National Science Education Research Articles

The influence of Nature study in the school (1933), by the Danish author Vilhelm Rasmussen, on Margarita Comas Camps and the project for the renewal of natural science teaching in the Second Spanish Republic

ABSTRACT In this article we examine the book El estudio de la naturaleza en la escuela by the Danish pedagogue Vilhelm Rasmussen (1869–1939), published by Editorial Labor in Barcelona in 1933, and its influence on the pedagogical standpoint of Margarita Comas Camps (1892–1972). Comas, who translated the book into Spanish, was a member of the group of educators of trainee teachers that spearheaded the project for the renewal of science teaching during the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939). In line with the pedagogical principles and ideas of the New School and Nature Study movements, Rasmussen – science writer, social democratic politician, atheist and Darwinist – proposed replacement of the textbook and the memorisation of concepts in natural science classes, by observation, dialogue and drawing, as well as studies of the relationships between living things in their natural environment through outdoor excursions and the use of aquaria and terraria in the classroom. We analyse Comas’s Spanish translation of Nature study in the school published in England in 1929 from the Danish original of 1909, as well as Rasmussen’s pedagogical proposals that Comas included in Contribución a la metodología de las ciencias naturales (1937), the last of her books to be published prior to her exile in England. In Rasmussen, an author from a country geographically and culturally distant from Spain, Comas found an outstanding reference for the teaching of natural sciences.

Field trips in French schools: teacher practices and motivations

ABSTRACT We explored the use of field trips for educational and teaching purposes by French kindergarten, primary-school teachers and natural science teachers in secondary schools. More specifically, we studied field trips in a natural environment by undertaking a French curriculum analysis and surveying teachers. We examined the responses of 511 teachers about their practices and motivations, as well as the levers and barriers to implementing these field trips. Results showed that this practice is widespread at all years of education, and differences between years seem to be related to the curriculum. We found few differences in learning motivations (reasons/objectives and interests/specific feature) and perceived barriers between different school teachers. Indeed, the teachers’ motivations are essentially scientific and rooted in a scientific inquiry approach. Studying ‘on real’ was the interest most often cited by teachers, essentially for the purpose of scientific learning. The only notable difference we found concerns the levers for implementing the field trips: a larger proportion of kindergarten and primary-school teachers see field trips as an ideal support for environmental and sustainable development educations. These results are dependant of the French official curriculum which plays a key role in influencing the current implementation of school-organised field trips by the teachers.

The Views and Practices of Teachers in Different Learning Areas about Inquiry and Inquiry-based Instruction

<p>臺灣的十二年國民基本教育課程綱要將探究納為中小學的核心課程之一，許多前導學校被官方指派發展示範性探究課程。由於探究是一個可同時指涉不同意涵的字詞，教師可能因對探究的認識不一，而在嘗試合作實施探究教學的過程中遭遇困難。發掘探索不同學科背景教師對「探究」概念之差異，使師資培育單位／師資培育相關教師以之規劃合適的教師專業發展活動。本研究旨在探索實際開發示範性課程的情境與過程中，教師對探究與探究教學的看法與實務。我們於一所開發並試行跨學習領域探究課程的前導高中，對課程開發團隊中十一位不同學科背景（歷史、地理、公民、資訊、生物、物理和化學）的教師進行半結構訪談。繼而運用開放編碼技術分析訪談轉錄稿、教案與課室錄影。訪談結果發現，多數教師認為探究是問題解決。然而，自然科學教師視探究為方法，社會科學教師視探究為過程。自然科學教師通常會設計情境，讓學生確認研究問題並執行研究，且認為英文閱讀理解是進行探究的必要技能；時間是其發展課程時的主要考量。社會科學教師傾向於提供問題並引導討論；特定主題的專業諮詢為其進行課程發展之主要需求。課室觀察結果顯示傳統講述平均佔三成以上的課程時間，操作或執行研究是自然科學課程的主要探究活動。研究建議，相關師資培育單位／師資培育相關教師應深化教師探究相關知識，並根據教師持有的學科特質觀點協助他們進行相關專業發展。</p> <p> </p><p>All elementary, junior high and senior high schools must provide inquiry as one of the core requirements according to the 12-year curriculum for basic education. Several pioneer schools were officially appointed to develop exemplary inquiry courses. On the account of inquiring being a term that connotes different meanings at the same time, teachers may encounter many challenges when they attempt teaching collaboratively due to their different views about inquiry. Exploring different beliefs of teachers teaching different subjects allows educators to provide appropriate professional development activities. This study explored the views and practices of inquiry and inquiry-based instruction of teachers in the context and process of developing exemplary courses. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 teachers with different subject backgrounds (history, geography, citizenship, information technology, physics, chemistry, and biology) in a pioneer high school, where cross-learning areas inquiry courses were developed and piloted. We then applied the open coding technique to analyze interview transcripts, teaching plans, and class videos from these teachers. Findings from interviews show that most teachers considered inquiry as a form of problem solving. Nevertheless, natural science teachers viewed inquiry as a process, whereas social science teachers equated inquiry as content. Most natural science teachers preferred offering contextualized learning activities for students to frame research questions and conduct investigations. They also considered reading comprehension in English as the main threshold for retrieving references, and time and equipment were critical factors for curriculum development. Social science teachers usually emphasized providing research questions and guiding a whole-class discussion. Moreover, professional consultation on specific topics was a major demand for curriculum development. The results from classroom observation reveal that teachers spent more than 30% of classroom time on traditional didactic instruction. In addition, carrying out investigations was the main inquiry activities of natural science classes. We suggest that teacher educators should deepen schoolteachers’ epistemic knowledge and provide them with professional development activities in accordance with their views about the peculiarity of the discipline.</p> <p> </p>

