Developing functional literacy by means of contemporary art

Abstract

Problem and objective. The level of functional literacy is checked by the Programme for International Student Assessment, where Russian students demonstrate their weak positions. As one of the ways to improve the results of international testing, it is proposed to study works of contemporary art and to construct, on their basis, tasks of a wide range of scientific fields aimed at forming functional literacy, involving students in creative tasks of a project type. The purpose of the article is to show ways to develop functional literacy through educational-cognitive and educational-practical tasks developed in the process of comprehending the work by French composers Pierre Henri Marie Schaeffer and Pierre Henry Symphonie pour un homme seul, which has wide pedagogical capabilities. Methods. Developing functional literacy by means of contemporary art is based on the system-activity, person-centred, and multi-artistic approaches. The analysis of theoretical sources in pedagogy and art history was used. Results. The pedagogical potential of contemporary art, in particular, works of concrete music, opens up significant prospects for students to create their own creative products that combine different types of arts. This requires the development of educational-practical skills with the involvement of a wide range of information to obtain a creative result. The educational orientation consists in the implementation of a conceptual idea in a literary-musical composition and its visualisation with the involvement of personal computers connected to the Internet, sound speakers, a USB microphone, and computer programmes. Conclusion. The knowledge, skills, and abilities obtained in the study of contemporary art are effective in forming functional literacy in general and additional education, lesson and extracurricular activities while integrating the content of art lessons and school subjects of basic school.