Department of Informatics

Multimedia applications together with individual approaches within the didactic process substantially influence education. They give us an excellent chance how to support not only demonstrating and visualizing the explained subject matter to be much clearer and comprehensible, but also enable us to prepare such study material for students that optimizes their study habits. The top applications of multimedia are represented by virtual reality. Well organized and fulfilled virtual learning environment has been becoming important part of teaching and learning. On a few examples of multimedia products created by our students on a script given by the author of this paper we discus their benefit when explaining and visualizing the subject matter and testing knowledge of students through several kinds of self-tests and we also mention advantages of the professional virtual learning environment containing such study material.

The Theory of Graphs is a wonderful, practical discipline. Informatics has played a big part in its development, and these two fields are strongly interconnected. This can, perhaps, mainly be seen in the design of computer algorithms. On the one hand, there are many methods which can be used for solving the same problem, while on the other hand, using effective modifications of one algorithm, we can devise methods of solving various other tasks. To educate students in the area close connected with Graph Theory and Computer Science, called as Combinatorial or Discrete Optimization, it is important to make them familiar with certain algorithms in contexts to be able to get deeper into each problem and entirely understand it. In the paper we present just a few ideas that have proved successful in teaching and learning this quite young part of mathematics.

The area of software development has passed a rapid expansion and this trend continues so far. Each developer has to learn constantly and master new technology. But crucial role is played by the basis which developer gains at the beginning of his-her career. The essential part of studies at the faculties preparing students in the area of computer science is development of student's ability to think algorithmically. Students must be able to create various algorithms solving given problems starting with easy ones and consecutively increase their algorithmic knowledge and shifts during studies till the level where they deeply understand much more complex algorithms. In the paper we introduce our way in which we develop algorithmic thinking of students at the beginning of their studies in the subject Algorithms and Data Structure. The described approach is framed within various digital objects dedicated to visualize the subject matter and intensify selfpreparation of students. Some of them will be introduced at the conference.

This article discusses mutual relationships between solutions to some known problems. Firstly, the history of the well-known Minimum Spanning Tree Problem, including Jarník's approach to it, is briefly revisited. Secondly, the basic differences between the three classical solutions to the MST problem are discussed. Finally, algorithms solving several other graph problems, based of Jarník's approach to the solution of the MST problem, are discussed in conjunction with the properties of the Breadth-First-Search Tree and Depth-First-Search Tree.

Graph theory and combinatorial optimization are powerful tools for teachers allowing them to develop logical thinking of students, increase their imagination and make them familiar with solutions to various practical problems. The paper offers some ideas how to make the teaching of these branches of applied mathematics and computer science more understandable and attractive. A case study is described which introduces the minimum spanning tree problem, its remarkable origin, and then its relation to the other problems. The approach used for teaching and learning graph theory and combinatorial optimization can serve as an inspiration for instruction of other subjects as well.

At the faculties preparing students in the area of computer science, the creation of algorithms forms an inseparable part of the students' basic skills. Students must be able to think algorithmically, to create various algorithms, solving given problems, starting with easy ones and consecutively increasing their algorithmic knowledge and shifts during studies, to the level where they deeply understand much more complex algorithms. Several years ago, secondary-school-students were taught how to create basic algorithms and write them into a program language, e.g., Basic or Pascal. But recently the situation in our country has changed rapidly. The user's approach by students has been increasing, but the algorithmic approach is almost unknown to them. This was the reason why our faculty decided to change the curricula with regard to accepted students who have been coming to the faculty without any previous algorithmic knowledge. In the paper we introduce our approach to the development of the students' algorithmic thinking.

In recent years there has been a visible change in the university student's profile. More and more students juggle their studies with work and other activities. Students have less time for their studies and are spending less time on campus attending lectures and tutorials and interacting with their peers and teachers. However, student engagement is crucial for successful education. Students learn more when they are intensely involved in their education; are asked to think about what they are learning and apply it in different settings. This should be made possible. Multimedia applications can be of great assistance in achieving active engagement. Multimedia provides teachers with an excellent chance to demonstrate and visualize the subject matter more clearly and comprehensibly, as well as enabling them to prepare study material that optimizes students' study habits. Moreover, various multimedia applications appropriate to course subject matter may be created by students themselves based on a script given by the teacher and this close cooperation between teacher and students can deepen students' interest in the subject.