“Cognition, Intelligence and Movement”: Extracurricular Physical Activity as a Promoter of Intelligence in Schoolchildren

The main objective of this study was to assess the existence of significant relationships between motor capacity, academic performance and intelligence in a sample of 67 pre-adolescent children, between the ages of 8 and 11 years. Speed tests were carried out (10 × 5 m shuttle run and plate tapping test), and academic grades in Spanish Language and Literature, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Foreign Language (English) and Physical Education were considered. The Raven test was administered to estimate the intelligence of the subjects. The results showed significant correlations, mainly between the motor capacities and intelligence variables but not with academic performance. Significant differences were also observed in subjects who participated in sports, with better results in motor capacities and intelligence tests compared to those who did not. The data reveal that engaging in intense physical activity and sports in general may improve academic performance.

Why do French students like fieldwork?

ABSTRACT In the teaching of natural science, field trips are a means of bringing students directly into contact with the biological and geological aspects of the environment. The present study explored French students’ views of fieldwork and the relationships they establish with the natural environment as a result. We analyzed the responses of 293 primary and secondary school students to a questionnaire administered immediately before and after a fieldwork. Students’ interest in fieldwork was based on their affinity for nature and desire to learn, as well as their sensory experience of the natural world and the sense of wellbeing they derived from it. The relationship between affinity, self-interest and situational interest is discussed in terms of how a fieldwork can help to reinforce students’ relationship with nature.

Modernization of Natural Science Education in the Context of Teacher Training

The article states about the personal readiness of future psychologists to use the latest interactive and information technologies in order to improve natural science training in the framework of the integrative acquisition of professional competencies. For this purpose, the expediency of post-non-classical integration of the humanitarian and natural components in the field of psychology was investigated, the relevance of Coworking, BarCamp, and Workshop technologies was reasoned. The readiness of future psychologists to use these technologies after passing advanced training of scientific and scientific pedagogical personnel abroad has been studied using sociological methods. The purpose of the article is to clarify the presence of personal motivation for innovative, integrative, interactive and informational improvement of professional natural science competencies aiming to improve the transformational processes of higher education in Ukraine. A theoretical analysis of the modern natural-scientific training of future psychologists with the identification of promising aspects and a sociological analysis (survey) were chosen as research methods. The analysis showed the need for personal awareness and interactive and information-oriented education. The result of sociological research is the manifestation of divergence between the understanding of the need to use information and communication technologies and mainly personal obstacles to their use. The international significance of the article lies in the fact that its conclusions can be used in modeling innovative conditions for the advanced training of teachers of natural sciences in the countries of “late democracies”.

