This study highlights the key features of tutoring students in rural areas. Private tuition classes are
increasingly popular for modern school children. Over half the schools in the Russian Federation
are in rural areas and differ from those in urban settings in a number of respects. It is based on a
survey of 210 teachers of rural schools in six regions of the Russian Federation, complemented by
conversations with teachers in rural schools to elicit their views on private tutoring, observation,
literature and Internet resources analysis, interviewing, content analysis and case-studies. The
research investigated the reasons why such lessons are less practiced in the rural areas than in the
cities. It showed teachers believe that the practice of private tutoring in school subjects stimulates
the students’ self-development and they have a positive attitude towards private tutoring – including
that of their own children. Accommodation and studying were not perceived as major problems. A
comparison of private tutors in cities and rural areas confirmed that the practice of private tutoring
on school subjects is common not only in urban schools, but is also a characteristic of rural areas and
consequently is not a special case.
Keyword(s) : individualization of training
Individual Approach in Chemistry Studies
The scientific problem is connected with significant variation in elementary theoretical knowledge levels among students in academic groups, which creates difficulties during training in high school. The purpose of this study is to provide optimal conditions for students’ cognitive activity and the alignment of the knowledge level in the academic groups on the basis of the development of the differentiated tasks in chemistry considering individual differences in students’ educational abilities.
The experience of the development of a differentiated book of Problem Exercises in chemistry for technical universities’ students is brought. The tasks, differentiated by levels of difficulty, can be used during practical classes, laboratory works, tests and for students’ self-study. It is shown that the main purpose of the differentiated approach to training is to provide optimal learning conditions for students with different initial levels of knowledge of the discipline, individualization of training and alignment of knowledge level in groups.
On the basis of discipline “Chemistry” problems and tasks differentiation by the levels of difficulty and existence of creative aspect it is possible to reach:
– the increase of efficiency and quality of training due to fast alignment of level of theoretical knowledge and abilities to solve problems in the academic groups;
– the optimal conditions for cognitive activity of students;
– the individualization of training providing profound knowledge;
– the developed skills of individual activity;
The developed book of Problem Exercises in chemistry belongs to methodical textbooks of the new generation and can be used in different types of educational activity. As the result the criteria of its efficiency is the use of various training techniques, the differentiated approach in a material statement, the development of students’ individual thinking and skills, possibility of integration of the gained knowledge in professional activity.