Digitalization of Scientific and Cultural Heritage in Dissemination of Innovative Teaching Models

Abstract

This paper presents a new cycle of Mathematical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts program “Digitization of cultural and scientific heritage with the application in high school and university teaching of mathematics, computer science, astronomy, history and Serbian language” (2011-2014, 2015-2017). Its goal is digital literacy of teachers and students through the implementation of principles and digitization tools in educational work of high schools. Unlike the past work with big student groups, the authors are now testing the hypothesis of small homogeneous group efficacy. This paper’s hypothesis is that the students’ success depends on individual differences, as well as Blum’s research findings that talk about variations in school learning and success depending on students’ initial cognitive and affective characteristics, and the quality of the lectures. The first results show that the work in small homogeneous groups has motivated the teachers involved in the program to implement more of the innovative teaching models, which in return resulted in a better students’ success. After the evaluation of this year’s project, the authors will try to asses if this kind of work organization will be more efficient than the present-day organization.