Дидактический синтез физики и биологии при решении биофизических задач в школе

The article deals with the issues of combining physics and biology by solving biophysical problems in a specialized school. Based on the theory of integration of the content of natural science education, the concept of "didactic synthesis" is given as one of the levels of interdisciplinary integration of natural science knowledge. The authors, relying on an integrative-personal approach to the content of natural science education, show the possibility of forming scientific and theoretical thinking and the development of the natural science style of teaching and practical activities of high school students in solving biophysical problems of various types. The method of solving qualitative, quantitative, experimental and research biophysical problems is considered, which ensures the formation of proficiently significant mental neoplasms of high school students.

Natural Sciences Teachers' Views on the Quality of Instructional Leadership in Gauteng Schools

<p>With the increase in demand for school-based tasks, teachers, especially natural sciences (NS) teachers, are increasingly in need of professional support and leadership that will improve their subject instruction. This paper investigates NS teachers’ perspectives on the type and quality of instructional leadership provided for NS teaching and how this leadership is adapted to implement the curriculum successfully. This study adopted a mixed methods research approach to investigate the quality of instructional leadership for NS teaching. We used a dataset of NS teachers from 243 schools. Of these, 112 teachers completed the questionnaire and 10 were interviewed and observed from six schools in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the quantitative strands, while the qualitative strands were coded and interpreted into themes. The findings revealed that some of the participants were novices in the teaching of some sections of NS and thus tended to seek help from their peers because of the less than expected and inaccessible leadership provided by heads of department (HODs). This paper argues for the distribution of leadership by recognizing the contributions made by senior, leader, or master teachers to the professional development of NS teachers in general and the differential allocation of science HODs along junior and senior secondary school subjects. This paper contributes to an understanding of the function of subject leadership beyond formal positions in the South African context.</p>

Implementation of Inquiry-based Practical Activities in Natural Science Education: With Specific Reference to Primary Schools in Addis Ababa City

The study aimed to investigate the implementation of practical activities in natural science education in Addis Ababa primary schools. For this purpose, the study used a qualitative research approach. Specifically, it employed a qualitative descriptive case study design. Two purposefully selected primary schools were involved in the study. All grades seven and eight science teachers and students were the data sources in the study. The study showed that inquiry-based practical activities in science subjects are not implemented; teachers and students are not aware of the implementation of practical activities through inquiry-based strategies. There is a lack of professional training for teachers and laboratory technicians. Similarly, lack of materials and facilities, absence of motivation and guiding of students learning, lack of teachers’ commitment, absence of science and technology companies to see the practice were found to be the major factors affecting the implementation of practical activities in science classes in the primary schools under the study. Keywords : Science education, Inquiry-based Practical Activity, Primary school, Addis Ababa DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/12-5-02 Publication date: March 31 st 2022

Mentoring novice natural science teachers: a case study in the Gauteng province

The study reported on here was undertaken to understand the impact of mentoring novice science teachers. The study was conducted within the Gauteng province, because there have been many debates and concerns on the necessity to devise ways of improving the understanding of science in schools in the province. The purpose of this study was to understand the effects and impact of mentoring novice natural science teachers within the Gauteng province. We used the qualitative research approach and this was motivated by the need to understand the perceptions and experiences of the research participants. Purposive sampling was used as sampling method to select novice science teachers and relevant teachers to be part of the sample. Through the use of semi-structured interviews as data collection method, it was discovered that mentoring of novice teachers refers to the method of empowering new teachers to be effective in their work-related tasks to become true professionals in the academic profession. We concluded that several mentoring initiatives and mechanisms were used to assist novice teachers. Among these programmes, training, skills development and technical support to enhance communication skills and manage the curriculum were underscored. We concluded that the mentoring of novice teachers was important within Gauteng, as it raised awareness and lead to expert science teachers being equipped with a wide range of skills to achieve the best results in the classroom. Mentoring also capacitates novice teachers on how to handle laboratory equipment and chemicals to benefit learners. We also gathered that mentoring had a direct impact on novice science teachers. It lead to the creation of an effective and excellent teaching environment, resulted in higher levels of teacher retention and improved teachers’ service delivery. It also strengthened the emotional and psychological well-being of teachers. We thus recommend training, development, and the allocation of finances towards enhancing the mentoring of novice science teachers.

