprus, Mersin 10 Turkey
Distance Learning Center, Atatürk Education Faculty, Near East University, North Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between preservice teachers’ perceptions on individual differences and attitudes towards individuals with special needs. This is a quantitative research and survey method was used in the study. A total number of 316 preservice teachers studying at Near East University in North Cyprus participated in the study. Demographic information form, Perceptions on Individual Differences Scale and Attitudes towards Individuals with Special Needs Scale were used to collect the data and the data were analyzed with SPSS 20.00 program. Results showed no significant relationship between preservice teachers’ perceptions on individual differences and attitudes towards individuals with special needs. Results are discussed with relevant literature and implications and recommendations for further research and practices are provided.
Keywords: attitudes; individual differences; individuals with special needs, perception, preservice teachers

A comparative study on the level of the social distance of the students of psychology and physical education in relation to their attitudes towards people with disabilities  (An example from Albania)
Robert Gjedia, Lorenc Barjami
Marin Barleti University, Tirana, 1001, Albania
Marin Barleti University, Permet, 6401, Albania
Abstract
The aim of the study was to identify the level of social distance as far as concerned the attitudes of the students of psychology and physical education in the first year at “Marin Barleti” University based in Tirana towards people with disabilities. The methodology used for this study is based on a sample of 200 students, for the purposes of the study it was used a questionnaire in the field of psychology the Person First Disability Language Scale .For the data analysis it was implemented the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. As conclusion we can say that exists a statistically significant difference between the field of study and social distance as far as concerned the attitudes of the students towards people with disabilities.
Keywords: social distance; students; people with disabilities; physical disorders; psychological disorders

General belongingness and basic psychological needs as predictors of self-esteem in adolescents
Ayse Sibel Demirtas, Mehmet Ali Yildiz, Kemal Baytemir
Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya, Turkey
Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, Turkey
Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of general belongingness and basic psychological needs on self-esteem in adolescents. The study group was composed of 161 female and 102 male students – 263 in total – who were being educated in various high school in a city located in Southeastern Anatolia Region. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Basic Psychological Needs Scale and General Belongingness Scale were used for data collection. Pearson correlation analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used in the research. The results indicated that there were significant relationships between general belongingness, basic psychological needs and selfesteem. It was also found that the regression model was meaningful as a whole and general belongingness and basic psychological needs were significant predictors accounting for %41 of the variance.
Keywords: self-esteem; general belongingness; basic psychological needs

The use of the internet - professional development or internet addiction in medical students
Lavinia Duica
“Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, B-dul Victoriei, no. 40, 550024, Romania
Abstract
The aim of the study is to analyse the use of the internet on a sample of 1276 medical students from all the university centers around the country. By applying a questionnaire that follows the professional development and a questionnaire that measures the internet addiction the following results were achieved: 8,5% from the students developed internet addiction, most of them from Iasi; also, the ones that developed internet addiction did not use the internet as a form of professional development, in contrast with the ones that use the internet as an information source, having better academic performances.
Keywords: internet addiction; medical students; professional development

A structural modeling analysis of the relationship between personality traits and achievement motivation: the meditational role of thinking style type 1
Zhila Mohammadnia, Firouzeh Sepehrianazar, Morteza Akbari
Urmia University, Urmia, 5719848375, Iran
Abstract
The aim of this study is to provide a structural Equation model between personality traits and mediating thinking style type 1 with achievement motivation of students. The study population was undergraduate students. 400 students were selected as the sample using multi-stage cluster sampling and they responded to the NEO personality traits, thinking styles, and Achievement motivation tests. Structural equation research results indicated that, the indirect effect of Conscientiousness and Openness to experience on achievement motivation was meaningful and positive through the mediation of thinking style type 1. Accordingly, the mediating role of thinking style type 1 was proved to be meaningful based on a conceptual model. Model Practice Index showed that the tested model adequately fit the collected data (GFI): 0/89, (AGFI): 0/90, and (RMSEA):0/06.
Keywords: achievement motivation; personality traits; type 1 thinking style

Psychological well-being state and satisfaction of basic psychological needs as indicators of goal achievement – frantic role of neuroticism
Daniela Ionescu
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences,” A.I.Cuza” University, Toma Cozma Street, Nr. 3, Iasi, Romania
Abstract
Objective. The objective of this study is to explore the role of neuroticism on success in achieving goals. Participants. Participants at study counted 231 subjects belonging to normal population with higher education and ages between 20-43 (134 women, and 94 men). Results. The study highlighted the
negative role of neuroticism in the process of goal pursuit. Neuroticism is a factor that can negatively influence the process of pursuing and achieving life goals, having a negative impact upon the individual’s well-being by associating it with low progress in achieving life goals and with low satisfaction of one`s basic psychological needs.
Keywords: goal pursuit; neuroticism; basic psychological needs; psychological well-being