Today we’ll talk about what design and research activities are. It is worth saying that this is a progressive methodology in teaching, which is used relatively recently, but has already managed to bring great results. Today you will find out what advantages it has and why it is being implemented even at the state level. Moreover, the article will be useful to everyone who plans or has children, because it will allow you to look at the learning process from a completely different angle. This is especially useful for those parents who are afraid of the moment when it will be necessary to induce or force the child to learn for the sake of his future by unknown forces. You will be surprised, but this can be done effortlessly, but only with the right approach.
What is design and research ?
Nowadays, one can often find incorrect conceptual design of various educational processes. Some textbooks and techniques give educators and teachers some insight into what corrective developmental education and level differentiation are. Only a few specialists can apply all these methods in practice and achieve results. As for the methods and techniques that are associated with work outside the mainstream, there is a huge variety of opinions of various scientists and researchers, which is often controversial. We will consider the design and research activities of students, which many write through the union of “and”, not realizing that these are not identical, but different directions. They differ in the way they are organized, their skills and other important indicators.
Design and research activity is an activity aimed at developing the creative and research qualities of students. It is a search for a solution to some problem where the answer is not known in advance. This is the main difference between this activity and a simple workshop in which everything is known and you just need to go through the thumb. The design and research activities of students imply the existence of stages that are characteristic of a typical scientific research: problem statement, studying theoretical material, choosing a method or tactic, practice, the process of collecting the results, analysis and synthesis of data, deriving specific results and own conclusions. Each study, in whatever area it is conducted, consists of the above stages, which are necessary for appropriate research activities.
Differences in design and research
The organization of project research involves a set of methods that are separately assigned to each of the two types of activities. It should be understood that they complement each other and have a number of differences. As a result of research, we get an intellectual product that is created by establishing the truth using the methods of traditional research. Project activity involves the search for truth by choosing the most effective way of knowing. The value of design and research activities is that it brings a comprehensive result and immediately trains a group of important skills. Separately, project activity is very important, but it does not teach practice and how to look for information, process and submit it. Research activity alone is not of such great importance. Therefore, she needs a project.
Design and research activities in kindergarten
This activity can be carried out at different levels of growing up of a person: in kindergarten, at school, in a higher educational institution and even at work. Design and research activities in kindergarten are various cognitive, game and creative activities that are aimed at raising the initial inclinations in the child for the correct solution of problems. From birth, a child seeks contact and interaction with the world around him, he is very curious and wants to find, recognize and solve. Each kid is a pioneer, and the most important task of educators is to maintain and develop the properties of curiosity in a child. As a Chinese proverb says, a person understands something only when he tries it. Design and research activities with young children are almost entirely based on what they decide what to do in a particular situation. Of course, the endless abundance of options will deprive the child of stability, and he will get confused, so at first the baby can choose from several options, but he must come to them on his own.
Junior schoolchildren
Design and research activities of primary schoolchildren are very similar to the work that is carried out in the kindergarten. In elementary grades, children experience stress when they have to obey a strict routine, solve obscure tasks, do their homework every day, and constantly learn something. This period is difficult, but if it is carried out correctly, then significant results can be achieved. The design and research activities of primary schoolchildren are full of independent tasks in which the child must not only come to a solution, but also find the most correct and rational way out of the situation. The tasks of a person who is engaged in research activities are as follows:
- providing a favorable psychological climate in the team;
- development of creative qualities;
- development of independence and ability to make decisions different from the majority opinion;
- development of communication skills, friendship, conflict management;
- development of imagination and fantasy.
Implementation ways
We already know about the key concept of our article. It's time to find out in what ways design and research activities are being implemented. It is worth saying that there are several of them, but in no case should you choose any particular one and focus on it, considering it a priority. Each method should be alternated with others in order to maximally harmoniously develop the various skills of children.
Design and research activities in the preschool educational institution may be manifested in the following:
- Projects in which children conduct experiments. The results can be different, the main thing is the ability to get and fix. After work, the child must fill out the information received in the album in the form of a collage, drawing or booklet.
- Role-playing games that resemble theatrical performances. This exercise is very effective, and it is often used in various psychological trainings even by adults. Children should learn to be artistic, try on different roles, in order to better feel their own uniqueness and individuality. Role-playing games are not held for fun, because during the production the child must not only try on a new image, but also solve a certain problem within its boundaries. A very important point here is that the problem should be solved exactly in the style of the selected character.
