Attila Pongracz

57202117253

Publications - 10

Opportunities of VR for Teaching History

Attila Pongracz Balint Lampert Csaba Sándor Horváth

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 21

Issue: 3

Page Range: 143-162

Description:

The present study examines the opportunities of VR in the context of humanities and arts and – within their frameworks – in that, of history. Its novelty clearly lies in the fact that in this fields’ cyberspace is not used either by public or by higher education. The inclusion of info-communication tools for history teaching, does not really follow the current trajectory of development. Educators usually work according to methods that have become the most common and familiar. This research clearly revealed that students, who regularly use the VR space, in a History course of teacher training, consider it experiential, user-friendly, simple, problem-oriented and thus, easier to visualize historical facts. The regular and widespread use of VR software could greatly and easily help to progress the historical curriculum space.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.12700/APH.21.3.2024.3.10

The Impact System of Science Centers and their Activities, in Support of Public Education and Career Guidance, during the COVID Pandemic

Attila Pongracz Szabolcs Rákosi

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 21

Issue: 3

Page Range: 73-92

Description:

This paper investigates the complex impact system of the science centers, that play a key role in STEM career orientation and a draft model, for measuring these impacts. A review of the range of science centers in Hungary and an examination of the location of them provides an overview of this industry. Presentation diverse goals of science centers, their functions, along with the spatial effects of different activities, based on the comparative analysis of two institutions is presented herein. In addition to that, the paper also discusses the rural development impacts of science centers through a promising practice, and investigates innovative ways in which science center’s support public education and STEM career guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is based on the review of the current international literature on science centers. Subsequently, the Hungarian science center ecosystem is described through the analysis of public data, supplemented by the authors' personal, professional experiences in the analysis of the institutions and projects presented using a case study approach. The results show that the importance of science centers goes far beyond their function as tourist attractions, and that regular participation in their programs can enrich the knowledge base of their host city and agglomerations. The study indicates that science centers have all the required tools and methodological experience to effectively support public education in STEM fields. Finally, their ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, during the COVID-19 epidemic, demonstrates a “future-oriented” approach and tremendous innovation potential that are inherent in these institutions.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.12700/APH.21.3.2024.3.6

The Transformation of Digital Culture and Learning Habits in Higher Education, Digital Methods and Tools

Mónika Rajcsányi-Molnár Attila Pongracz István András Jozsef Cserko Anikó Benyák Gyorgy Molnar

Publication Name: Cando EPE 2024 Proceedings IEEE 7th International Conference and Workshop Obuda on Electrical and Power Engineering

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 109-113

Description:

The rise of digital culture has fundamentally changed the way people learn in higher education. Online platforms, digital learning materials and various e-Iearning tools have become commonplace, significantly changing traditional learning methods. Access to information for students has never been easier: online courses, interactive videos and webinars allow flexible and personalised learning. At the same time, learners are moving from being passive recipients to active participants, as the use of interactive content and collaborative learning tools becomes more widespread. Digital methods offer new ways of acquiring and processing knowledge. Tools such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI)-based tutors and gamification-enhanced learning systems increase motivation and allow for a more personalised approach to learning materials. Higher education institutions are also increasingly open to innovation, with the introduction of online learning platforms and hybrid teaching models gaining ground. Through this transformation, higher education is no longer limited to classroom learning but is becoming a global process in the digital space. Our article explores these issues using our concrete tacit knowledge and experiences from higher education courses.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CANDO-EPE65072.2024.10772883

Role of Science Centres in the Field of Sustainability

Attila Pongracz Szabolcs Rákosi

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 109-114

Description:

Sustainable Development is hard to imagine without a responsible, smart society. Accordingly, Education and Awareness-raising are essential prerequisites for social knowledge and acceptance of Sustainability. This research examines the role of today's innovative educational and awareness-raising institutions and science centres in presenting Sustainable Development issues playfully and experientially, and thus in shaping the attitudes of upgrowing generations and adults. The research aims to investigate how and to what extent science centres in Hungary reflect in their content and operations the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) declared by the UN and Sustainability in a broader sense. A questionnaire survey was carried out by contacting 14 science centres, supplemented by an analysis of the external communication of the institutions and a telephone inquiry. The results indicate that instead of representing the diversity of SDGs, on average, only 30 % of them are presented, and science centres are highly specialised, which threatens equal access and fairness. This study is outstanding in several respects: it contributes to the development of institutions by presenting promising practices, and its academic relevance is given by the fact that research on the operation of science centres is still lacking in Hungary.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107019

Integration of Sustainability into the operation of businesses through Human Resource Management Education

Attila Pongracz Szabolcs Rákosi

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 91-96

Description:

