DEVELOPING RESEARCH SKILLS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

Guiding primary school students towards research – one of the main priorities of modern education, as research skills developed at an early age increase a child’s cognitive interest and lay the foundation for intellectual abilities such as critical thinking, analysis, observation, comparison, and making predictions. Traditional pedagogical methods have rich experience in this area: teacher-organized observations, simple laboratory experiments, studying natural phenomena, posing problem-based questions, and creative assignments play an important role in developing cognitive activity in primary school students. However, in recent years, the integration of digital technologies into the educational process has made it possible to organize research activities in a new format. Digital microscopes, interactive laboratories, multimedia models, mobile applications, AI-based assignments, and online project platforms enable students to conduct research processes in a visual, accessible, and personalized way. These methods not only enhance the dynamics of research activities but also simultaneously develop skills in information analysis, digital literacy, and presentation of results. The article comparatively analyzes the pedagogical potential of traditional and digital research methods in primary education and proposes an integrated model for their effective combination.