The
unseen-before pace of technological progress, the spread of urbanization, as
well as the accessibility of education to almost every individual, have greatly
changed the society. However… 50-60 years ago, children of 10-11 years read
more, wrote better, and had stronger math skills.
Has
the curriculum become more difficult? Not at all. The
school program is just the same as it always was. The standards have even been
somewhat lowered. The schoolchildren now suffer from the lack of physical
movement, vision losses, posture problems, and overload. They loose interest to
studying.
Perhaps
it is the case that the people have become less clever? Not so. IQ scores of
children today are even higher than those of their peers from 1950.
The
cause of the education problem lies in a different domain. The scientific and
technological revolution changed everything except the methods of education. It
took 200-220 lessons for the first graders from the middle of the XIX century
to learn the basic skills of reading, writing, and counting. Today, in the
beginning of the XXI century, the norm is exactly the same. In fact, it takes even
longer to study elementary grammar and algebra today than 50 years ago – just
compare the curriculum plans.
The
efforts to improve pedagogical practices in Russia
have been going on since the 1970s. The most prominent among the newly-devised
approaches is the system of studying reading, grammar, mathematics, and the
English language devised by a St.
Petersburg scientist Nikolai Zaitsev.
Fifteen
years of the system’s use in Russia,
the former Soviet
Republics,
and other countries (including the US)
showed these results:
• Many
parents in Russia
teach their under-school-aged children at home with the use of Zaitsev’s
system. In Russia,
no one is surprised to see 3-4-year-old children read and count
• Children
of 4-5 years learn to read and count after 10-12 hour-and-a-half-long sessions.
First graders accomplish the same in a single week
• Vision and
correct posture are not only preserved; they are
improved (reputable scientists support this claim). The numbers of problems
associated with the lack of physical movement are also reduced.
The
latter observation shows the particularity of the Zaitsev’s system. Zaitsev’s
tables are placed on all walls in the classroom; they surround the students.
The tables are always used during the explanation of the material and its
review.
Any
question of the teacher can be answered by using the information in the tables
as a guide. To succeed, one must make optimal decisions, carrying out the task
in as little steps as possible – selecting the right table, row, column, and cell.
Because
Zaitsev’s system allows free and active movement during the learning process,
the students are able to think clearer and to concentrate on the tasks better.
The lessons are structured in a form of a game. Over a hundred
intellectually-stimulating games have been developed for that purpose. The pace
of studying with Zaitsev’s system exceeds that of conventional learning
methods. Everyone has good grades. Everything is successful. The result is that
Zaitsev’s approach removes the stress, improves the psychological climate in
the class, prevents conflicts between the student and the parent, the student
and the teacher, the teacher and the parent. Zaitsev’s education materials
include a series of manuals that cover various subjects. Each set of materials
may be used equally well by a large group of students or by a single
individual. Zaitsev’s materials cost considerably less than usual teaching
textbooks that cover topics in a fragmented way.
Possible collaboration with US partners can occur along the following
lines:
1.
Participation in publishing additional copies of already-existing educational
materials; creating new computer-based learning programs, electronic games,
etc.
2.
Participation in developing education programs for learning to read and write
in any language.
3. Creating
new programs on basis of Zaitsev’s education approach and copying them.
Collaboration with education establishments:
1.
Distribution of Zaitsev’s education materials by organizing lectures, courses,
or seminars.
2. Training
perspective employees and creating specialized centers that
operate on Zaitsev’s basis.
3. Teaching
instructors and entire faculties; supplying them with materials.
---------------------------------
On
March
23-24, 2005, the International Conference on
Zaitsev’s System (scientific and applied) will take place in Moscow.
Advance registration and information about the Conference can be obtained:
Web:
www.intelgame.ru,
e-mail: Intel@intelgame.ru,
tel.:
+7-095 - 926-89-26, 926-83-78.
---------------------------------
N.
Zaitsev Educational
Methodology
Tel.:
+7 - 812-247-7013
+7 –
812-116-2479
e-mail: Elen@peterlink.ru
