Impact of game-based learning on STEM learning and motivation: Two case studies in Europe

The number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related jobs is increasing all around the world and especially in Europe. However, teachers face many difficulties in making STEM related classes more attractive and motivating the students to learn. This paper presents two case studies involving 116 students from two European countries (Slovakia and Ireland). The studies investigated the impact of a new educational computer game called Final Frontier on learning process and students’ motivation. We found that there are no significant differences between the two countries in terms of students’ interest in STEM, although the students in Slovakia achieved slightly better grades than those in Ireland. We also found that in both countries, the students using the Final Frontier game outperformed those not using the game in improving their subject knowledge after the study. Furthermore, the impact of game-based learning on students’ motivation for STEM differed in the two countries

Growing of birch seedlings and the fungal diseases on silver birch (Betula pendula) in Estonian nurseries

Käesoleva magistritöö eesmärkideks oli anda ülevaade kase istutusmaterjali kahjustavatest patogeensetest seentest Eestis, haigustunnustega taimla- ja metsataimedest võimaliku haigusetekitaja määramine, kase kasvatustehnoloogia võrdlemine kahe taimla baasil ning analüüsida metsa istutatud arukase taimede seisundit. Töö tulemusena määrati taimlatest kogutud istutusmaterjalilt seenpatogeenide perekonnad Alternaria, Fusarium ja Helotiales. Liigi tasandil määrati DNA metoodikaid kasutades Gibberella avenacea, Phoma herbarum, Phoma exigua, Neonectria radicicola, Epicoccum nigrum, Alternaria tenuissima, Ophiognomonia intermedia ja Cladosporium cladosporoides ning metsast kogutud taimedelt puhaskultuuri isoleeritult ka Cryptosporella tomentella, mis leiti ka tamlataimedelt. Töö huvitavama tulemusena leiti taimlast pärit arukase tüvedelt nähtavaid valgeid viljakehi moodustav limaseen (Myxomycota) – Lamproderma columbinum sün. Physarum columbinum. Katsealadelt kogutud kasetaimedelt määrati liigi tasandil kahjustavateks seeneliikideks peale C. tomentella veel ka Gliocladium roseum. Enamasti isoleeriti ka sümptomaatilistelt taimedelt metsast puhaskultuuri Fusarium ja Alternaria perekondade liike. Töö tulemusena leiti sümptomaatilistelt kasetaimedelt Eestile kokku kaks uut seeneliiki ja üks uus seeneperekond. Töö olulise tulemusena isoleeriti taimlast pärit sümptomaatilistelt taimedelt enam Fusarium, Alternaria ja Cladosporium perekonna liike, mis viitavad pigem abiootilistele või taimekasvatuse tehnoloogiatest tulenevatele probleemidele.The main purpose of this master thesis was to determine damages and fungal diseases on birch seedlings in nurseries and plantations, to compare production technologies of birch plant material on the basis of two nurseries and to investigate condition of planted silver birch seedling in forest plantation. Result of this study was determined fungal pathogens from infected birch seedlings on genus level Fusarium, Alternaria and Helotiales. On species level fungi was determined by using DNA methods Gibberella avenacea, Phoma herbarum, Phoma exigua, Neonectria radicicola, Epicoccum nigrum, Alternaria tenuissima, Ophiognomonia intermedia and Cladosporium cladosporoides. One fungus (Cryptosporella tomentella) was isolated from seedlings of forest experimental plantation, which was isolated from nursery seedlings also. Interesting outcome of this thesis was found visible fruiting body on stem of birch seedlings in nursery, it was Lamproderma columbinum syn. Physarum columbinum (Myxomycota). From the birch experimental plantations was determined C. tomentella and Gliocladium roseum. Most frequently isolated fungal genus was Fusarium and Alternaria on birch seedlings. One result of this thesis was finding of two new fungal species and one new genus for Estonia. On the symptomatic nursery birch seedlings were isolated mostly Fusarium, Alternaria and Cladosporium species, which indicate strongly abiotic damages or mistakes of production technologies