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PART 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING METHODS

1.1 The place and role of the course in the overall curriculum:

The course “The Basics of Pedagogical Innovation. Education in Russia: Traditions

and Modernity” is intended to provide knowledge of the history of education in Russia,

from past to present, as an integral part of the cultural heritage of the country; and to

present the innovation in education as the driving force providing the economic, social

and cultural development of the country's potential. An emphasis is placed on

comparative analysis of the social role of education in different periods of Russia's

history. Another important focus will be on Russia's integration in the European and

world educational space in context with modern international integration processes.

Answers will be sought to the questions concerning the role of the state and Russian

Orthodox Church in education.

1.2 The course goals and objectives:

The main goal of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge of the

innovation processes in the system of education in Russia with reference to the

traditions in Russia's education.

Course objectives are:

1. To introduce students to various forms and methods of education in Russia

throughout history.

2. To orient students towards realizing and analyzing the interconnection

between the needs of the state and society and the development of the

education system .

3. To present a framework for understanding innovative learning environments.

4. To provide students with facts and figures providing the basis for further

studies and analysis of Russia's culture.

1.3 Learning outcomes:

The basic principle of the course is competence-based approach.

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Classes and individual studies aim to build professionally relevant competences

within the requirements of the Federal State Education Standards, direction of

training “Cultural Studies”.

Teaching forms, methods and technologies include interactive lectures and

seminars, field-based learning, round table discussions, reports and presentations.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

• use the acquired knowledge and skills in organizing and managing cultural

research with reference to the sphere of education;

• use both English and Russian as means of professional communication with

reference to the sphere of education;

• use the acquired knowledge and skills for preparing reports, articles, reviews,

presentations concerning education in Russia and in the student's home

country;

• use the acquired knowledge and skills to build models for describing and

forecasting tendencies and processes in education;

• work out programmes on education in Russia;

• use the acquired knowledge on Russia's education in teaching.

1.4 Course requirements:

Students will be required to attend at least 80% of classes and be prepared for

discussion classes. Conscientious reading of the assigned materials is compulsory.

Students will also be required to participate in field studies.

1.5 Grading plan:

• Class participation, tests – 30%

• Essay – 10%

• Presentation – 10%

• field-based learning – 10%

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• Written and Spoken exam – 40% (in class, 80 minutes).

PART 2. COURSE CONTENTS

2.1. Types of work

Types of work Academic hours 

Total 72 (= 2 credits) Total for lectures, seminars and written examinationLectures 20Seminars 8 Field-based learning 6 Written examination 2 Pre-examination session 2 Homework Essay 2Preparation for lectures, seminars and written exam 32Course papers none 

Course assessment Examination (0,5 per student) 

2.2. Course outline

Course Outline Academic hours 

Lectures Seminars Homework Academic hours per

themeTheme 1. History of education in Russia 10 4 14 28 

Lecture 1.1. Education in the pre-empire period: cultural roots. 2 2 4 

Lecture 1.2. System of education in the Russian Empire: traditions. 4 4 8 

Lecture 1.3. Education in the USSR 2 2 4 Lecture 1.4. Reforms in education in the post-Soviet Russia 2 2 4 

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Seminar 1.1. The development of education in Russia: distinctive features of each period

2 2 4 

Seminar 1.2. The development of education in the home countries of the students as compared with Russia: pros and cons.

2 2 4 

Theme 2. Innovation in education in modern Russia 10 4 14 28 

Lecture 2.1. Innovation processes in school education. State-run and private schools.

4 4 8 

Lecture 2.2. Innovation processes in vocational training and professional secondary education.

2 2 4 

Lecture 2.3. Innovation processes in higher education 2 2 4 

Lecture 2.4. The legal basis of education in modern Russia 2 2 4 

Seminar 2.1. Achievements and fallbacks in Russia's education 2 2 4 

Seminar 2.2. The role of the Russian Orthodox Church in education 2 2 4 

Field-based learning. Types of educational establishments in Russia 6 6 2 6 

Secondary school /Gymnasium / Lyceum * 2 2 

University/institute/academy for social/cultural studies * 2 2 

College/ Private school/ Cadet school * 2 2 

Written examination 2 2 

Total: 26 16 30 72 

* The lecturer chooses one of the suggested types of educational establishments  

2.3. COURSE CONTENTS

Theme 1. History of education in Russia: cultural roots.

Lecture 1.1. Education in the pre-empire period.