- Information practices that focus on the collection and presentation of information. Children must collect certain information and formalize it in any way. It is important to teach kids not just to draw or tell, but to demonstrate something through exhibitions, shows, performances, fairy tales, etc. In other words, it is necessary to teach a person to express his ideas in a variety of ways.
- Creative contests that are aimed at developing organizational skills. Children, individually or in a group, should organize some small event. Then a presentation of your event is held. Thus, children learn to independently see their advantages and differences from others, as well as notice weaknesses and subsequently focus on them.
Subjective relationship
Design and research activities are most often implemented within the framework of subjective relations “teacher - student”. The teacher broadcasts some knowledge, and students must perceive it. This scheme has long been established and is always used by those who are critical of progressive teaching methods. The inefficiency of this technique lies in the fact that many situations cannot be entered into its framework. There are many cases where the student’s unbiased opinion is more appropriate, logical and correct than the teacher’s book opinion. Children look at the world without a film of prejudice and a mass of information that limits the perception of reality, so they can see it from a different angle. A lot of teachers simply do not want to develop on their own, because it is much easier to act on a knurled scheme that seems to give good results, so even a clear conscience will be clear. And yet this is a big mistake that forms the child’s fear of contradicting the teacher and the rejection of critical thinking.
Design and research activities in modern education
Today in Russia there are old traditions of implementing this approach, which are already becoming obsolete because they are ineffective and do not satisfy modern requirements. Small academies of sciences and scientific and technical societies are created and operate throughout the country, which are the “executive body” of project activities. They bring great benefits, but can bring even greater. The main goal of such institutions is to create a model for the functioning of academic research associations. Children who take part in such events are future scientists and professionals who have to move the wheel of history. Education in such societies is carried out more individually and efficiently, there is time to listen to everyone, and everyone can implement any of their projects. Modern educational standards are designed to minimize the burden on children. Reduce the quantity, but improve the quality.
What could it be? For example, the design and research activities of students in physics lessons are manifested in practice. Children should not memorize formulas and laws, but independently conduct experiments and see visual confirmation of book knowledge. Only in this case, the educational process ceases to be perceived by the child as imposed and will become interesting. And only in this way the student will understand, but not learn the necessary information, and also be able to draw parallels and use it in various areas of life.
GEF
The design and research activities of students under the GEF are prescribed by the state. Modern pedagogy is impossible without design and research activities, since only during it the necessary skills of independent thinking and decision making are formed. These qualities cannot be taught from a book: practice is needed. An active approach is basic to modern pedagogical science, and it is best realized through well-thought-out design and research activities. In many ways, it is independent, especially for high school students. Self-organization of one's own learning process allows a person to plan and track their actions.
The design and research activities at the GEF DOW are different from other areas of its application. Young children require a special approach, because they still only develop such abilities as comparison, analysis and planning. Nevertheless, state standards for project activities are implemented at all stages of education.
Positive factors
Design and research activities in kindergarten as a means of teaching independence, responsibility and determination have several advantages. Children who work with such carers will be able to learn from an early age what some learn half their lives. The described activity has a number of positive qualities:
- a multiple increase in the motivation of children in solving various problems;
- fostering genuine interest, rather than the mechanical fulfillment of the required tasks;
- education of responsibility;
- the formation of a technological approach to solving problems;
- communication skills training;
- the ability to independently compare and analyze in order to draw only the best for yourself;
- education of perseverance, concentration;
- public speaking skills training;
- formation of collective communication skills;
- the ability to organize your workspace, plan;
- the ability to find a common language with people who have a different point of view;
- the formation of a positive outlook on life;
- development of cooperation skills.
Additional education
Design and research activities in continuing education are becoming increasingly popular. Initially, the implementation of this activity took place only in the main learning process, but later it became clear that it can be useful and applicable at various circles, electives and courses. This sphere of education is just beginning to develop, so there are practically no printed works devoted to this topic. Everyone can turn to the GEF. The design and research activities described in the state standard will help to understand the main points of this approach. It is most actively used in the field of information technology. This allows you to educate a computer-literate person who will be able to express their ideas and projects using modern technology and equipment. The first experiments with this approach have already yielded positive results. The training is conducted with students 7-16 years old. Since the work must be creative, then everyone is free to choose the desired topic and how to present it.