Academic Centre“Effectiveness research of an online curriculum for virtue education in Latvian educational institutions (from grades 1 to 12)”
Duration: 03.01.2022–30.12.2024
Project objective: In 2021 during a previous project funded by the Latvian Council of Science, the moral education programme “e-TAP” (from 5 years to 9th grade) was elaborated. The objectives of the current project are: 1) to investigate the effectiveness of the existing “e-TAP” programme; and 2) to improve it with new materials for grades 10-12 and digitising the materials for grades 7-9 (with interactivity).
Programme effectiveness will be explored in a longitudinal study (3 years) for three age groups (1-3, 4-6 and 7-9 grades) using an experimental design (three control groups and three experimental groups). The suitability and feasibility of the new materials will be investigated by piloting them in at least three educational institutions. Using the interpretative-phenomenological analysis method, the implementers of the programme – primary and secondary school teachers – will be involved in the fit, feasibility, and effectiveness research.
By the end of the project, six articles will be submitted or accepted for publication in WoS, SCOPUS or ERIH+ scientific journals and at least one Master's thesis will also be defended. In cooperation with education policy makers, the programme will be disseminated in all regions of Latvia, also using the project’s digital platform. The results are expected to have a positive impact on the quality of moral education in Latvian educational institutions from pre-school to grade 12, reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in this field.
Funding institution: Latvian Council of Science
Funding number: lzp-2021/1-0385
Fit and feasibility trial of an online curriculum for virtue education in Latvian educational institutions (for 5 to 15-years old students)
Duration: 01.12.2020–31.12.2021
Project objective: to explore the fit and feasibility of an online curriculum for virtue education of 5 to 15-years old pupils in Latvian schools.
During the study, the quality of the implementation of an online programme for virtue education will be scientifically monitored. Using the interpretative phenomenological analysis method, implementers – preschool, primary and lower secondary school teachers – will be involved in the study of the pedagogical conditions of feasibility of the digital curriculum, and in the analysis of its appropriateness for the Latvian cultural environment.
The content and delivering methods of the online curriculum will be revisited to enhance the quality of the implementation of the programme. The results of the study will thus have a positive impact on the quality of moral education in (pre)school education in Latvia in the digital environment, reducing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in this area.
Project No.: lzp-2020/2-0277; UL registration No.: LZP2020/95
Formation of pupils' moral habits in Latvian schools (ARETE–school)
Postdoctoral research (01.11.2017–31.10.2020)
Project objective: modernization of education in Latvian schools by implementing innovative research-based programme on 21st century competencies and ethical development of virtues with the support of a virtual platform.
Ethics-based Horizon 2020 project VIRT2UE
The University of Latvia participates in the Horizon 2020 project VIRT2UE, which is based on ethics and trains ethics professionals in health and education sectors. The project organizes a course aimed at acquiring innovative methods of research ethics and RRI in various scientific disciplines. Participants of the course will also have access to specially developed methodological materials within the project.
Value and moral education programme for school governance professional development
The school governance support programme "Supporting teachers for developing intra-personal competencies and character education at school" offers school governance teams science-based support in pupils' values and moral education fields, taking into account the values, ethical education and international experience in the school curriculum reform project "School 2030". It is implemented in cooperation with the Pieriga district Education Board and Education and Information Services of Riga City.