Researches regarding the learning difficulties of first year students at agronomy. Metacognitive competence development

Abstract

The logic competences have invaded the educational field for almost two decades and it has been part of the critical movement of the conception where the education/ formation aim of transmitting the knowledge (J.-P. Bronckart & J. Dolz, 2002, In Dolz J., Ollagnier E., Éds.). The definition of the competences can also be realized in a metaphorical manner (transfer of knowledge or stimulation of the subject’s resources at a given time) ( Perrenoud Ph., 2002, In Dolz J., Ollagnier E., Éds.). The metaphor of mobilization emphasizes the subject’s activity, which involves an assembly of complex mental operations, connected to some situations, rather transforming the knowledge, and it suggests a coordination of the multiple and heterogeneous subjects` resources, a continuous recombination of these resources (ib). Our researches join the project approved by the National Centre of Programme Management 2008-2010 (Programme 4- Partnership in foreground domains, no. 92106). We appreciate that the educational work has to count on the profound knowledge of causes, conditions and favouring factors and especially of those that prevent the improving of university education quality. If we agree with the principle of centring the teaching – education process on the student, then the deciphering the individual mechanisms of the complex process of learning represents the basis of all researches of modernizing the teaching-learning process. Due to the instruments of psycho-pedagogical investigation, through qualitative and quantitative analyses, we will be able to offer the students, the teaching and leading staff that expertise that could lead to the improvement of education quality. Also, the students will gain abilities of different techniques of intellectual work, which are so useful during the university years, as well as to their preparing for the long term learning.