Development of engineering competence based on constructive thinking in physics lessons

Abstract

The article dwells on the need to foster engineering competencies during physics lessons in secondary school. This question has become especially relevant over the past two years, with the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, when the issue of developing unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, and armored vehicles has become acute. For the successful resolution of this issue, appropriately trained specialists are needed, the lack of whom slows down this process. The article contains an analysis of the most popular specialties chosen by school graduates. It raises the question of the need to foster engineering competencies in physics lessons in secondary school in the present environment, which is a prerequisite for entering technical and engineering departments of higher educational establishments. The analysis of research conducted by PISA is conducted, and the need to improve the level of teaching physics, mathematics, and chemistry is justified, which gives graduates more options when choosing a future profession. A graduate who possesses engineering competencies will be motivated to select not only humanities but also engineering and technical specialties. The article contains an overview of the competencies of a contemporary specialist, including engineering ones. The features of engineering thinking and potential ways of forming them within educational institutions are enumerated. Methods and means of fostering engineering competencies are reviewed.

Key words: engineering thinking; competency; teaching physics; STEM; PISA.