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Course with employment: "The profession of a methodologist from scratch to PRO"
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Associate Professor of the Department of Educational Psychology named after Professor V. A. Guruzhapov at the Faculty of Educational Psychology of Moscow City Pedagogical University (MGPPU) is an expert in the field of educational psychology. His work is aimed at studying the mental processes influencing learning and education, as well as developing effective methods of pedagogical practice. The department is actively engaged in scientific research and the training of qualified specialists in the field of educational psychology.
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The lecture entitled "Fundamentals of Psychodidactics: How to Make Learning Effective" provides valuable insights into how to improve the educational process. Psychodidactics combines psychological and didactic approaches, which allows for the development of strategies that maximize learning effectiveness. The lecture examines key aspects such as student motivation, individualization of learning, and the use of various teaching methods. These elements play a vital role in creating a comfortable and productive learning environment where each student can reach their potential. Understanding the fundamentals of psychodidactics helps teachers adapt their approaches and methods, which in turn improves learning outcomes and promotes deeper assimilation of the material.
Individualization in education is often understood by teachers as a simple form of communication with a student. For example, the phrase "stay after class, I'll work with you individually" does not always reflect the essence of individualization. One-on-one interactions don't guarantee that a teacher will tailor their methods to each individual student. In most cases, teachers follow a familiar pattern, failing to consider the unique characteristics and needs of each student. As Vygotsky emphasized, it's important not only to teach but also to understand the student's challenges in mastering the material. Individualization requires a new role for the teacher: instead of standardized teaching, it's necessary to delve deeper into the student, identify their problems, and find solutions. This requires significant effort and a shift in approach.
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On December 4, Sergei Zaitsev gave an online lecture on "Fundamentals of Psychodidactics: How to Make Learning Effective." The lecture focused on the contradiction that exists at the intersection of psychology and didactics. Over the past hundred years, psychology has made significant advances in understanding learning processes, cognitive activity, and mental functioning, as well as in studying the age-related characteristics of children. However, the foundations of classical didactics were laid before psychology began to develop as a science. This has led to many of the ideas of classical didactics being outdated, yet the public education system still relies heavily on these traditional approaches. It is important to rethink existing methods to ensure they align with modern scientific data and the requirements of the educational process.
Psychodidactics is a modern approach to didactics that relies on scientific data from psychology, rather than outdated pre-scientific ideas about the psychological nature and development of children. This method takes into account objective research and the principles of psychology, allowing for a more effective organization of the educational process, based on the real needs and developmental characteristics of children. Psychodidactics helps teachers better understand the psychological aspects of learning, which contributes to a more favorable educational environment and increased student motivation.
The lecturer noted that one of the key psychological needs of an individual, which is of great importance in the educational process, is the need for self-actualization. This need consists of the desire for personal development and self-expression. Satisfaction of this need is possible when students have the opportunity to remain true to themselves during the learning process. Supporting students' self-expression and individuality is essential for their personal growth and successful learning. Sergey Zaitsev emphasizes that a teacher's job is to help each student reach their potential. Each child has unique qualities and learning styles that are important to consider. Teachers strive for their students to achieve high results and meet their ideal student expectations. However, it's important to allow children to be themselves. An individualized approach to learning is key, as each student develops at their own pace and using their own methods. This doesn't mean the learning process shouldn't be structured, but it should take into account each child's personal characteristics and interests to achieve the best results.
Until a child's basic psychological needs are met, they will not be able to develop their need for knowledge. This is because satisfying basic needs such as safety, love, and acceptance is the foundation for the further development of an interest in learning and exploring the world around them. Only when a child feels protected and supported will they begin to actively explore, ask questions, and seek new knowledge. Thus, creating a comfortable and supportive environment is key to the process of learning and cognition.
For the effective individual development of each child, it is important to deeply understand their personality. Sergey Zaitsev notes that many teachers adhere to the opinion: "I am a teacher, my job is to teach, and leave the psychological aspects to the school psychologist, who serves 500-900 students." This widespread opinion highlights the lack of attention to an individual approach in education. Another common objection he encounters is: "If I had a class of five, I would be able to demonstrate all these wonderful principles, including individualization." This situation points to the need to create conditions for a more personal approach in the educational process, which can significantly affect the development of schoolchildren.
The lecturer believes that the main focus should be on teaching approaches, not the number of students in the class. He argues that with the right methods, individualization can be achieved even in a standard lesson in a mainstream school. Conversely, a small number of students does not automatically ensure individualization if the approaches used are ineffective. Moreover, individual consultations between a teacher and a student do not always guarantee an individualized approach to learning. It is important to develop pedagogical strategies that truly take into account the needs of each student, regardless of the lesson format.
The author shares his experience in a private school with a small number of students. He notes that despite the small number of students – only five – the lesson format remained traditional. The teacher often addressed each student by name, showed kindness and attention, and patted the children on the head. However, this did not change the essence of the learning. All students completed the same tasks, ignoring their individual characteristics. Thus, even in a small class, the educational process did not adapt to the needs of each child. This underscores the importance of an individualized approach to education, which remains relevant regardless of the educational institution's format.
Ensuring individualization in the classroom is a crucial task for modern educators. Providing students with choices in the learning process based on the content of the curriculum fosters their independence and critical thinking. When students are able to make decisions and draw conclusions, this becomes an integral part of an individualized approach to learning. Despite the existence of such methods, their implementation in practice remains limited, raising serious concerns among educators. It is necessary to more actively integrate these approaches into the educational process so that each student can realize their potential and adapt learning to their needs.
Individualization of the learning process is possible even within the framework of group work in the classroom. Traditionally, the teacher independently forms groups, assigns assignments, and then collects the completed work. However, a more effective approach is to allow students to independently divide into groups, select assignments based on specific criteria, and assign roles within the team. This format of work promotes the development of independence and responsibility in students. Psychologically, this creates a completely different educational space that teaches not only how to complete academic tasks, but also important skills such as decision-making and the ability to make informed choices.
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