Dr.Hab., Professor T.I. Shukshina¹
PhD, Associate Professor P.V. Zamkin¹
PhD, Associate Professor V.V. Miroshkin^1
1Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute named after M. E. Evseviev, Saransk

Keywords: research developments, research competency, professional teacher training system, Physical Education Department, teacher training institute, research competitions.

Background. The relationship between the level of research competency development of a future physical education teacher and the key characteristics of his readiness for studying, professional reflection, and innovative transformation of the teaching and coaching practices is the object of scientific interest of many Russian and foreign scientists [2].

The dynamically developing field of practical activity of the Physical Education Department graduates opens up a wide range of topical problems and tasks, the solution of which requires highly developed research competency and certain research experience. In addition, there is a growing trend in the individualization and personification of educational products and services. Research experience and research competences contribute, on the one hand, to better adaptation to the ever-changing professional environment, and on the other - to more efficient work in the mode of innovative development of the educational practice [3].

Objective of the study was to provide theoretical and experimental substantiation of the role and significance of research competitions within the professional teacher training system of Physical Education Department students.

Results and discussion. The analysis of the Russian and foreign university educational practices, as well as the results of the exploratory and experimental activities carried out at Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute revealed that research competitions are crucial for the students’ research and learning-cognitive productivity. An integrated approach to planning and organizing students' research activities, development of the required scientific and methodological support offer considerable possibilities for research competitions in terms of improvement of the quality of professional physical education and sports teacher training [1].

The integrated approach involves systematization of research activities by defining the target indicators of students’ research activities, planning of research work with students at all levels, including the activities of research associations and student government assets, scientific events for students, including training events aimed to build research competences (scientific schools, master classes, methodological seminars, etc.); development of methodological recommendations on mainstreaming the area of research, regulatory documents, and rules of organization and holding of student scientific events.

Annual research competitions are important in the determination of the ranking positions of both a student (and thereupon, realization of incentive measures) and a scientific supervisor of the student research association, performance of each teacher, department and faculty as a whole. Various forms of competitive presentation of the research developments, the results of which are found in the electronic portfolio of students and rating data of the departments, encourage physical education teachers to strengthen the research component of the educational process within the discipline or its module, different practices, including extra-curricular research work with students, as well as to strive for a good result.

The scientific and methodological support of training and involvment of students in research competitions is carried out through updating the directions and topics of student research, organization of consultations by the leading experts in planning and pursuance of research, as well as organization of various training activities (tutorials, seminars, master classes, round tables, trainings with curators of student research society and research team leads), additional educational programs for students on research and project activities [2].

Among the competitions arranged by the pedagogical institute on an annual basis are: "Student Scientific Research", "Best Student Researcher of the Year", "National Student Research Competition for Secondary Technical Schools and Higher Education Institutions", Student Science Festival, etc.

The student research competition aims to popularize research activities and modern scientific achievements among university students; improve the quality of scientific research; identify promising and support most relevant scientific researches. The competition involves on-line or off-line defense of research results. The degree of immersion in the research subject, the author’s possession of the scholarly apparatus, the quality of presentation of the material, visualization of the research results, clarity of conclusions generalizing the speech, quality of answers, etc. are assessed during the competition. The competition "Best Student Researcher of the Year of M.Y. Evseviev Mordovian State Pedagogical University" aims to identify and encourage students who have proved themselves in research work; increase the research activity of student youth and involve them in current research; integrate scientific activities and educational process; form a personnel reserve of the university. Students' e-portfolios which represent the main research achievements and developments are evaluated. The competition results are aggregated in accordance with a wide range of nominations, which makes it possible to assess students’ research abilities individually.

The Science Festival has proved its worth. It makes it possible to successfully solve the problems of popularization among students of scientific ideas and developments, involvement of young people in scientific work, as well as the definition of the priorities of student science and its role in the future teacher formation. The advantage of the Science Festival as a form of work with young people is the organization of informal communication of famous scientists and experts, whose activities are associated with the introduction of scientific developments and innovations, public figures, physical education teachers, health and safety education teachers, coaches, and students.

