INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION: SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTS IN BALTIC COUNTRIES

Information technologies play a crucial role in building a knowledge-based society. However, even the most advanced technologies will not produce a required effect if their use (application) in the educational system is not adequate to the current development of technologies and increased educational needs. The initial information literacy abilities are formed in comprehensive school as presently, these educational establishments have the possibility of employing different information technologies. It is probably often related to appropriate computer technologies and the Internet. During the last five years, a number of investigations into the field of natural science education have been carried out. On the other hand, to more accurately identify the situation in different regions of Europe, lack of in-depth expert research can be noticed. Therefore, the latter survey (expert inquiry) is aimed at examining the situation on using ICT in natural science education in Baltic countries. A precondition that the obtained findings will be useful for improving the process of natural science education in terms of ICT applicability and efficient use can be made.