The project method as an effective means of conducting binary lessons in computer science and geography

Abstract

The article is devoted to a practical research of secondary students’ project activities during binary lessons. Objectives of the study are theoretical substantiation and practical analysis of possibilities for using the project method as a means of enhancing the quality of knowledge in binary lessons on computer science and geography with secondary students in grades 6–9 at general secondary education institutions to form their scientific and research competence. In accordance with the objective of study, such scientific methods were used: systematic analysis of scientific, pedagogical and educational literature to theoretically study the problem of using secondary students’ project activities to improve quality of knowledge through problem-based learning; empirical analysis of methodological support of “Informatics” and “Geography” subjects to develop an effective technology of project activities as a means of improving the quality of knowledge. Results are that peculiarities of organizing project-based learning for secondary students during binary lessons in computer science and geography using technologies based on geographic information systems (GIS) have been identified. The educational and methodological support of the subjects “Informatics” and “Geography” was analyzed to determine the basic knowledge of 6–9th grade secondary students’ necessary for implementation of the developed project “Study of the forest loss in Ukraine based on space monitoring data”. The results of study allow us to conclude that use of project activities as a means of improving secondary students’ knowledge in the process of studying the subjects of Computer Science and Geography is effective. Conclusions. The study proves practical value of using GIS projects in binary lessons on computer science and geography, which involve secondary students’ active work with modern GIS to search, collect and analyze various geographic data of project objects and phenomena.