This research focuses on a hardly studied dimension of Sustainability, on its aspects of Human Resource Management (HRM). The examination of the topic is justified by the fact that the emergence of Sustainable Human Resources Management (SHRM) as one of today's modern, innovative HR approaches has not yet been examined in Hungary. Thus, the research fills a gap. The study aims to investigate how and to what extent Sustainability is implemented in the HRM practices of businesses of different sizes in the Northwest-Hungarian Economic Development Zone. The questionnaire survey forming the basis of this study was carried out by interviewing managers and HR professionals of the companies. The results indicate that Sustainability appears in extremely diverse ways and degrees in the examined organizations. The vast majority of them still consider Sustainability to be a primarily environmental issue. During their operations, the companies highlight the economic and environmental aspects of Sustainability and, despite the labor shortage, do not place a significant emphasis on Sustainability in the areas of Staffing, Compensation Management, and Staff Development. As a result of this research, Széchenyi István University ensures, through the development of HR training, that future professionals can develop and operate the model of SHRM in practice by taking into account new aspects and applying a complex approach. The results of the study will not only provide new value for the academic sphere but can also contribute to more efficient and fair operation of businesses.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107016

University lecturers' distance learning experiences gained during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Attila Pongracz Balint Lampert Viktória Kövecses-Gősi Ildiko Lorincz

Publication Name: 11th IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications Coginfocom 2020 Proceedings

Publication Date: 2020-09-23

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 325-330

Description:

Semester 2 of the academic year 2019/2020 has brought along a special situation and a variety of new solutions in education throughout the world. The emerging pandemic situation changed the system considerably by impeding both lecturers and students from working and meeting personally. Transition to online, distance education has also presented new challenges to educators, parents, teachers, university lecturers and students, as well as a new path of development. During our research, the experiences and difficulties gained by the members of Apaczai Csere Janos Faculty at Szechenyi István University in the past semester were examined with the help of an online questionnaire. Preliminary results show that the semester of distance learning, despite its difficulties, brought several positive results that enhanced teachers' creativity, pedagogical competencies as well as methodological culture of how the different tools and programs were used.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CogInfoCom50765.2020.9237890

Distance learning system established for teachers of hungarian language and culture in diaspora with the support of MaxWhere 3D VR

Attila Pongracz Balint Lampert Viktória Kövecses-Gősi Ildiko Lorincz

Publication Name: 11th IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications Coginfocom 2020 Proceedings

Publication Date: 2020-09-23

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 331-336

Description:

At the Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Széchenyi István University we had the opportunity to create a distance learning system that helps colleagues in the diaspora to teach Hungarian as a foreign language. Free interface became available to educators interested in the programme in May 2020. Distance learning is realized via Moodle of the university's VR learning system, complemented by the possibilities provided by MaxWhere 3D VR learning spaces. In the process of developing the distance learning system, professional, content-related and technical needs were assessed with the help of focus group interviews. The present study aims to present this process as well as the theoretical and practical background of the establishment of this distance learning system.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CogInfoCom50765.2020.9237853

Generation management tendencies in virtual education

Adel Vehrer Attila Pongracz

Publication Name: 9th IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications Coginfocom 2018 Proceedings

Publication Date: 2018-07-02

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 399-404

Description:

The authors of the present essay have been teaching at the department of Human Resoursces Counselling, MA for a decade. They both consider demographic changes and discrepancy in the various generations' digital competence as the greatest professional challenge. In this study of theirs, the authors present the principles along which they wish to prepare students for such challenges. In the future authors will designate a key role to the application of co-operative techniques as well as to the usage of 3D/VR spaces within the education process.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CogInfoCom.2018.8639957

MaxWhere VR-learning improves effectiveness over clasiccal tools of e-learning

Ildiko Horvath Judit Sipos Adel Vehrer Attila Pongracz Balint Lampert

Publication Name: Acta Polytechnica Hungarica

Publication Date: 2018-01-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 3

Page Range: 125-147

Description:

The paper investigates how workflows can be communicated and shared through linguistic descriptions, digital content and technological tools. We focus primarily on the content and digital tools of e-learning and VR learning. However, the results of the paper can be applied to collaborative workflows in general. The paper compares the effectiveness of three techniques, ranging from well-known to radically new: classical e-mail/ attachment based sharing, sharing through web interfaces (through a Moodle frontend), and sharing through a VR interface provided by a recently developed VR engine called MaxWhere. To this end, the paper introduces new methods and a new set of concepts for the purposes of benchmarking digital capabilities and user effectiveness within the domain of workflow sharing. The paper applies these concepts and methods to compare the use of the above listed technologies with the participation of 379 test subjects. Tests show that the users were able to complete the required workflow at least 50% faster in the MaxWhere 3D environment than in all other competing cases. The paper also proves that 3D environments are capable of providing users with a much higher level of comprehension when it comes to sharing and interpreting digital workflows.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.12700/APH.15.3.2018.3.6

Teaching coaching using 3D/VR technology in the light of intercultural knowledge

Judit Sipos Attila Pongracz

Publication Name: 8th IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications Coginfocom 2017 Proceedings

Publication Date: 2017-07-02

Volume: 2018-January

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Teaching Coaching using 3D/VR Technological background may offer novel experience to learners regarding visual impact and content, which makes both imparting and learning new materials more efficient. Coaching, which is an individual and group-oriented human developing methodology, has become a widely recognized and applied methodology all over the world. Hence, intercultural knowledge has a special focus in teaching and in the practice of coaching.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CogInfoCom.2017.8268292