HOW TO OPTIMIZE PLANNING OF STUDENTS’ INDEPENDENT WORK TIME
The paper is about planning of students’ independent work time and focuses on the ways of its optimization. The authors introduce a model of dual control of students’ independent work with two control channels: pedagogical control of students’ independent work and individual self-control of student’s independent work. It is well-known that students’ independent work dominates university curricula. As for scientific pedagogical literature, planning and norm setting of this work have not yet received the attention they deserve. The authors adduce the results of the study concerning norm setting of student’s independent work and the ways of its optimization. There are two stages in the optimization process: at first, students’ average time load is optimized (with regard to every discipline studied in the term). At the second stage individual norms are set (based both on optimized average data and students’ psychological and cognitive preferences). The optimization results obtained at the first stage are used for scheduling students’ independent work as well as for preparing adequate learning materials aimed at independent study of the subject. Emphasis should be placed on the time required to acquire necessary knowledge. The paper introduces the methodology of individual norm setting of students’ workload relating to all disciplines studied in the given term. It has been established that only 35-40 percent of students cope with average standards. Other students have to adjust average workload norms taking into consideration their own interests, abilities and background knowledge on the subject. The optimization results obtained at the second stage are used to schedule students’ individual independent work (per week, per semester).