Experimental pedagogical activity when teaching computer science to younger students

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Problem statement. In modern conditions, computer science plays an important role in the development of world science and scientific and technical progress, the formation of knowledge and culture of modern society. Today, computer science as an academic discipline has become a fundamental discipline. It is included in the content of both school education and university education of students in various fields of training. In the development of informatics as an academic discipline has contributed to studies of such authors as G.S. Batrshina, S.A. Beshenkov, T.A. Baronenko, L.L. Bosova, N.N. Bulgakov, A.V. Goryachev, A.A. Gra- chev, S.G. Grigoriev, V.V. Grinshkun, L.M. Dergacheva, O.Ju. Zaslavskaya, T.B. Zakharova, G.A. Zvenigorodsky, R.R. Kamalov, S.D. Karakozov, A.A. Kuznetsov, M.P. Lapchik, I.V. Levchenko, N.In. Makarova, Yu.A. Pervin, A.E. Rakitin, I.G. Semakin, A.R. Esayan, A.J. Friedland and other authors (see, e.g., [1; 4-7]). In science lessons to grade school students master the theoretical concepts underlying the course, the initial ideas about the information picture of the world, learn to use computer technology as a means of working with information in academic and daily life, develop the initial ability to select necessary information, to understand and apply this information in solving academic tasks is the process of nurturing interest in information activities, the ethical standards of information selection and the education of careful attitude to electronic devices. In the learning process students, mastering the content of the course of informatics and reinforcing practice, solve various assignments and exercises, for example, call color, shape, size of objects, continue a predetermined number, thereby learning to build an algorithm to search a sequence; giving the name of the objects, divide them into groups, learn to combine and classify items into groups by common characteristics, learn about the concept of composite parts; establish spatial relationships “greater than”, “less”, “same”; compare sets, solve problems using arithmetic, remember mathematical terms; encode information using the alphabet in forward and reverse order; build and parse statements, learn the basics of logic; make algorithms cyclic, branching, linear, learn the basics of programming. In the process of completing educational tasks, students not only master the theoretical material on computer science, but also can practically work out the skills and abilities of working at the computer. The system of tasks for primary school in computer science, implemented on a computer, will improve the quality of education of students and develop their creative abilities, and this contributes to the formation of their deep knowledge of computer science. In the process of teaching computer science, students develop their worldview, logical and informational thinking, and knowledge of such fundamental concepts as information, algorithmization, syntax, modeling, formalization, and other concepts of computer science. The effectiveness of teaching school informatics is achieved through the formation of the content of training, the full implementation of the goals, principles, forms, tools and methods of training. One of the most effective methods of teaching students computer science is the game (game technologies, didactic games, business games, computer games) (see, for example, [2; 3; 6; 7; 9; 13-15]). The use of didactic games in the process of teaching students computer science using computerization tools allows them to form a system of knowledge in the discipline, to develop their creative abilities. A traditional lesson differs from a lesson using didactic games in that problem situations are formed independently. At this lesson, students are not in any limits or under pressure of restrictions, they have the right to make mistakes. At the same time, they can show independence, actively and creatively approach the tasks. Such authors as S.A. Bizyaeva, A.K. Bondarenko, N.N. Bulgakova, N.A. Vladimirova, L.M. Dergacheva, R.R. Kamalov, A.L. Katkova, T.G. Ryseva, N.I. Nikulina, S.V. Ilchenko, D.G. Zhemchuzhnikov, O.N. Polschikova and others made a significant contribution to the development of methods of teaching informatics to schoolchildren using the game approach (see, for example, [2; 4; 6; 7; 9; 12]). Participation in didactic games in computer science lessons gives students the opportunity to improve their creative thinking, to understand the importance of the material being studied and the meaning of the concepts being studied in computer science more deeply. The use of didactic games in teaching computer science to primary school students contributes to the comprehensive development of their personality, active mental growth, and deep and meaningful learning. Therefore, the development of individual abilities of students should be taken into account when developing such training content. In addition, didactic games in computer science lessons can be selected individually in accordance with the level of subject knowledge of younger students. With this approach, each student will be able to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, but at a different level. Methods of research. One of the important components of the educational and methodological work of a teacher who teaches computer science to younger students is the quality control of the acquired system of knowledge of schoolchildren, which is carried out as a result of experimental pedagogical activity. Such experimental pedagogical activity usually involves conducting pedagogical experiments, the results of which are processed and analyzed using various mathematical methods. For example, after studying the topic “Types of information, human and computer”, the quality of learning the educational material and the content of such fundamental concepts as information, sound information, taste information, tactile (tactile) information, olfactory information, visual (visual) information, computer, keyboard, monitor, mouse, system unit can be determined. Experimental pedagogical activity is carried out at different stages of pedagogical research aimed at identifying and justifying pedagogical influences, such as the content, methods, forms and means of teaching. Pedagogical experiment, as a rule, consists of ascertaining, searching, forming and controlling stages. When conducting such experimental pedagogical activities, a variety of approaches can be used, including the use of mathematical methods for processing the results of pedagogical measurements. Statistical methods, among other things, allow making an informed decision about the results of the pedagogical experiment (see, for example, [8; 10]). One of these methods is the method of calculating the linear Pearson correlation coefficient, which can be used to calculate the correlation between increasing the level of fundamental knowledge in the field of computer science and the ability to perform training tasks independently; the degree of influence of computer science training on the formation of creative abilities and worldview in younger students. The Pearson coefficient rxy is determined by the formula: n n n nåxi yi - åxi å yi r = i=1 i=1 i=1 , xy 2 2 æ n æ n ö ö æ n æ n ö ö ç å i çå i ÷ ÷ ç å i çå i ÷ ÷ ç n x2 - ç x ÷ ÷ ç n y2 - ç y ÷ ÷ è i=1 è i=1 ø ø è i=1 è i=1 ø ø where n means the number of observations being compared; the quantitative features being compared. i x and i y mean Among the mathematical methods that can be used to assess the quality of primary school students’ subject knowledge in computer science, the following methods can be used. 1. The method of V.P. Bespalko, which can be used to identify the level of learning of educational material in school computer science, using the value of n the coefficient k = , which n determines the number of points scored by N younger students, N determines the maximum number of points for younger students. 2. The method of A.V. Usova, which allows to reveal the completeness of assimilation by younger students of the content of concepts used in the process of teaching computer science, by the value of the coefficient K , which is determined 1 n p by the formula: K = p × n å i i = 1 where i p denotes the number of essential features of concepts learned i -th student, p means the total number of attributes of the concept, n means the number of students in the class. The Microsoft Office Excel software allows to calculate the value of the above coefficients, as well as to build various visual diagrams. Results and discussion. The obtained results of pedagogical experiments allow to draw a conclusion about how successfully younger students have fundamental knowledge in the field of computer science, which is taught using didactic games. Conclusion. In the process of teaching younger students computer science using didactic games, experimental pedagogical activity of the teacher allows to identify how successfully such training is conducted. The results of pedagogical measurements clearly demonstrate the level of subject knowledge of younger students in computer science and help, if necessary, to adjust the methodology and content of training in computer science using didactic games.

About the authors

Viktor S. Kornilov

Moscow City University

Author for correspondence.
Email: vs_kornilov@mail.ru

doctor of pedagogical sciences, candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, full professor, deputy head of the department of informatization of education

29 Sheremetyevskaya St, Moscow, 127521, Russian Federation

Svetlana V. Morozova

Moscow City University

Email: suhova-svetlanka@mail.ru

post-graduate student of the department of informatization of education

29 Sheremetyevskaya St, Moscow, 127521, Russian Federation

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