RESEARCH ACTIVITY ON BIOLOGY IN PRIENAI „ŽIBURIO“ GYMNASIUM AND THEIR RELEVANCE

Research is such organisation of the teaching process when pupils get familiarised with main research methods master research method elements that are easily understood to them, and acquire abilities and skills to study natural and social life phenomena independently (Šapokienė, 1994). Since 1999 various type annual papers have been prepared in Prienai “Žiburio“ gymnasium (Lithuania). Research has been most widely applied in natural science lessons and annual papers. This article aims to evaluate the benefit of research for pupils in Prienai “Žiburio“ gymnasium. The research was conducted using inquest in 2006. Eleven pupils who wrote research papers on biology, thirty randomly chosen pupils, methodologist teachers and deputy director were questioned. Pupils stated that the most difficult task was to analyse the results, follow the research paper structure and phrase the conclusions. The most interesting part was the very process of testing, observation and problem search though this took the most of the time. The pupils chose annual papers on biology because they found the topic interesting and they wanted to acquire more knowledge in biology rather than any other subject as the respondents had already decided to study natural science. It can be stated that the pupils of the third gymnasium form are subject-orientated and relate their choice to the future profession, which is not the case with the pupils of the first gymnasium form. Lower form schoolgirls wrote the papers because they wanted to participate in the competitions. The respondents state that research provided them with research fundamentals, which they successfully apply at the university. The students maintain that research assists the pupil to acquire independent work skills, select the most important points, discover topical problems and solve them, acquire self-confidence, use various research methods, analyse data and acquire deeper knowledge in the subject.