Scientific and educational story - what is it? The popularization of scientific knowledge about the world is a necessary link in the education system. It makes it possible to convey complex information about the content of various branches of science (natural and humanitarian) in an accessible form, in literary language. Popular science literature includes biographies of historical persons, scientists and cultural figures, travel stories, stories about nature and physical phenomena, historical events.
Optimal genre
More specifically, in relation to children's consciousness, which is just beginning to master the variety of phenomena and objects that are known to man, then for the development of needs, first of all, scientific and educational literature is needed. It can be represented by various genre entities. The simplest and most relevant to children's perception is the story. Compact in volume, it allows you to focus on any one topic, on homogeneous phenomena, choosing the most characteristic.
Artistry or information?
A story as a genre involves narrative, plot, consistent presentation of facts or events. The story should interest, contain intrigue, an unexpected, vivid image.
What is a scientific and educational story, and how does it differ from fiction? The latter is not intended to transmit any accurate information about the world around us, although it cannot but be present there. A fiction story creates primarily an artistic image of the world, based on both knowledge and fiction.
The writer does not use factual material known to him not to acquaint someone with him and to increase knowledge about the subject, but, firstly, to create a convincing image (draw with a word), and secondly, to express his attitude to the depicted realities: your feelings, thoughts - and infect them with the reader. That is, express your creativity.
To what category can M. Prishvin's prose miniatures about nature be classified? "Gadgets" - an artistic or educational story? Or his "Oryks", "Talking Rook"?
On the one hand, the author completely reliably describes in detail the appearance and habits of the birds. On the other hand, he composes a dialogue, which is supposedly conducted between the little tit-nuts, and makes it very clear what kind of surprise and admiration these birds evoke in him. In the same spirit, he speaks in other stories. Of course, these are fiction stories, all the more so as a whole they add up to a wide mosaic picture, which makes it possible to evaluate them in the categories of artistic natural philosophy. But you won’t refuse them cognitive value either.
Fiction
A number of specialists in literary criticism and the teaching of literature at the school introduce such a concept as fiction. Of course, the stories of M. Prishvin, as, indeed, of V. Bianchi, N. Sladkov, completely fit into this concept, correspond to it.
This example clearly shows that the concept of “scientific cognitive story” can hardly have precisely defined and limited frameworks. Strictly speaking, it must be recognized that its functions serve primarily educational purposes. Not only the content matters - certain information necessary for assimilation, but also how it is organized, how it is communicated to the reader.
What is a scientific and educational story? Its functions
A scientific-cognitive work reveals its theme from historical positions, in development and in logical interconnectedness. Thus, it contributes to the formation of logical thinking, helps to understand the causal relationship between phenomena. A smart story can contribute to the transition from objective thinking to operating abstract concepts.
It is intended to introduce into the mental routine of a child (or teenager) an idea of special terminology used in a particular branch of knowledge. Moreover, this should happen in stages: from the disclosure of the content of a strict scientific concept to more complex texts that use certain terminology.
The scientific and educational story stimulates the student to master special reference books, helps to learn how to use encyclopedias, dictionaries, and reference books on various branches of knowledge. It contributes to the creation of a clear understanding of the system of reference manuals, which openly reveal the terminology or essence of the subject of interest.
Cognitive literature and education
The expansion of the volume of knowledge, the informative base of the emerging personality and at the same time the upbringing of intellectual activity, stimulating mental growth - this is what a scientific and cognitive story is. Skillfully and talentedly composed text of the story necessarily affects the emotional sphere. Only a machine can operate with “pure”, “naked” knowledge.
The assimilation of the material is much more successful against the background of interest. A scientific cognitive story should provoke a desire to read something new, to form a desire for knowledge. Therefore, personal attitude, personal authorial intonation - and this is a feature of fiction - nevertheless are a necessary component of such a work.
The Inevitability of Artistic Bias
Here we will have to return to a comparison of fiction and scientific-cognitive literature. Its elements, illustrativeness, descriptiveness, the creation of a verbal picture and, above all, the presence of an emotional aura and individual intonation endow the work with an educational function. They awaken curiosity in a small reader, help to determine the value attitude to the world around us, and value orientations.
Therefore, fiction is indispensable for perception in early school age. There is no impassable gap between these two types of educational literature. Artistic and cognitive stories correspond to the very first step of the educational process; it precedes the reading of scientific and educational stories.
Scientific and educational story (definition)
So what is it? A science-cognitive story is a kind of teaching aid introduced into the educational process from the mid-70s as extracurricular reading. At the same time, a methodology was developed for using this literature, methods were developed for its assimilation and memorization, and ways to motivate reading. Its functions are defined: cognitive, communicative, aesthetic.
The authors of such works, for their part, apply various techniques that facilitate understanding and memorization of the information presented. The narrative is built in the form of questions and answers, in the form of a dialogue with the reader. The author, leading the narrative in the first person, acts as a mentor, friend, adviser. A scientific and educational story is also a guide to the implementation of various experiments and experiments, it includes their description and instructions.
Know yourself
Man as an object of knowledge, as a biological and social phenomenon, as well as natural history, the history of society - all this is also the subject of study. A scientific and educational story about a person can be devoted to an infinite number of topics.
The paramount need for the younger generation is to penetrate the norms of social morality created by generations of people, on which human solidarity rests. Such material is provided, for example, by stories about great people of the past, people's leaders, politicians, geniuses of science and culture - all those who created human civilization.