Pre-Service Teachers’ Experiences on the Development of Educational Science Board Games

The expectation is that pre-service teachers that are specializing in the teaching of primary school natural science, ought to make use of teaching approaches that will allow them to engage learners in a joyful yet meaningful science learning experience. One such teaching approach to be considered is regarded as board game-based teaching. This paper investigated how natural science pre-service teachers experienced the development of educational science board games. This study draws on a conceptual understanding of game-based education, which allows for the integration of topics within board game mechanics, board game aesthetics and board game thinking. This qualitative case study considered a focus-group discussion and photo-voice methodology as data collection techniques to capture the pre-service teachers’ experiences on the development of educational science board games. Findings from the study revealed how their engagement in the development of educational science board games had an impact on their personal skill development, their professional teacher development, their development of pedagogical content knowledge, as well as their development of applicable assessment methodology that relates to the teaching of the subject natural science. On the other hand, issues surrounding the learning objectives, the complex design processes, and the lack of relevant materials available to develop the educational science board games were viewed in a less positive light. Findings from the study suggest that science teacher education programmes should be intentional in shaping pre-service teachers’ skills to develop educational board games that would complement the quality of their science teaching practice.

ANALYSIS OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC EXPERIENCE METHODS OF DEVELOPING MEDIA SKILLS OF WORKING WITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE SCIENCE TEACHERS

The views on the analysis of the experience of future teachers of Natural Sciences on the development of Information Technology mediacognition by a large number of foreign and local mediapedagog scientists and their discovery of the essence of mediacompetence in their scientific research work, their pedagogical potential and the conditions for the use of various information and communication technologies in the educational process.

PROFESSORS OF LIFE SCIENCES DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES OF RUSSIAN EMPIRE IN THE 1850S – 1860S AND THE “SECOND IMPORTATION” OF SCIENCE

Purpose. The purpose of this article is systematizing data on the internships ofprofessors of natural sciences and the introduction of the laboratory method in teaching related to the “second import” of science to Russia.
 Methodology. The main methods are the methods of analyze and synthesis, the comparative and historical genetic methods.
 Results. The importance of voluminous internships for professorial fellows at the turn of the 1850s-60s for preparing professors after the critical situation in universities after the “gloomy seven years” and the simultaneous aging of the professors’ corporation, which was caused by the reforms of S.S. Uvarov, is well known. However, it should be noted that in the field of natural sciences, the role of internships is even more significant since they should be associated with the the “second importation” of science to Russia. The fact that such an import took place was written by K.A. Timiryazev at the end of the 19th century. Althoughhe called it "the awakening of natural science". Even him, who was an adherent of leftist views criticizing the government, he could not help but admit that in the case of the turn of the 1850-60s science developed with the assistance of the state. And it was precisely this assistance that provided such a significant number of professors who completed internships in the most famous scientific centers in Europe. That was significant for the widespread dissemination of the laboratory teaching method and the adaptation of the German idea of Wissenschaft in Russia.
 Conclusions. Changes in the teaching of natural sciences at universities in the 1860s were a direct consequence of the voluminous internships of professorial fellows, most of whom were practicing in Paris and Heidelberg. And as we can associate with Paris the very principle of working in a laboratory for specialists with a certain experience and level of knowledge, then it is Heidelberg and other university cities in Germany that were in charge for transferring of the laboratory method of teaching students included those ones who just started their education.

Application of Information and Communication Technologies in the Study of Natural Disciplines

Socio-cultural reality of the present time is marked by quite significant events. First, the active penetration into society of the latest information and communication technologies (ICT), which arose as a result of the rapid development of electronics. And secondly, the formation and spread of a special type of worldview under the general name of "postmodernism". It is the need for a philosophical understanding of these two events and determined the main idea of this article. The article also shows the role of information technology in the transformation of the cultural reality of postmodernism. Also the main directions of application of information systems and innovative technologies in the field of education and science in general, and at studying of disciplines of a natural cycle in particular are covered. Peculiarities of studying natural sciences by students are revealed, didactic potential of ICT and its realization in the process of studying natural disciplines is considered, methodical analysis of the problem of application of information technologies in natural education is carried out. The principle of integration, multimedia clarity, interactive interaction of participants of educational process at application of new information technologies at studying of natural disciplines is allocated. It is determined that ICT in the teaching of natural sciences can intensify the educational process, accelerate the transfer of knowledge and experience, as well as improve the quality of teaching and education.

