INFLUENCE OF STUDENTS’ COGNITIVE STYLE ON THE CHOICE OF THE FORM OF CLASSES AT AN ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study on assessing the influence of cognitive styles on the choice of effective teaching methods in engineering universities and engineering training areas. The relevance of the research is related to the need to adapt the higher education system to the paradigm of an individual educational trajectory, which involves taking into account the psychological characteristics of the individual when choosing the format of classes. The aim of the study is to substantiate the relationship between the student’s cognitive style and the formats of practical and lecture classes and to develop practical recom mendations for improving the educational process in engineering universities. The research was conducted on the basis of M. Kirton’s questionnaire and J. Berlin’s classification of cognitive styles. As a result of the research, the author’s classification of cognitive styles is proposed, adapted for engineering university students, the dominant cognitive styles among the studied sample are shown, the dominant and missing characteristics for each of the cognitive styles are highlighted, recommendations for each cognitive style on choosing the most effective class format are given. Special attention is paid to the interactive format of classes, as well as to determining the expediency of individual and collective work for representatives of various cognitive styles. The results of the research can be used by the administration of higher educational institutions of engineering in the development of new and improving existing educational programs, as well as by teachers when conducting classes with students of engineering training.