Graph theory and combinatorial optimization are powerful tools for teachers allowing them to develop logical thinking of students, increase their imagination and make them familiar with solutions to various practical problems. The paper offers some ideas how to make the teaching of these branches of applied mathematics and computer science more understandable and attractive. A case study is described which introduces the minimum spanning tree problem, its remarkable origin, and then its relation to the other problems. The approach used for teaching and learning graph theory and combinatorial optimization can serve as an inspiration for instruction of other subjects as well.

The paper presents an innovative use of information and communication technologies in the teaching process. This is specifically a pilot verification research of classroom teaching method, when educational screencasts are created and students are studying a new educational videos. The students study at home and then discuss the contemporary matter and possible explanations and exercises at school. Pedagogical experiment and questionnaire survey were used as a basic research method to obtain feedback in the experimental group. There were no statistically significant differences in the results of experimental and control group, screencasts based on questionnaire survey were created in the opinion of students understandable for further research the interpre

A virtual study environment is a significant contribution to education and its role in the education industry is growing constantly. Many universities and institutions in the Czech Republic are extending their study programs and applying e-learning within gradual and lifelong learning.

Education of subjects related with computer science is from the perspective of other for centuries taught subjects, still in its infancy. Let us consider, for example, a teaching method aimed at developing algorithmic thinking of students. Even nowadays this area is still the subject of extensive discussions and teachers are looking for different ways how to access it to students. As the ability to create algorithms is the cornerstone to understand syntax and semantics of programming languages, it is obvious that a deeper look into learning a language can provide stimulating and interesting ideas for teaching algorithms.

The paper focuses on experiences gained during the last years with the WebCT virtual learning environment together with multimedia applications supported education of three subjects. WebCT has been used at the Faculty of Informatics and Management since the beginning of this century. The author of the paper has been prepared with her students various multimedia applications dealing with objects appropriate to subject matter for more than 15 years. In the paper we discuss a benefit of multimedia applications and utilization of the WebCT courses used as a support of subjects dealing with graph theory and combinatorial optimization, i.e. Discrete Mathematics and Discrete Methods and Optimization. The paper also mentions the WebCT course prepared for the subject Algorithms and Data Structures aimed at the development of students' algorithmic thinking essential for the mentioned subjects.

This paper is based on many years' experience with multimedia applications supporting the area of computer science education and it could serve as an inspirational material directed to all educators developing students' algorithmic thinking. Education of subjects related with computer science is from the perspective of other for centuries taught subjects, still in its infancy. Even nowadays a teaching method aimed at developing algorithmic thinking of students is still the subject of extensive discussions and teachers are looking for different ways on how to access it to students. Next to the educational approach to this base of computer science it is also important to find a suitable support for students' self-learning. Multimedia applications give teachers an excellent chance to demonstrate and visualize the subject matter more clearly and comprehensibly, as well as also enabling them to prepare study material for students which optimizes their study habits. Along with large software products developed by a team of professionals there are also various smaller programs dealing with objects appropriate to course subject matter created on a script given by the teacher with regard to students' needs. In the paper such application prepared *

The Czech Republic is, similarly to countries both inside and outside of Europe, gradually becoming a multicultural society. More and more frequently may one encounter foreign and immigrants' children, in Czech schools. The issue of whether the schools are ready for such influx was already examined by the second author of the paper several years ago. That time the emphasis was directed to general knowledge of foreign children´s cultures, traditions, habits, religion and differences in communication, and to the needs to increase this knowledge with respect to their upbringing and education of these children. During recent years the number of children with a different socio-cultural background has rapidly increased in the Czech Republic. This paper deals with the scale of values. First, we introduce the main objectives and results of a pre-research whose aim was survey the scale of values among children of foreigners living in the Czech Republic. This part is followed by presentation of the results of a recent survey which followed the previous one. Finally, we briefly discuss a possibility of multimedia study materials supporting self-preparation of pedagogues working with these children.