Outstanding research topics

Science and environmental education

The Department of Pre-Primary and Primary Education staff has a long-standing profile in the field of didactics of primary and pre-primary science, environmental education and sustainability education. Research is aimed at contemporary constructivist approaches in education, the issue of scientific, mathematical, technical, and ecological literacy, and the specifics of pre-primary and primary school age. Research approaches respect the holistic view of education and are concerned with its cognitive, affective, and behavioural aims. The PhD in Didactics of Primary Science Education, which trains researchers in science education, is designed in this context.

Special education

The Department of Special and Social Education staff has long excelled in research concerning social adaptability and the development of cognitive and communicative skills within psychopedics, speech therapy and somatopedics. Their research is aimed at innovative approaches and strategies that promote inclusive education and social adaptability of people with special educational needs. They specifically focus on developing communicative skills in individuals with communication impairments, including aphasia, dysarthria, autism, and other disorders. The research team also investigates cognitive stimulation and individual development in those with mental disability, concentrating on identifying effective special education methods and strategies.

Kinanthropometry

The department responsible for the training of future physical education teachers and other professionals working with children, youth or adults in the field of physical education and sport strives to cover the current topics of kinanthropometry within its research activities, within which falls the evaluation of active lifestyle parameters with a focus on participation in physical activities and the risk associated with excessive sedentary behaviour. Furthermore, they evaluate the effectiveness of physical programmes in school and after-school activities and assess risks of health impairments due to excessive or uncompensated exercise. Other research topics include, but are not limited to, the issues related to the practice of physical activities in persons with disabilities, evaluation of selected physiological and somatic aspects of movement, didactic technologies application, and the analysis of the performance of a player and a referee in sports games.