Kovalenko O. Formation of future aviation specialists’ professional competence in the process of natural sciences studying

The thesis is devoted to the study on the problem of formation of future aviation specialists’ professional competence in the process of natural sciences studying. The definition of ‘professional competence of future aviation industry specialists’ is specified, which is formulated as a qualitative complex feature providing formed personal and professional abilities as well as natural sciences competences which determine the effective performance of professional duties in both typical and non-standard situations. The structural components, criteria, indicators and levels of professional future aviation specialists’ competence in the course of natural sciences studying are specified. The structural components of the given competence include cognitive, reflexive-activity, communicative and personal ones. The efficiency of the offered pedagogical conditions is showed with the help of intellectual, practice-oriented, behavioral, and individual criteria. The described criteria and indicators made it possible to diagnose the low, average and high levels of professional future aviation specialists’ competence in the course of natural sciences studying. The necessary pedagogical conditions for the formation of future aviation specialists’ professional competence in the process of natural sciences studying have been developed, theoretically proved and experimentally verified. The first pedagogical condition is determined as simulating cadets’ studying and practical activity with the help of aviation events analysis method which involves consideration of air accidents and incidents related to physical-geographical and meteorological factors of the environmental influence. The second pedagogical condition is improving the structure of cadets’ extra-curricular self-education activities through the introduction of the cutting edge information technologies. The third pedagogical condition is the organization of cadets’ research activity based on the context-based format and practical use of natural sciences skills while performing the course paper. The organizational and pedagogical model of forming future aviation specialists’ professional competence in the process of natural sciences studying is developed and substantiated. The methodical recommendations for the scientific and pedagogical staff on the formation of professional competence of future specialists in the aviation industry are given. Their implementation in the educational process will allow more effective traditional and innovative learning forms and methods and will facilitate the formation of cadets as individuals and as professionals who are ready to perform professional tasks.