Games for Science Education: is this technique effective for developing students' creativity and scientific competence?

The authors examine the pros and cons of games in the context of increasing students' creativity and scientific competence. Research materials and methods consisted of two tests. The first included the use of 7 pedagogical methods that are valid for the mental diagnosis of students: speed of thinking; method of thinking flexibility; method of determining the level of imagination and others. After the first testing, the training program included techniques for playing chess (in the classroom and online) and sand animation (in the classroom). Re-testing was carried out to assess the effectiveness of the programs. The study results showed that play activities improve the quality of student learning both in the classroom and online and enhance the functioning of many processes, including the speed and flexibility of thinking, memory capacity and attentiveness. This study demonstrates that play activities used in the educational process can play a positive role in teaching students. Further research needs to focus on studying the role of age, gender and race in play activities and determine how these factors affect performance.
 
 Keywords: chess, cognitive processes, natural science education, pedagogical methods, performance, play activity, thinking

Methods of Future Science Teachers Training to Use Smart-Technologies in the Professional Activity

The article deals with one of the possible ways of modernization of pedagogical education in Ukraine in order to train teachers of the new generation and to provide conditions for the formation and development of modern alternative models of teachers’ professional and personal growth on the principles of SMART-education concept. The problem of future science teachers training to use SMART-technologies in the professional activity as the condition for realization of the SMART-concept in education is actualized. The advantages of SMART-technologies use in the study of objects and phenomena of wildlife have been substantiated. They allow the formation of holistic thinking of both students and schoolchildren by combining figurative and logical thinking and strengthen the emotional and value perception of wildlife objects. Methods of formation of future science teachers’ readiness to use SMART-technologies in the educational process, which involves the realization of a dual goal: the formation of the ability to use the resource SMART-concept in education to implement their own lifelong education and providing quality professional activities during teaching natural sciences school course have been highlighted. The foundation of the proposed methodology constitutes module “Methods of using SMART-technologies”, which is a component of the discipline “Methods of Biology teaching”. The content and means of its studying by students, tasks for the organization of independent work, tests, criteria and indicators of the level of students’ abilities and skills formation to use the SMART-complex (motivational-value, cognitive, activity-constructive, reflexive and evaluative) have been developed. The effectiveness of the proposed methods on the basis of determined criteria has been proved experimentally.

Design of Interactive Protocols that Help Students to Prepare for Laboratory Work

Laboratory education makes up an extensive part of natural science education at universities. To support meaningful learning during laboratory work, students should prepare by carefully studying the protocols. The aim of this study was to design and evaluate a preparative learning material that focuses on protocol steps with the design goal to help students to (i) understand the “why” (reason or theory) of protocol steps, (ii) make practical choices, and (iii) do troubleshooting. To reach this goal, protocol steps have been enriched with theoretical, practical, troubleshooting, and/or calculation questions to form interactive protocols. This design process resulted in a list of design choices (i.e., when to include a question and how to design a question) and a showcase of questions in the interactive protocols. These interactive protocols were implemented and evaluated in a real educational setting. From the evaluation results, it was concluded that the interactive protocols were successful in preparing students for the laboratory work. After the laboratory work, students reported a more diverse and slightly less positive contribution of the interactive protocols to their understanding of the protocol steps and their ability to make practical choices. A significant difference was found in the perceived usefulness of the troubleshooting questions before versus after the laboratory work, which is suggested as a topic for further investigation.

Training on integrated science learning for science teachers in Nekamese District

PKM activities are carried out in partner schools in the form of training for Mathematics and Natural Sciences teachers to overcome the problems they are facing. Some of the obstacles that are being faced are that science teachers still have difficulty applying integrated science learning according to the demands of the 2013 curriculum. The targets to be achieved in the implementation of this PKM program include increasing the professional competence of teachers in implementing integrated science learning. Activities are designed in several stages, namely 1) coordinating with partner schools for implementation time, 2) providing material related to integrated science learning, 3) Mentoring for Natural Sciences teachers in designing integrated science material and 4) program evaluation. This activity was not only attended by Natural Sciences teachers in partner schools but several Natural Sciences teachers in schools around partner schools were also joined. Participants in the activity were Natural Sciences teachers from SMP N 1 Nekamese, SMP N 2 Nekamese, SMP N 4 Nekamese, and SMP N 5 Nekamese. The participants were quite enthusiastic in participating in this activity, seen from the enthusiasm for joining the activity and dynamic discussions

