The role of students’ extracurricular independent work in the formation of general and professional competences in graduates of medical college

The article considers the forms and possibilities of extracurricular independent work, which is an important component of the modern pedagogical process and allows to mobilise students for creative activity.

In modern conditions of medical education, the role of independent work of students, including extracurricular, which contributes to improving the quality of education, the formation of students’ desire for continuous self-education, the ability to independently acquire new knowledge and use them in their professional activities, is increasing.

The task of teachers of professional modules is not only to teach students a profession, but also to teach students to acquire knowledge, process it and apply it in various activities. Gradually the skill to choose information of professional nature in the general information flow is formed.

Independent work is one of the key factors that allows to transfer a student from a passive consumer of knowledge to an active participant.

The main reasons for the increasing role of independent work in mastering educational programmes of medical profile are reflected in the general and professional competencies of a specialist’s ability to organise his/her own activities, to make decisions in standard and non-standard situations, to search for and use information, as well as to independently determine the tasks of professional and personal development.

To develop students’ learning and cognitive activity we use various forms of extracurricular work.

The main figure in the organisation of independent work is the teacher, who directly manages the independent work of students in his discipline both individually and in a group.

The main tasks of the teacher in the management of independent work of students are:

• to assist students in organising independent work;
• to implement a differentiated approach to the organisation of independent work;
• to stimulate students’ interest in the in-depth study of the discipline;
• determine the scope of tasks for independent work in accordance with the programme;
• create methodological support for the discipline: teaching and methodical complex (TMC), control tasks (tests, problem tasks), topics of essays, term papers, etc.;
• to control independent work, evaluate and encourage students’ creative activity.

Thus, independent work is an autonomous activity of students, characterized by their independence and cognitive interest, which can be considered as a teacher-controlled independent cognitive activity of students.