On the Issue of Teaching Mathematics in Elementary School: Experiential Learning Experience

Abstract

Background. The article discusses the issue of the psychological foundations of the content and methods of school teaching on the example of a mathematics course at primary school. Objectives. The study focuses on the pedagogical and psychological analysis of Ya.I. Abramson’s programme in mathematics, based on the theory of the gradual formation of mental actions and concepts by P.Ya. Galperin. Methods. Theoretical analysis of publications reflecting the results of using the author’s mathematics programme in school practice. Results. Based on L.S. Vygotsky’s ideas about the relationship between learning and mental development and the theory of the gradual formation of mental actions and concepts by P.Ya. Galperin, a scientific and psychological substantiation of Ya.I. Abramson’s original programme in mathematics for teaching primary schoolchildren is provided. The research also provides a brief description of the programme followed by a psychological analysis of the results of testing in Moscow schools. This educational programme has been shown to be highly effective. Conclusions. The data obtained serve as practical confirmation of the effectiveness of training based on the third type of orientation and learning in the theory of P.Ya. Galperin. In addition, they clearly demonstrate the correctness of P.Ya. Galperin’s position on the need to highlight the subject matter of the area being studied from the first steps of school education, which, in turn, once again illustrates the heuristic potential of P.Ya. Galperin’s general psychological theory and the possibility of its application to various areas of social practice, primarily in solving educational problems.

Keywords

• activity theory of learning
• action
• learning
• concept formation
• formative method
• mental development
• educational psychology
• didactics
• education
• faculty of psychology
• lomonosov moscow state university