A new formula of teaching objectives in the context of challenges of managing academic didactics

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to present, against the background of current challenges of managing academic didactics, the desired formula of goals in academic teaching, the implementation of which will strengthen the status of higher education institutions on the one hand, and enable their graduates to experience effective professional practice on the other. The essence of academic education is presented, paying attention to the distinction between “transfer of knowledge” and “practicing science”. The main challenges of managing academic didactics faced by higher education institutions are pointed out and discussed. These included: quick obsolescence of knowledge acquired in higher education institutions, inconsistency of the academic teacher-student relationship and developmental disparities of the cognitive abilities of modern students. A new formula of teaching objectives including three dimensions is proposed, namely: (1) development of specialist knowledge and skills; (2) development of general knowledge and formation of attitudes; and (3) training in scientific research and development of cognitive abilities. The presented formula of teaching objectives was based on the assumption that all indicated dimensions should complement each other and create a compendium of coexisting activities. Teaching is not limited to transferring knowledge as the results of earlier research, but makes its deeper understanding and development of individual abilities possible, which in turn allows one to function effectively in a complex, changing reality. The paper was prepared on the basis of literature studies in the field of modern academic education, mainly from the last 10 years. It was shown that to overcome the discrepancy between professional knowledge and the development of individual skills visible in the current syllabuses, it is important to give educational goals a dimension of “science” taking into account the participation of students in scientific research and enabling the achievement of a broader development profile.