IMPROVEMENT OF LEARNING AND COGNITIVE ACTIVITY OF STUDENTS WHEN STUDYING NATURAL SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES BASED ON THE APPLICATION OF VISUALIZATION METHODS

Abstract

The article is aimed at studying didactic capabilities of visualization methods in the educational and cognitive activities of students in the study of natural sciences. This research examines a limited range of visualization methods that have a didactic potential in the study of natural sciences: the method of reference signals (reference notes), which goes back to the technology of V.F. Shatalov; the method of frames and the method of mind maps (mental maps) by T. Buzan. To test the effectiveness and identify the features of the application of visualization methods in the study of natural science disciplines, a formative experiment was carried out on the basis of the Institute of Mathematics, Science and Technology of the Bunin Yelets State University in 2016–2021. The study involved 238 students – future teachers of chemistry, biology, geography enrolled in the 1st year of studies for obtaining a bachelor’s degree. The main results of the experiment are presented in the article. It is found that the use of visualization methods has a great influence on the development of cognitive activity and independence, reproductive thinking. The main problems of using these methods are associated with the didactic possibilities of forming the productive thinking of students. The study confirmes the effectiveness of only the frame method in solving this problem.