Analysis of teachers’ knowledge on the brain development and cognitive activity in children. Results of anonymous survey

Abstract

Anonymous voluntary questioning was carried out on teachers of educational organizations from 10 Russian regions. 7117 r espondents took part in the survey: kindergarten teachers of preschool educational organizations, teachers of three levels of school education. The research objective is to assess the teachers’ awareness about the basic terms and concepts associated with the functioning of the nervous system, age-related characteristics of cognitive activity and behavior of children and adolescents, problems of learning and social adaptation that may arise due to age-related features of the growing organism. The analysis of the obtained data did not reveal significant differences in the surveyed groups. There was no significant relation between teaching experience and the knowledge level. Predominance of correct answers was found among teachers of biology. The questions about the age characteristics of the cognitive activity of preschool children and adolescents were the most difficult for the respondents. The obtained results indicate the need for add itional educational programs for teachers, which will give them the opportunity to know recent concepts on the brain development and cognitive activity of a child. The data of this study could be used to develop the program and determine the content of the section "Brain development and the formation of the cognitive activity of a child" in the trai ning course "Pedagogical physiology"