Updated: 10/11/2024
Acting Head of the Department, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Nataliya Anatoliivna Voropai
HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT
In 1979, the Department of Pedagogy and Methodology of Primary Education was established at the Kherson Pedagogical Institute – the first department of the Faculty of Primary Education. Its history is closely linked to the formation of the faculty. The department was headed by the founder of the faculty, Associate Professor O. Prylepskyi, who, along with the department, celebrated 25 glorious years. Over the years, the department was headed by Professor V. Butenko, Associate Professor T. Oliinyk, Professor L. Petukhova, and Professor B. Andriievskyi.
Today, the department, named "Department of Pedagogy of Preschool and Primary Education," is headed by Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Nataliya Anatoliivna Voropai.
The changes that occur daily in our lives bring significant shifts in the content of education. The reform of the Ukrainian educational system requires a reassessment of the values in the pedagogical field. Innovations in plans and programs are moving towards the democratization of society, the development of our independent state, and the implementation of ideas of ethnopedagogy and global education. This is well understood by the department's faculty.
The department operates in two main areas – teaching pedagogical disciplines and disciplines of the artistic and aesthetic cycle. Modern social demands intensify the search for new innovative forms and methods of teaching. Significant opportunities are provided to teachers through the use of information and communication technologies, new teaching tools, and elements of distance learning.
Department members actively participate in scientific, scientific-methodical, and scientific-practical conferences held at leading universities in Ukraine and abroad. Annually, the department organizes All-Ukrainian and International scientific-practical and scientific-methodical conferences on current issues of education and upbringing.
The Department of Primary Education is concerned with the issue of students acquiring practical work experience. To this end, the department's faculty collaborates with many schools in Kherson and the surrounding area. Pedagogical practices for students are organized based on these schools, where they study and disseminate the experience of leading teachers.
Students also gain scientific and practical work experience in problem groups:
Professor L. Petukhova – "Formation of Professional Competences of Primary School Teachers in the Context of Information and Communication Educational Environment."
A special focus of the department is the coordination and improvement of work with the young intellectual potential of the faculty. Naturally, the scientific work of the department's faculty continues in the students' scientific pursuits. Research by talented students is realized in creative works, with the best of them repeatedly winning prizes and awards in student research competitions. Among our students are laureates and winners of All-Ukrainian Olympiads in pedagogy and methodology of primary education. For instance, in 2009, students T. Zahorulko and E. Balakina won 4th and 8th places respectively in the Olympiad on preschool education (Luhansk National University named after T. Shevchenko) and were awarded certificates for “Highest Level of Theoretical Preparation,” “Best Self-Presentation,” and “Best Methodological Development of a Lesson.” Student N. Piddubna won 3rd place in the Olympiad on primary education methods (Berdyansk State Pedagogical University).
The best graduates of the faculty are encouraged to continue their studies in the master's and doctoral programs.
The department actively participates in international projects and programs and has strong ties with the Jan Długosz Academy in Częstochowa (Poland) and the Froebel Seminar in Kassel (Germany). To gain experience and master the latest pedagogical technologies, a student exchange program operates, allowing students to systematically intern in Poland, Germany, and at the Department of Primary Education of Kherson State University.
Within the framework of professional exchange between Kherson State University and the Froebel Seminar, the department’s faculty members Prof. L. Petukhova, Assoc. Prof. I. Hrytsenko, and Assoc. Prof. V. Denysenko completed planned internships in Kassel (Germany).
The main focus of the department's research work is the improvement of the professional training of primary school teachers, for which department members conduct the following initiative studies:
“Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of the Formation of Professional Competences of Future Primary School Teachers.” Within this study, a certified Web multimedia encyclopedia on the course “History of Pedagogy” was created (Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor L. Petukhova);
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“Theory and Practice of Goal Setting in the Activity of Future Primary School Teachers” (Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor I. Hrytsenko);
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“Formation of Value Orientations of Future Primary School Teachers” (Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor V. Denysenko);
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“Aesthetic Education of Primary School Students through National Song Folklore” (Senior Lecturer A. Vladimirova);
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“Features of Student Upbringing during Crisis Periods of Their Development” (Lecturer A. Horlova);
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“Formation of Self-Educational Competence of Future Primary School Teachers through ICT” (Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor N. Voropai).
The year 2009 brought another significant scientific event for the department – Professor L. Petukhova, Dean of our faculty, defended her doctoral dissertation, and on her birthday, November 18, Liubov Yevhenivna received her diploma as a Doctor of Sciences. We are proud of our teacher's success and wish her inspiration and victories in her future work!
In 2016, the Department of Preschool Education merged with the Department of Primary Education, resulting in the establishment of a new powerful Department of Pedagogy of Preschool and Primary Education, headed by Professor B. Andriievskyi.
In 2020, the department was headed by Nataliya Anatoliivna Voropai.
Researchers, teachers, and primary school teachers are invited to collaborate.
Currently, the department has created a strong team of teacher-researchers: Acting Head of the Department, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor N. Voropai; Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor B. Andriievskyi, Dean of the Faculty; Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Honored Education Worker of Ukraine, Professor L. Petukhova; Assistant Dean for Artistic and Aesthetic Education of Students, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor T. Holinska; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor I. Hrytsenko; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor V. Denysenko; Deputy Dean for Organizational and Educational Work and Practice, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor A. Horlova; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor T. Vynnyk; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor A. Vladimirova; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor O. Anisimova; Deputy Dean for Academic Work, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor I. Tsypak; Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor O. Kazannikova; Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor O. Los; Assistant Dean for Digitalization, Lecturer Y. Yurchuk; Lecturer S. Chepurna.