Summary: Pre-Mongolian Period.The definition of the word education and the

related words. Education as an integral part of culture; the culture iceberg. Ancient

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and medieval schools and universities as the first centres of learning. The role of

Cyril and Methodius in the development of Slavic culture. Education in Kievan Rus

and Novgorod: schools of book learning, palace school, school of translation in Kiev,

studiums. Education for women, the role of princesses in spreading literacy. Forms of

teaching and teaching materials. Post-Mongolian Period. 15th-16th centuries – decline

in the development of education. Did not open seminaries suggested by Rome, Poland

and Lithuania for fear of losing faith. Students from Muscovy abroad. 17Th century –

Slavic Greek Latin Academy: seven liberal arts (septem artes liberales), and

theology.

Lecture 1.2. System of education in the Russian Empire: traditions.

Summary: Reforms of Peter the Great: new learning, new types of schools. Roots

of professional education. Training of interpreters and translators for the diplomatic

service. Seminaries as forerunners of schools of higher education. Moscow

University. Eighteenth century scientists and educators: M. Lomonosov, V.

Tatischev, E. Dashkova. Education abroad. Nineteenth century: spread of classical

schools (gymnasiums), lyceums and universities. Foreign language learning. The

establishment of state system of education, Ministry of Education. Three-level

education under Nicholas I. Polytechnic and specialized education, education for

women. 1864 – reforms in education; access to education for former serfs. Nineteenth

century educators: K. Ushinskiy, N. Pirogov, L. Tolstoy.

Lecture 1.3. Education in the USSR.

Summary: Elimination of illiteracy. Reforms in education: new forms and

methods of learning. Alphabets for indigenous peoples. Schools and teaching

materials. United labour school, schools of factory education and craft schools. From

compulsory elementary education to comprehensive secondary eleven-year education.

Organizations for children and teenagers; extra-curriculum activities. Ideological

aspect of education. Instilling tolerance as part of general school education. Higher

education and work placement. Workers' faculties and teacher training institutes and

colleges. Schools for talented and disabled children. Art schools. Music schools.

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Ballet schools. Military (cadet) schools. Sports schools. Tuition fees during the Soviet

period. Prominent educators: A. Makarenko, V. Sukhomlinskiy, Sh. Amonashvili, V.

Shatalov, etc.

Lecture 1.4. Reforms in education in the post-Soviet Russia.

Summary: Advantages and disadvantages of reforms. Variety of school

programmes and teaching materials. Revival of classical education: gymnasiums,

lyceums. Wider use of modern methods and technologies in teaching; the use of

foreign experience in teaching. First private schools and universities. Cadet schools.

Transfer to the Bologna system: bachelor's and master's programmes. From

comprehensive secondary education to general secondary (nine-year) education. Fall

in quality of education in new universities. Fall of the system of free education for

schools supporting talented children.

Seminar 1.1. The development of education in Russia: distinctive features of each period.

Topics for discussion:

Forms and methods of education in Kievan Rus.

Revival of education in the 16th-17th centuries.

The system of education in the 19th century Russia.

Education in the Soviet Union: achievements and fall backs.

Changes in the system of education in the post-Soviet period.

Seminar 1.2. The development of education in the home countries of the students as compared with Russia: pros and cons.

Topics for discussion:

1. Similarities and differences in the historical development of education system.

2. Similarities and differences in forms and methods of teaching.

3. The role of the state in providing education.

4. The prominent educators and their contribution to the cultural development of

the country.

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Reading list for Theme 1: 1. Essential Readings:

• Джуринский, А. Н. Педагогика и образование в России и в мире на пороге

двух тысячелетий: сравнительно-исторический контекст [Электронный

ресурс] / А. Н. Джуринский. - М.: Прометей, 2011. - 152 с. - 978-5-4263-

0021-7. Режим доступа:

http://biblioclub.ru/index.php?page=book&id=211742

2. General Readings:

• Long D., Bordovskii G.A., Long R. Education of Teachers in Russia. Westport,

Conn: Greenwood Press. 1999 / University library online. URL:

http://search.ebscohost.com

• Tolstoy, Leo. Childhood, Boyhood, Youth. URL: http://friends-

book.ru/catalog/bez_rubriki/229046/ 

3. Internet resources:

• Russia – Education. URL: http://countrystudies.us/russia/52.htm The School of

Russian and Asian Studies. URL:

http://www.sras.org/russian_public_education

• Higher Education in Russia. URL: http://www.eduinrussia.com/en/education-

in-russia.html

• The History of Community Education in Russia. URL: http://cs-

network.ru/eng/articles/view/7

• Bim-Bad, Boris M. Some remarks on the history and philosophy of education

in Russia. URL: http://www.bim-bad.ru/biblioteka/article_full.php?aid=193

• Education in Russia. URL: http://lingualeo.ru/jungle/70858

Theme 2. Innovation in education in Modern Russia Lecture 2.1. Innovation processes in school education.

Summary: Three-level schooling under the new Law on Education. School age.

Variety of forms and methods along with the Federal State Education Standards.

