THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE TRAILS IN TEACHING AND EDUCATING OF STUDENTS

The rapid progress of science and technologies continuously influences our living conditions. It makes us to change ourselves. The new problems which require new solutions appear. Along with the growth of information amount there is a necessity to develop teaching and learning process using different teaching methods and forms. Ecological problems and problems which deal with nature protection grow and it requires the teaching and learning process to be connected with natural processes even more. To know the nature better, students need to be more in natural environment. That is why I offer to pay attention to those teaching forms which have a direct contact with nature, for example, paths of information. With a help of information paths students are able to learn to know the nature, historical and cultural facts and values, they develop their social skills. Information paths make students' health better and promote a positive attitude towards nature and humankind. There are several cognitive trails described (in the park, school yard, school corridor and classroom, in a natural mildness in a city territory, in a suburb). To know the cognitive trail as a method practically eight cognitive trails were made and gone through together with pupils. They were: a cognitive trail of the right bank of the Daugava called „Daugava Stream”, a dendrologic cognitive trail „City Path” made by the social organization „Green Crow”, a cognitive trail in the classroom called „Variety of Buds”, a cognitive trail in the classroom „Kinds of Roots”, a cognitive trail in the classroom called „Sprout Conversions”, a cognitive trail in the corridor called „Kinds of Boles and Leaves”, a cognitive trail in the school yard called „School Yard”, a cognitive trail in mildness of Riga city called „Vakarbulli”. Each of these cognitive trails were different in their location and theme. Such difference has been chosen to carry out a more detailed study and to try out more teaching methods during the research. Cognitive interest of pupils is developed by cognitive trails. The mental outlook is broadened, pupils learn to observe things in connections and interactions, they strengthen their theoretical knowledge by practice. A cognitive trail is not an end in itself, but its aim is to help to acquire knowledge in school subjects better, to develop skills. The advantage of a cognitive trail is that a direct perception is used. During the work in cognitive trails it was possible to notice students being positive towards each other. All students participated and were active in work, although it was known that some of them did not like biology as a subject and it was not interesting for them. It is possible to conclude that the use of new and interesting teaching methods helps to develop an interest in learning. The information path does not just give new information but it is enjoyable for students, it makes them feel enthusiastic and it creates positive emotions in the learning process. It could be called ‘a short way towards the understanding of nature in people's mind and hearts'.