Abstract:

The nursery schools and schools (starting from age 1.5 up to 18) of Latvia are commencing gradual transition to upgraded learning material and respective change of teaching process starting from the academic year 2018/2019 to develop pupils’ knowledge, skills and attitude that are vital for living at the 21 century. The scientific research activity (SRA) of the pupils is one of the novel teaching methods realized by educational establishments. It is an independent self-guided study where pupil can learn basic principles, structure and methods of the research. Its purpose is development of the pupils’ intellectual capabilities and creativity.
Pupils who have particular interest about some subject or scientific discipline can explore it in-depth whereas teachers and university teaching staff have interest to assist them at preparing for studies at university, scientific research, and choosing appropriate future career.
Aim of the scientific research work is increasing the pupils’ responsibility for the learning process as well as enhancing ability of acquiring knowledge, skills and proficiency on their own, the prerequisites for the self-guided learning at schools where pupils are involved in planning of the subject tuition process, presentations and jointly are evaluating their work, agreeing on final evaluation with the classmates and the teacher assessment.
The authors review number of studies in the literature, which prove that guided learning process is more effective than just face-to-face teaching.
The authors of the article analyse skills of the teachers necessary for implementation of this approach. The authors, who are experts in the evaluation of the scientific research works in natural sciences section in Latvia, review the current situation in comparison to experience and findings in other countries, show examples of the gradual transition entering the teaching practice as well as examine the further steps.

Keywords:

Scientific research activity (SRA), scientific research project, guidance of the learning process.