EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE TRAINING OF FUTURE TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL

Pilot research aim was to explore whether there is a relation between students' theoretical knowledge in primary education teaching programme about learning environments of general didactics and its application in teaching mathematics, homeland study and natural science during teaching practice. The sample included 45 students in the 1st and 45 students in the 2nd year of graduate study at Faculty of Education at University of Matej Bel in Slovakia. Data were obtained in autumn 2014 and 2015. Observation, content analysis and descriptive statistics were used. The results showed that investigated relation existed, but was poor. Strength of relationship increased subsequently after intervention exercises in subject didactics in the 2nd year of study. Students in the 2nd year of study more often worked with elements of educational environment than in the 1st year. The data reflected students' own separate choice of elements of educational environment without influence of their teacher. Educators are advised to include theme about learning environment to general didactics in the 1st year of study separately. Results documented rising trend to perceive educational environment as complex elements with educational possibilities, not only as informal "backdrop" of education. Change was induced by deliberate guidance the student to work this way. It was shown that students need more time in subject didactics preparation in order to more often and effectively use educational environment in their own teaching activities. Sample will be extended to a larger range in Slovakia and Poland.