УДК 378:004.9:355.085.5 Case method in forming informational and analytical skills of future officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Abstract

The research problem is devoted tothe case method studyas one of the effective methods of situational training of future officers. Application of the case-method in the system of professional training of future officers and formation of informational and analytical skills are considered. The advantages and disadvantages of applying this method in the professional training of cadets of higher education are determined. The case method is classified and the approximate algorithm of the teacher's and cadet's work on the case is given. We observe a combination of international experience of using the situational method with the national specificity of the processes of education and mentality, socio-economic development of the country. The use of the case method in the process of professional training of future officers contributes to the orientation of cadets to the real facts, it allows the cadets to simulate a real situation or problem. The case-method allows to mix theory and practice, to develop skills of work with various sources of information. The participants of the educational process do not get ready knowledge, but learn to acquire independently, the decisions made in a life situation are more effective for learning than memorizing the rules.

Besides, the case method forms self-examination skills for future officers. Disagreement in the discussion promotes awareness and analysis of the students‟thoughts. The moral and ethical problems that arise require the formation of social skills to solve them. The case-study technology focuses on critical thinking, being able to explain students‟ thoughts to the audience and respond constructively to criticism of opponents. In our research we define the technology of working with a case in the educational process. It includes the following stages: individual work of students with case materials (identification of a problem, formulation of key alternatives, suggestion of a solution or recommended action);working in small groups to define the key problem and its solutions;presentation and examination of the results of small groups at the general discussion (within the training group). Also, the case method promotes the development of certain social skills such as assessing people's behavior, listening, discussing or reasoning, self-controlling, etc.