DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE EDUCATORS’ RESEARCH COMPETENCE IN THE PROCESS OF STUDY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODS

Abstract

The article deals with the certain aspects of developing of future educators’ research competence during process of study of the course «Scientific research methods». The urgency of the defined problem is substantiated in the context of the new higher education paradigm due to needs in changes of teaching activities approaches, principles, contents, methods, forms and technologies in higher educational establishments. Under these circumstances the urgent issue of the competent educator formation and development seems to be important. He has to master the scientific knowledge methods, scientific educational methods, and techniques of their application in the educational process. The terms «competence», «competence approach» are characterized providing the connection of the educational process and scientific research methods being the leading principle of the contemporary higher education activity. Research competence as a key component of the contemporary teacher professionalism is revealed. For the effective development of the future educators’ research competence in the process of scientific methods study, the author proposes to imply the project technology. It is defined to be the most productive technologies based on the integrity and direct application of the acquired skills during practical activity. Namely, the author proposes for developing research competence to use research projects needed to be structured properly among the common activity of participants; defined purpose, subject of research topicality, social value, forethought of methods (experimental as well). They are completely subordinate to the logic of the study and have an adequate structure. It is shown that due to the project technology in the process of study methods the educator transforms from the carrier of the prepared knowledge into the young people cognitive activity promoter, consultant, adviser, and coordinator. In this research specific tasks of the project are proposed and described. Carrying them out in a certain order, students will gradually acquire skills that are necessary for scientific research, in other words the research competence acquiring. Among the tasks we may name the defining current educational problems, formation of the categorical apparatus in the scientific research, a selection of the theoretical and empirical cognitive scientific method, references compiling, a citing design in the scientific research, etc.

Key words: competence; competence approach; research competence; scientific research methods; project technology; a project.