Self-regulated learning of Natural Sciences and Mathematics future teachers: Learning strategies, self-efficacy, and socio-demographic factors

Teacher education programs should have as one of their purposes the promotion of self-regulatory skills for learning among students who aspire to be teachers so that they can take a leading role in their learning and foster these skills in their future students. Considering the importance of knowing what students in teacher education programs do to study and learn, as well as how efficacious they feel to deal with academic demands, this study is part of a larger research and aims to investigate the learning and study strategies and self-efficacy for learning beliefs of 220 students enrolled in teacher education programs in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics of a Higher Education Institution in the state of Piauí, and examine them in relation to age, gender, licentiate area, and course semester. Brazilian translations of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI — Third Edition) and the Self-efficacy for Learning Form were used for data collection. Scales were administered in the classrooms both through online platforms and in paper and pencil. Nonparametric inferential statistical approaches were used to test hypotheses regarding group differences. Statistically significant differences were found in LASSI in relation to gender, licentiate area, and course semester. Overall, students in Physics dealt better with anxiety; in Mathematics showed more favorable attitudes towards learning; in Chemistry reported managing their time better; in Biological Science showed significantly lower scores on many scales than did other students. Findings from this study could help inform curricular design decisions regarding teacher education programs and inform the design of interventions to strengthen the learning and study strategies and the self-efficacy for learning beliefs of future teachers.

In search of didactics in school-age educare centres: To conceptualise what exists, but has not yet been found

The purpose of this paper is to focus on approaches that could build a didactic framework for School-Age Educare Centres (SAECs). As a theoretical basis and a research field, didactics exists within many disciplines (e.g., education in natural sciences and preschool). This is not the case within the SAEC. While a lot of research has been devoted to subject didactics, there is a lack of research on didactics in SAECs, and the marginal research that exists shows a fragmented picture of what it could consist of. However, researchers in the field agree that didactics in SAECs is something else than subject didactics and differs from general didactics. Our aim in this paper is to suggest and discuss how a didactic framework in SAECs could be conceptualized with an intention in the near future to find the specific didactics that distinguishes the work in SAECs. The proposed design involves theory building/testing with a bottom-up perspective and various data collection methods. Because building a didactic theory for SAECs is the intention, the research process will take informed grounded theory (GT) as its methodological starting point. The empirical material will be related to the two dominant didactic frameworks: the German and the Anglo-Saxon. This framework will also be critically reviewed in relation to the activities in SAECs. The results will contribute important knowledge to the development of a relevant and useful didactic theory for SAECs. The practical implications are directly relevant to every stakeholder affected by the SAECs’ activities: policy actors, staff, students, and researchers. In the long term, we will be able to find a legitimate platform for didactics in SAECs, which will have concrete importance for professionals and researchers in particular. The purpose of this paper is to focus on approaches that could build a didactic framework for School-Age Educare Centres (SAECs). As a theoretical basis and a research field, didactics exists within many disciplines (e.g., education in natural sciences and preschool). This is not the case within the SAEC. While a lot of research has been devoted to subject didactics, there is a lack of research on didactics in SAECs, and the marginal research that exists shows a fragmented picture of what it could consist of. However, researchers in the field agree that didactics in SAECs is something else than subject didactics and differs from general didactics. Our aim in this paper is to suggest and discuss how a didactic framework in SAECs could be conceptualized with an intention in the near future to find the specific didactics that distinguishes the work in SAECs. The proposed design involves theory building/testing with a bottom-up perspective and various data collection methods. Because building a didactic theory for SAECs is the intention, the research process will take informed grounded theory (GT) as its methodological starting point. The empirical material will be related to the two dominant didactic frameworks: the German and the Anglo-Saxon. This framework will also be critically reviewed in relation to the activities in SAECs. The results will contribute important knowledge to the development of a relevant and useful didactic theory for SAECs. The practical implications are directly relevant to every stakeholder affected by the SAECs’ activities: policy actors, staff, students, and researchers. In the long term, we will be able to find a legitimate platform for didactics in SAECs, which will have concrete importance for professionals and researchers in particular.