CAREER GUIDANCE OF SCHOOLCHILDREN IN THE FIELD OF SPACE EXPLORATION

Abstract

Space exploration in the modern world remains one of the most important trends in scientific and economic activity. Space rockets, manned orbital vehicle, satellite communications and navigation have become a common thing. Many countries have established long-term space programs for space exploration and economic use. It becomes clear that this activity requires solving complex scientific and technical problems. These problems cannot be solved without highly qualified personnel: astronomers, mathematicians, IT-specialists, engineers, cosmonauts. Many space-related organizations have drawn attention to the shortage of such personnel. “Space” professions are hardly common on the labour market. This kind of profession is unpopular with applicants and schoolchildren. This situation is due to the high requirements to mastering these professions: elitism, high requirements to the level of training, unique skills, strong physical health, psychological stability, increased responsibility. This leads to schoolchildren underestimating their potential. As a result, they do not consider such professions as a variant of choosing an individual life path. This position significantly limits the possibilities of professional choice and the outlook of modern schoolchildren. This raises the problem of broadening the professional outlook of schoolchildren and familiarizing them with various aspects of professional activities in the field of space exploration. The objective of this article is to substantiate the career guidance technology of schoolchildren in the field of space exploration. The technology is based on methods of knowledge popularization about space and accessible practical activities. The methodological basis of the research is the principle of the unity of consciousness and activity developed by S.L. Rubinstein. Their interaction determines the formation of the future image in a person's self-consciousness structure. The methods applied in our technology are based on modern and tested in pedagogy technologies of social partnership, educational tourism, cinema pedagogics and gaining practical experience. It is proposed to use popularization methods of knowledge about space: communication and interaction with representatives of space professions, design and implementation of excursion and educational routes to objects connected with space sphere, watching and discussing films of space subjects. The use of practices that support practical activities is recommended: conducting research that reflects the issues of space exploration; creating projects that present options for the use of space knowledge in modern life. The technology was experimentally tested in Chelyabinsk region schools. The participants in the experiment were 246 schoolchildren. The results of the diagnostics revealed low interest of schoolchildren in space-related practical activities (21%). The experimental stage showed that the share of children interested in this activity increased to 46%. The conclusion about the positive effect of the career guidance technology of schoolchildren in the field of space exploration was made. The proposed methods of educational and practical activities have a complex impact on the expansion of the professional outlook of schoolchildren, in the field of space exploration. And such methods can be used in the pedagogical practice of general education schools.