Martin Cápay

• PhD
• Professor (Assistant) at Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra

This mixed-method research aims to address the gender gapin the Computer Science (CS) field by developing an interdisciplinarySTEAM workshop combining practical elements with block-based pro-gramming (BBP) tasks on biological topics. The study presents two ex-ploratory workshops called “Easy Coding in Biology” conducted withsecondary school student...

Computational thinking is considered a set of skills necessary for living and working in today’s society. It has recently become part of mathematics curricula in several European countries. In this study, we offer a glimpse into the informal classroom where statistical reasoning and computational thinking are developed simultaneously. The student–t...

Block-based coding is a way to teach Computer Science (CS) concepts and Computational Thinking (CT) skills to K-12 students. Nowadays, there are more and more educational applications (learning apps) to teach programming in STEM subjects, but detailed studies on which and how these can be used successfully in Biology classes are still lacking, beca...

In recent years, numerous applications (apps) for mobile devices have been developed for STEM education, but there is a lack of suitable educational apps that support teachers in promoting computational thinking (CT) in mathematics and computer science (CS) lessons. In this position paper, two types of CT tasks, Building Cubes and Draw-o-Bot, of th...

Our study is focused on the perceived professional efficacy of informatics in-service teachers with the experience of using micro-controller BBC micro:bit. In Slovakia, teaching using hardware is not typical. In addition, many teachers do not teach programming. BBC micro:bit is designed to be a tool for computer science (CS) teachers that should ma...

Programming in schools can take various forms, from using of pre-prepared microworlds, through the programming of virtual characters living in a limited world, to the programming of real devices. The ENTER project aims to develop pupils' digital skills with the use of the BBC micro:bit, a physical device capable of responding to user stimuli throug...

The contribution deals with the issue of teaching programming of physical devices in schools. Those are BBC micro:bits as a learning tool, but also about learning opportunities with this microcontroller, its usage options, or the sensors it contains. It involves programming of physical devices. The research is aimed at pupils of the lower-secondary...

The article describes some preliminary results of the implementation of Work- Package 4 (WP4) “Selection and testing new IT tools” in the framework of the international research network (IRNet) and researchers from partner institutions from Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Australia. These results concern analysis and study of some categories of IT t...

The article describes the preliminary results of the implementation of WorkPackage 4 (WP4) “Selection and testing new ICT tools” in the framework of the international research network IRNe, represented by researchers from partner institutions in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Australia. These results concern the analysis and study of some categories of...

Mobile devices with all their advanced features (the networking and multimedia capabilities, portability, intuitive interfaces, location awareness etc.) enable teachers to involve students in learning activities that may bring the formal school environment closer to real-world contexts, provide the attractive and personalized learning experiences a...

The article describes some preliminary results of the implementation of Work- Package 4 (WP4) “Selection and testing new IT tools” in the framework of the international research network (IRNet) and researchers from partner institutions from Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Australia. These results concern analysis and study of some categories of IT t...

Mobile technology provides an opportunity for a fundamental change in education away from occasional use of computers in a specialized classroom towards more embedded use in the standard classroom and beyond. Thedistinctive features of mobile devices that cannot be found on classical wired computers (portability, touchscreen, and various input sens...

This article presents examples of good practice in the creation of an information and educational environment and comprehensive, systematic and effective use of the Internet services offered by The Faculty of Ethnology and Sciences of Education in Cieszyn (University of Silesia), Faculty of Science, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra a...

Computer Science Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. This paper concerns the use of games and relatively simple materials to educate young students about computer science fundamentals. It is devoted to the vis...

This article presents a diagnostic instrument and data analysis results within the European IRNet Project. The aims of the survey included the determination of students’ attitude to collaboration, cooperation, knowledge sharing and virtual interactions within a university e-learning environment. The data can not only serve as the basis of determini...

This article presents one of the studies from the European project IRNET, a network that pursues the development of new tools and methods for advanced pedagogical science in the field of ICT instruments, e-learning and intercultural competences. We intend to explore the application of international and national policies of innovative, digital Educa...

Leisure is the right time for voluntary educational activities. Our aim is to show how leisure activities can be implemented in an informatics education. The main purpose of this study is to describe a set of learning activities that were found suitable for non- formal learning environments, children's summer camps. We designed five different activ...

The Black Box is a system with the internal organization and behavior about which the observer has no information. However, it is possible to impact the whole system via its inputs and observe its reactions via its outputs. The paper is concerned with the implementation of “black box” type of activities to teach computational thinking. The main ide...

Non-formal learning is organized and gives some flexibility between formal and informal learning. Under the non-formal education we can include various dissemination activities (popularization) involving the public in their spare time. The main purpose of this study is to describe a set of well-designed learning activities that were found suitable...

Nowadays, using the electronic support in education is quite common. In future, we may expect greater broadening of new forms of study, including e-learning, blended learning and the like. Learning with support of online learning systems is becoming an important digital competence. On-line learning systems are mostly used in higher education. Many...

The Black Box is a substantial system with internal organization, structure and element behaviour, about which the observer has no information, but has the option to impact the whole system via its inputs and observe its reactions via its outputs. The observation of the black box is therefore behavioural. In the paper, we point out the possibility...