The festival program includes more than 50 lectures, master classes, presentations, and discussion areas. Of particular interest are the trend-session "Prospects for the Development of Student Science", design laboratories, networking sessions, quests, and intellectual tournaments. The moderators of various festival venues reveal the perspectives of the work, go public about forthcoming competitions and conferences, where students can take an active part and realize their ideas, show their knowledge, practical skills, and professional excellence.

To increase motivation and quality of management of scientific research work of students by the institute teachers, the competition "Best Student Research Association of Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute named after M.E. Evseviev" is held. The competition aims to improve the student research mechanisms; demonstrate the most significant achievements of the student research associations; create a database of effective methods of student research; and share positive experience.

Overall, the comparison of the main performance indicators of students’ research activities over the past two years shows a positive trend: the number of articles in the Russian journals reviewed by the Higher Attestation Commission increased by 15%, the number of articles in the scientific journals - by 39%, the number of patents registered by RosPatent – by 30%. In 2019, the number of applications to the open competitions for the best scientific work of students, held on the orders of the federal executive authorities, doubled. There was a 35% increase in the number of medals, diplomas, and merit certificates obtained by students during the open competitions.

Conclusion. The analysis of the results of the exploratory and experimental activities carried out at the Physical Education Department of Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute revealed that integrated and multi-level (department, faculty, student research associations, university, inter-university events) organization of student research competitions makes it possible to improve individual elements of the faculty’s training system (strengthening of interdisciplinary links in the teacher education, focus of the educational programs on the formation of metasubject project-research competencies; individualization of education trajectories; deepening of methodological training of students, mastery by students of universal learning-cognitive actions and algorithms in research and design activities; expansion of general and professional awareness; development of subjective activity and learning-cognitive autonomy of students; raising the level of educational achievements, their personalization; forming a value-based attitude towards research, etc.), which is a significant factor in improving the quality of professional teacher training of future teachers and coaches.

The study was sponsored by the Russian Fundamental Research Foundation under Project No. 18-013-01084.

References

1. Kadakin V.V., Fedotova G.G., Kokurin A.V., Miroshkin V.V. Physical education department service in developing teacher education system. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2017. no. 11. pp. 9–11.
2. Zamkin P.V. Problem of developing scientific and methodological support for students’ research in the conditions of practice-oriented training in pedagogical university. Gumanitarnye nauki i obrazovanie. 2019. v. 10. No. 3. Pp. 48-57.
3. Shukshina T.I., Zamkin P.V., Miroshkin V.V., Parshina L.G. Building scientific education competency in physical education and sports teacher personnel via actualization of student research activity (case study of Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute named after M. E. Evseviev). Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2015. no. 10. pp. 11–13.

Corresponding author: T_I_Shukshina@mordgpi.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to provide theoretical and experimental substantiation of the role and significance of research competitions within the professional teacher training system of Physical Education Department students.

Results and conclusions. At Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute named after M.E. Evseviev much attention is traditionally paid to the professional physical education teacher and coach training. The university has a multi-level training system aimed to improve the quality of the educational process, its practical orientation, and consistency in the educational and research processes. Among its elements, a special place belongs to the student research competitions. Having emerged as a form of encouragement of students’ research activity, they quickly proved to be an important mechanism of formation and rating of the students’ research competency level. The Physical Education Department was among the first structural units of the university that used the potential of research activities to solve a wide range of current problems and tasks of the physical education teacher and coach training.

This article is devoted to the analysis of the educational capacity, role, and importance of research competitions for enhancing the vocational training system of the Physical Education Department students. The results of the exploratory-experimental analysis showed that the complex and multi-level organization of student research competitions is related to the elements of the Physical Education Department student training system. In particular, it makes it possible to add more meta-subject project and research competences building focus in the educational programs, personalize educational trajectories, expand the methodological training of students, develop subjective activity and self-learning skills, which is important for improvement of the quality of higher education.