(Self-)development of problem-solving abilities in a lesson of technologies

Problem-solving abilities are one of the most important aims in education curricula of most countries, since their acquisition provides foundations for further learning and efficient participation in social life. Problem-solving dominates in technological education. While planning and organizing creative project activity, learners develop their problem-solving abilities, since the tasks, which they have to accomplish employing their personal experience and knowledge, are solved following the stages of problem-based teaching and learning: 1) identification of the problem, its historical, cultural, economic aesthetic and industrial analysis; 2) idea of task-solving, its modeling in sketches, drawings, schemes, etc; 3) planning and organization of work or process, selection of materials and tools; 4) implementation of the task using the selected material; and 5) discussion and assessment of the accomplished task. The aim of the current article is to reveal the expression of (self-)devel-opment of problem-solving abilities in lessons of Technologies. The following objectives are set: 1) to define problem-based teaching and learning as a strategy of (self-)development of problem-solving abilities; 2) to explore and compare attitudes of 7th and 10th form learners towards (self-)development of problem-solving abilities in lessons of Technologies. The object of the research is (self-)development of problem-solving abilities in lessons of Technologies. The research was carried out in four comprehensive schools of Vilnius district, Trakai comprehensive school and a comprehensive school in Varėna district. 238 (respondents 7th and 10th form learners) participated in the survey. Learners of 7th and 10th forms claim that they develop their problem-solving abilities in lessons of Technologies only occasionally, and identify them together with the teacher or communicating with each otherVilniaus Simono Daukanto progimnazijaVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŠvietimo akademij