The aim of this paper is to highlight the fact how used possibilities of modules called third parties in LMS Moodle. Since 2009, when the transition from the so-called traditional version of LMS Moodle (1.9) to the new version (2.x), been created many modules, following on the success of previous versions of e-learning system. In the new versions b...

Nowadays, algorithmic thinking is considered to be one of the key competences of students from primary to higher education. In our paper we point out the possibility of alternative methods of teaching algorithms. We deal with the concept of algorithm, problem analysis and algorithmic thinking. We search for such tasks that motivate and mobilize stu...

Several years ago, we were fascinated in some interesting applications that students bring to the subject Creation of educational software. They have some miracle applications which could read user thoughts. Students knew how to create an application, were able to use it and also knew what to do to find the hidden number. However, they did not know...

As the way of managing the distance learning process are commonly used LMS and LCMS, but it can also serve as a supplement of full-time study. In our case we teach with the support of e-courses, in which teachers insert different types of static as well as dynamic (interactive) materials. The importance of the interactivity in e-learning courses is...

In e-learning courses, there are various study materials as well as activities available for students. The systems usually use log files to archive data about the behaviour of particular students in the course, which sources and activities he/she worked with, in what time periods, where from, etc. Using various analytical methods, we are able to de...

In the paper we focus on the area of lifelong learning, specifically on continual learning of teachers of Informatics at primary and secondary schools. The teachers had the opportunity to improve their qualification by means of national project executed in 2008-2011 called Further education of the teachers of primary and secondary schools in the su...

Informatics is a young subject taught at primary and secondary schools in Slovakia. Based on the new school reform, it has been taught compulsory since 2008. Lifelong education of the teachers of informatics subjects at primary and secondary schools is therefore a must. The teachers have to respond flexibly to the changes in the field of informatio...

ABSTRACT The most important element of the project based education is the students’ own activity accompanied by a good feeling from learning and satisfaction. Three elementary schools took part in the international project “Prefer green!” funded by Comenius – School Partnerships. Our goal was to design a project based education of Computer science...

Science popularization is demanding from the financial as well as the time point of view. It is necessary to find the premises that would be easily available to general public. Another important step is to promote the event so that it would attract the audience. The reparation of scientific experiments itself also requires some financial resources....

Testing in electronic environment is usually considered to be very effective, however, that does not mean it is objective at the same time, mainly from the students’ point of view. Within three years we carried out a research based on questionnaire investigation which aim was to explore students’ attitude toward electronic testing. We found out tha...

In the paper, we describe one-day project aimed to popularization of scientific fields carried out by eight departments of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. The project was named Scientific Fair - Science you can see, hear and experience. Its main goal was to present seven scientific fields. Populariz...

In the paper we deal with the definition and implementation of interactive video within the educational process. Nowadays, various Learning Management Systems (LMSs) are used as a supporting tool in electronic education. LMS Moodle is one of the well-known systems from the open source category. These, unlike their ancestors, focus on the personaliz...

Organization of the distance form of study is not an easy task. It can be quite complicated, especially regarding the communication or rather the instantaneousness and promptness of giving the feedback to the students. One of the useful methods of increasing the effectiveness of the learning process and quality of students' results is integrating t...

In certain stages of the educational process it is necessary to verify the quality of the study program that is realized via e-learning. The aim of the research presented in the paper was to get relevant feedback on the quality of one module of created study program for nurses, specifically the module “Role of a nurse in community care” which was o...

In the paper we describe the applicability of different types of resources and activity modules in the e-learning courses and the worthiness of their usage. The presented ideas are supported by the outcomes of the questionnaire research realized within the e-learning study as well as the usage analysis of particular e-course ―Role of a nurse in com...

Education and possible further studies have become a rather demanding investment. At the time of imperfect technology, i.e. technology of the previous period, it was a very difficult and doubtable task. But, is an ordinary use of new technologies a formula for the solution? We shall try to adequately answer this question. In our contribution we sha...

Using of modern concepts based on information and communication technologies is still growing and also educational organizations must react on this situation. It requires effective approach in control, teaching and testing process. Classification usually follow-up to testing process is very sensitive phase of the learning process and it is necessar...

In the 21st century, the digital technologies are firmly implemented in all part of industry and services. Communication and also cooperation is often realized only via electronic connection. Using of modern concepts based on information and communication technologies in education too is still growing. That requires modern approach in control, teac...

This article deals with e-learning course of computer graphics that was created for distance, "face to face" and blended learning at the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovak republic. The subject Computer Graphics is the part of bachelor study program of discipline Applied I...

In the assignments, especially in the automatically evaluated ones, the right formulation and form of presentation, as well as the right form of feedback is very important. Also the decision about formal part of assignment does not have to be convenient for everybody. However Successfulness of solution depends not only on the content and formal par...

Implementation of ICT into education brings not only easier work with materials (such as design, printing, distribution etc.) but also new techniques and possibilities which can make traditional materials more attractive for students and more effective for teachers as they can make computers do part of their work and the teacher can focus on teachi...

In this paper, we present a CMS Moodle course Programming 2 developed and used while teaching programming to novices at the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra. The course is focused on advanced programming concepts such as recursion, backtracking, pointers, dynamic memory allocati...

The paper focuses on security policy of information systems and customizing of the issue of security for ordinary users of personal computers using a supporting website included within the e-learning course – Operating systems. This material is designed for an ordinary user and the aim of this paper is to suggest the ways how to protect computers a...