Achieving Citizenship Education. A Theoretical and Experimental Approach

Abstract

Identified problem. In the Romanian society, there is gap between the scientific and moral progress due to under-evaluating ethical education as opposed to intellectual education. The necessity of human effort towards moral adjustment ensures freedom, dignity, creative and self-creative capacity for every person. Study's goal. From a theoretical perspective, the paper aims at highlighting the importance of ethical and civic education in shaping personality and approaching the specific methodology for Citizenship education. In this respect, an applicative research has been undertaken, having as main purpose projecting and experimenting a methodical approach centred on practicing the self-awareness skills, developing communication and social abilities and applying methods of cooperation, as elements of Citizenship education. Research methodology: The research involved a sample of 24 pupils (7 girls and 17 boys), with ages between 8-10, with different intellectual levels and diverse behaviour skills. In order to check the hypothesis and achieve the goals, we have applied the psycho-pedagogical experiment, the collected data being added to the data from observation, conversation, analysis of activity products. For recording, transcribing and interpreting the data we have used statistical and mathematical techniques. Results. The results confirm the working hypothesis. The pupils’ performances in Citizenship education, obtained in the final evaluation, were superior to those obtained before the training program. Conclusions. The experimental approach has shown that all exercises, plays, learning situations and problem-situations have determined learning and efficient practice of self-awareness, social, communication, cooperation and active participation skills. Recommendations. Knowing the pupils’ individual psychological particularities, adapting the educational intervention strategies so as to focus on implication, participation, communication and relationing are a must for any successful educational process.