SA TÕESTAD SELLEGA KOOLILE JA KA ENDALE, ET SA OLED NAGU VALMIS INIMENE: ÜLDPÄDEVUSTE JA UURIMISTÖÖOSKUSTE KUJUNDAMINE GÜMNAASIUMI UURIMISTÖÖ KAUDU
You gonna prove to the school and to yourself that you’re like a developed person: Shaping general competencies and research skills through a high school research project

Summary/Abstract: In the development plans and education documents of various countries and organizations, competencies resulting from the modern approach to learning are defined, which are called and classified differently (e.g. transformative competencies (OECD s. a.), key competencies (EÕS 2020), general competencies (GRÕK 2011), 21st century skills (Chu et al. 2017)), but they are valued in society and education similarly. Forming competencies is important because contemporary education is characterized by a learning and teaching process where learners acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for the future.For already ten years, one of the conditions for graduating from high school in Estonia has been a research project, but little is known about how the students think they have managed carrying out their projects, what they have learned in the process and what skills they have acquired. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to explore students’ experiences related to the general competencies and skills developed in the research projects. The source material of the paper consists of focus group interviews conducted with 18 students from four schools who have gone through the research project process in high school. We analyzed the interviews based on the principles of qualitative content analysis.Writing a research project offered students various experiences related to the development of general competencies. Based on the students’ experiences, learning, communication and digital competencies were highlighted from among the general competencies. In the background, entrepreneurship and self-determination competencies are also important. Other general competencies are also represented in carrying out a research project, but through only a few aspects. All these general competencies are based on various transferable (e.g. time management, teamwork, self-analysis) and research-related practical skills (e.g. information searching, citing), but according to the students, these skills were merely improved on, not acquired. At the same time, students considered the experience of carrying out a research project necessary, because the research project was considered preparation for future school, work and everyday life.In the students’ opinion, it is possible to make the research project writing process and organization more efficient with a better support system. The course “Basics of a Research Project” is of great help in writing a research paper, but students would like to deal with problems of their own work in the course, rather than solving given tasks. Also, the role of the supervisor is important for the successful completion of the research project. Although giving feedback is seen as one of the supervisor’s tasks, general direction and support is considered just as important. To students, it is crucial that the instructor responds to them as quickly as possible, which means that the supervisor’s instructional load should be optimal.

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