On October 6, Saratov University hosted the first lesson of the Pedagogical Course of the academic year. A total of 511 schoolchildren from Saratov and the region have signed up for training this year.
The participants of the educational platform were welcomed by SSU Rector Aleksei Chumachenko. ‘Symbolically, the Pedagogical Course starts precisely on those days when we congratulate our teachers on their professional holiday. A teacher is perhaps the most important job in the world. And all the innovations that are taking place in education, economy, culture, and other areas are primarily the merit of our teachers, thanks to whom we have found our place in life, our mission. When we developed the Teachers in the Educational Paradigm project, which is implemented under the Priority 2030 federal programme, our main goal was to help each of you choose your profession and believe in yourself and your abilities,’ he pointed out.
The results of the last academic year were summed up by the curator of the course, Head of Priority Projects and Programmes Elena Yelina. She recalled that out of 108 11th-graders who participated in the project, 99 enrolled to Saratov University.
‘This year, volunteers, undergraduates of the Faculty of the Pedagogical and Special Needs Education, almost all of them graduates of the pedagogical course, help us in organizing classes. Another innovation of this semester will be the possibility to participate in the course full-time. We are ready to invite up to 25 students to our lectures at the university. Both full-time and online participation in the classes of the pedagogical course will allow you to replenish your understanding of the teaching profession, get a certificate of graduation and possibly employer-sponsored education that will make it easier for you to apply for pedagogical courses at the university,’ Elena Yelina explained to the audience the key points.
Olga Prozorova, a teaching and guiding specialist of the Support Centre for Talented Children, the head teacher of the Pedagogical Course, spoke about her duties there. ‘The professions of an actor and a teacher are extremely similar. It all starts with a smile, the right gesture, a pose. It is important for teachers to make it clear to the children that teachers are interested in this class, in this audience. This profession does not tolerate burnout, it is important to appear before the audience in a cheerful, determined and fascinating way, leaving all your worries behind the door. It is in this way that you can have productive dialogue with pupils.’
The invited lecturers, Chair of the Department of Social Psychology of Education and Development Rail Shamionov and Associate Professor of the same department Anna Golovanova, tried to reveal the peculiarities of interaction with pupils.
‘All children are different, each child is an individual personality with his or her own character, a set of attitudes, and a degree of motivation to learn. That is why a teacher should think about how to make learning individualised and accessible to every pupil,’ Anna Golovanova commented.
The advantages and disadvantages of group interaction for a person, in particular for schoolchildren, were outlined by Rail Shamionov. ‘Due to the group children become humanised. Taking responsibility for one's deeds, interpersonal interaction helps develop, become better, as well as resist an external threat. However, the reverse side of group interaction is the mental impact on the individual, the formation of a monotonous, typical personality, and the difficulty in defending an opinion.’
The topic of leadership was also discussed at the meeting, namely those qualities that were necessary for the pupil’s character. The participants interacted, took part in an online survey, and were able to ask interesting questions to the speakers in the chat.
We remind you that the Pedagogical Course is part of the Teachers in the Educational Paradigm SSU strategic project under the Priority 2030 programme. Classes will be held every two weeks. Education for schoolchildren is free.