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Tuition fees for extra curriculum studies and work with pupils falling behind the

class. State-run and private schools. Variety of approaches to teaching. Innovative

technologies in education. Internet-suppported education: distance education for

children living in remote areas. E-learning. Innovative technologies in second

language acquisition. Universal State Examination pros and cons.

Lecture 2.2. Innovation processes in vocational training and professional secondary education.

Summary: Fall in the quality of vocational training in the late Soviet period as a

cause for reforming secondary professional education (vocational training). Two-level

professional and vocational education at colleges of secondary education.

General/comprehensive school education and professional training. Experimental

studies for the degree of Applied Bachelor. Increase in prestige and quality of

professional training at colleges. From college to university.

Lecture 2.3. Innovation processes in higher education.

Summary: Russia's education within the Bologna process. From one-level to

three-level higher education. Academic mobility. Academic and scholarly degrees in

Russia. Integration processes: Russia in the European and Eurasian educational

environment. Networking and e-learning in education within the Eurasian Economic

Community, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Council of the Baltic Sea

States. Distance university education. Further education. Post graduate studies as an

officially new level of higher education. Tuition fees.

Lecture 2.4. The legal basis of education in modern Russia.

Summary: Reforms in education and the laws providing for the reforms. The

Federal Law on Education of 2012. The need for standards in education. Federal

State Education Laws. Curricula. Programmes. Problems with terminology.

Competence-based approach. Criteria of assessing learning outcomes.

Seminar 2.1. Achievements and fall backs in Russia's education

Topics for discussion:

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1. System of education in Russia under the new Law on Education.

2. Skills and qualifications of teachers under the new Law of education.

3. Mergers in school and university education: advantages and disadvantages.

4. Private schools and home schooling.

Seminar 2.2. The role of Russian Orthodox Church in education.

Topics for discussion:

1. The role and place of Russian Orthodox Church in education in different

periods of history.

2. Revival of theological education in the post-Soviet period.

3. Educational institutions run by Russian Orthodox Church and their status

within the educational system of the Russian Federation.

4. Christian principles in secular education.

5. Public opinion on religious studies in state-run schools.

6. Moscow Theological Academy – the former Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy.

Reading list for Theme 2: 1. Essential Readings:

• International Journal of Innovation in Education. URL: http://www.e-

ope.ee/_download/repository/INNOQUAL-Volume-1-Issue-1-Learning-for-

Open-Innovation_%281%29.pdf

• Смакотин, А. С. Образовательные инновации в зарубежных странах и опыт России [Электронный ресурс] / А. С. Смакотин, Б. В. Сорвиров, В. М. Четвериков. - М.: Интеграция, 2007. - 322 с. - 978-5-91010-014-9. Режим доступа: http://biblioclub.ru/index.php?page=book&id=63638

2. General Readings:

• Long D., Bordovskii G.A., Long R. Education of Teachers in Russia. Westport,

Conn: Greenwood Press. 1999 / University library online. URL:

http://search.ebscohost.com

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3. Internet resources:

• Leadbeater, Charles. Rethinking Innovation in Education. URL:

http://www.innovationunit.org/sites/default/files/Leadbeater%20Rethinking%2

0Innovation%20in%20Education.pdf

• The System of Education in Russia. URL: http://norric.org/files/education-

systems/Ruslandsrapport-feb2005.pdf

• Problems of Education In Russia. URL:

http://www.alexbattler.com/alexbattler/Education.html

• EuroEducation.net. The European Education Directory. URL:

http://www.euroeducation.net/prof/russco.htm

• Eduage. URL: http://www.eduage.org/foreign_universities/at _a_glance

/russia/russia_cost_of_education_living.htm

2.4. ESSAY TOPICS

1. What facts or events in the history of Russia’s education seem most interesting or unusual to you?

2. Do private schools stimulate further development of Russia’s economy or do they lead to further brain drain?

3. What elements of Russia’s education seem strange/unusual to you? Explain why they do.

2.5. EXAMINATION TOPICS

1. In what way has education in Russia been connected with the political, economic and cultural development of the country?

2. In what way did Christianity stimulate the development of education in Kievan Rus?

3. How can you explain the fact that Russia had no universities in the 14th-16th centuries?

4. What changes did Peter the Great’s reforms bring about in education? 5. How do you see the role of Russian Orthodox Church in education today? 6. Does the idea of having state standards in education appeal to you? Support

your viewpoint.

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7. Does Russia fit in the world system of integration in education? 8. What features in the system of education in modern Russia would you

change if you had a chance? 9. Does education in Russia have a positive or a negative vector of

development? Support your viewpoint. 10. What does innovation in pedagogy imply?

2.6. EXAMINATION TIMING

Fall semester tests – last week of December; exams January 10-25

© Elena Voevoda, 2013 © MGIMO-University, 2013