DEVELOPING RESEARCH SKILLS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH GAME-BASED TECHNOLOGIES (IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION)

Abstract

This article examines the effectiveness of implementing game-based technologies to develop research skills among primary school students within the context of natural science education. The relevance of this study is grounded in the contemporary educational paradigm, which emphasizes that students should not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also be capable of applying it in practice, formulating problems, and cultivating scientific reasoning skills. In this regard, game-based technologies serve as a critical pedagogical tool, promoting active engagement in the learning process and enhancing students’ intrinsic motivation. The study analyzed the impact of lessons incorporating game elements on students’ cognitive activity and the development of essential components of research skills. Specifically, changes in students’ abilities to formulate problems, generate hypotheses, conduct experiments, and draw conclusions were comparatively assessed. The experimental results indicated that the systematic use of game-based technologies positively influences students’ independent learning, logical reasoning, and scientific thinking. Furthermore, the playful and open cognitive environment fostered during these lessons stimulates students’ curiosity about the surrounding world. This approach bridges theory and practice, facilitating a deeper and more meaningful mastery of knowledge.