The concept of student cognitive culture: Definition and conditions for development

Abstract

Introduction. Nowadays, knowledge is the main resource for the innovative economy. In the information society, there is the contradiction between the gradually increasing flow of new information and the inability of users to understand it. Education, including higher vocational training, should play a key role in bridging that cognitive gap. However, the current educational standards and programmes of universities, as well as the lower level of cognitive skills and students’ competencies, do not meet the requirement to solve the global problem related to the processes for changing the knowledge structure and total informatisation of human activities. In particular, against the background of the achievements of modern epistemology, there is still no scientific-based interpretation of the student cognitive culture, which formative factors have not been also identified yet.The aim of the present article is to define the concept of cognitive culture of a university student and the conditions for its development.Methodology and research methods. The methodological framework of the research is based on cognitive, informative and cultural approaches to the discussed problem. The analytical-synthetic method and the method of comparative analysis were applied in the course of the research.Results and scientific novelty. The definition of a student cognitive culture is defined on the basis of the modern principles of cognitive functioning and its subjects (unity of consciousness, unconscious and activity; co-evolution of individual, collective and social, etc.), as well as the classical model of knowledge transformation. Student involvement in all types of information activities is substantiated as the main criterion for assessing cognitive culture maturity. A technocognitive environment with integrative character is considered as the condition for development and achievement of a high level of student cognitive culture. The version of structural technocognitive environment is proposed and the content of each of the components is described.Practical significance. The present research material is primarily addressed to the specialists involved in improving the quality of higher education. The main provisions of the article and the author’s conclusions can be employed as a theoretical basis to organise the cognitive environment at the university. To further the present research, the author intends to identify the specifics of the development of student cognitive culture in various educational fields, as well as to investigate the computer component of the student internal thinking as a part of his or her cognitive culture.