The influence of the organization of the educational process on the mental capacity of secondary school students

Abstract

Annotation. The modern education system is characterized by the introduction of the latest technologies and educational projects, accompanied by an increase in information and emotional load, which is accompanied by a decrease in the efficiency and quality of work, determined by the level and dynamics of mental performance. The purpose of the study – to determine the impact of the organization of the educational process in primary school on the mental capacity of students in the study of subjects of varying difficulty. The study involved 112 secondary school students, divided into 3 groups depending on the curriculum. With the help of proofreading tests, the level and dynamics of mental performance was determined in a cycle of studying 3 subjects: mathematics, Ukrainian language, history. In parallel, self-assessment of psycho-emotional state was performed according to the method of SAN and pulse measurement. Statistical data processing was performed using one-way analysis of variance and t-test in the software package IBM SPSS Statistics v.20. It was found that the educational program affected the level of mental performance (F=106.7), heart rate (F=25,2) and well-being (F=4,5; p<0,05). Quantitative (382.31±5.46 characters) and qualitative (7.60±0.28 errors) indicators were better in girls (p<0.01). The maximum decrease in the volume and quality of work was determined after the history lesson (respectively by 27.65±7.24 characters and 3.35±0.49 errors; p<0.001). In the dynamics of the study of subjects there was a decrease in mental capacity against the background of a decrease in health to 1.9 points (p<0.05) and an increase in heart rate to 92.13±2.82 beats/min (p<0.001). The study of mathematics according to the experimental educational project was accompanied by the highest percentage of students with the preservation or increase of the level of mental capacity, and according to the traditional program – its decrease in the vast majority of students. When studying the Ukrainian language and history, no significant difference between the types of changes in mental performance under the conditions of implementation of different curricula has been established. Thus, the optimal organization of the educational process, especially in the study of heavy subjects, helps to preserve and restore mental performance and, consequently, reduce signs of fatigue, which guarantees not only a sufficient level of academic success, but also less depletion of functional reserves of the child's body and reducing the risk of school maladjustment.