Abstract: The relevance of this topic is substantiated by the fact that at the present time human civilization takes on a new stage of development. The impact of technologies increases steadily. Therefore, the goal for development of engineering way thinking as the fundamental characteristic of a modern human becomes mainstream. With regards to transformation of the surrounding world namely engineering way of thinking manifests as the leading and most significant type of cognitive activity of a human. Such variety of cognitive operations incorporates the innovative idea and latest technology. Specialists with the engineering way of thinking enjoy high demand in the modern society: design-engineering departments, most advanced industries, rapidly developing organizations, etc. The transition towards innovation economy foregrounds the objective of global development and support of the future engineers. The Strategy for innovative development of the Russian Federation for the period until 2020 indicated the importance of “global incentivizing innovative behavior of the youth”. The development of the skills of design engineering, inventiveness, and other serves as one of the fundamental components of educational system in terms of transition of national economy towards innovative type.

Abstract: This article contains the results of the conducted research focused on studying approaches towards formation of engineering competence among students of general educational institutions. As a result, the author formulated an exhaustive definition of the term “engineering competence”, examined the peculiarities of approaches towards its formation, and determined the principles of each of the described approaches corresponding with the specificities of formation of engineering competence. The object of research is the engineering competence; the subject is the set of scientific approaches and related principles contributing to its formation among the students of 7 – 9 grades. The scientific novelty consists in systematization and framing of the concept of “engineering competence of the students”, disclosure of the most optimal teaching approaches from the perspective of formation of engineering competence, as well as identification of teaching principles contributing to the development of research and project activity. The author substantiates the reasonableness of integrated application of the approaches (personality oriented, competent, activity and systemic) towards formation of engineering competence among the middle school students.  

Abstract: The current global standards require the state educational system to grasp the basics of research and project activity, namely the skills of 3D-prototyping. The correlation is traced between realizing the importance of implementation of modern technologies into educational process and insufficiency of the conducted scientific research on the topic. Therefore, the subject of this article is the organizational factors assisting the efficient implementation of rapid prototyping technologies within the framework of extracurricular school activity. Based on the results of the conducted research, the author determines the content of pedagogical procurement of the process of implementation of 3D-prototyping technology into the educational process in terms of extracurricular activity. The external factors influencing the effectiveness of integration of 3D-technologies into the school educational environment are substantiated and experimentally verified. The author explores the peculiarities of rapid prototyping technology, as well as possibilities of their application in educational process.

Abstract: This article examines the application of 3D prototyping in educational process. The technology of 3D printing is currently available for most educational establishments. Its use in extracurricular activity contributes to switching students from virtual environment to the real world, creation of the own tangible items, formation of engineering competence, development of creative skills, mathematical thinking, and early professional orientation. New standards demand from the state education system the development of the principles of mastering the fundamentals of project activities, namely engineering skills. A new way of project-based learning, aimed at acquisition of communication skills, creative thinking, interest to learning, command of spatial thinking and understanding of conversion 2D and 3D, independence and self-organization in completion of tasks, becomes possible due to application of 3D prototyping in extracurricular activity. The object of this research is the 3D modeling and prototyping. The scientific novelty consists in description of the stages of implementation of 3D printing technologies into educational process. The author examines the possibility of application of 3D printing technologies in extracurricular activity of students in compulsory education.   

Abstract: The subject of this research is the theoretical-methodological specificity and peculiarities of practical implementation of quest games technology in the school educational process. The author discusses separate aspects of classification and implementation of quest games in school; determines significant differences of educational quest from other game technologies; as well as gives definition to the concept of “educational quest game”. The article also considers various approaches and bases of the classification of quests, and demonstrates a number of original versions of classification. The proposed milestone plan of the development of educational quest is illustrated by a specific example of designing a quest game “Interstellar Journey” (educational fields of “mathematics and informatics”, “physics”, and “economics”). The tasks faced by a modern comprehensive school stirred interest of pedagogical community towards interactive and active teaching methods. Game educational technologies, developed on the basis of activity, competence, and contextual approaches allow to not only increase students’ motivation and cognitive interest to a specific discipline, but also ensure the achievement of interdisciplinary results in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Educational Standard. Quest games may be efficiently applied in educational process of a comprehensive school; however, it demands significant efforts of a pedagogue on their development and delivery.