Development of Research Skills in Working with Archival Documents in School Students’ Project Activities

Abstract

The article describes a system for organizing students’ project and research activities when working with archival materials, based on scientific knowledge and pedagogical experience. The analysis of methodological approaches to conducting these studies in general education organizations, relevant for scientific supervisors of school projects, is presented. The structure of the project work is considered, as well as examples of the use of various archival sources, from official documents to personal correspondence. Special attention is paid to the requirements for the design of archival references and the scientific reliability of research. The article focuses on the development of key competencies that are critically needed by project managers in order to introduce students to independent information search and foster respect for historical heritage. The focus is also on modeling the stages of research work in the format of practical exercises involving the analysis of copies of archival documents, the formulation of problematic issues and independent interpretation of sources without relying on ready-made comments. The article reveals the specifics of the work of students in archival institutions, including mastering the rules of the reading room, electronic document management and the algorithm for searching documents according to various classification criteria. Based on practical experience gained through participation in the contest “The History of My Family in Archival Documents,” held at the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the possibilities of analyzing family awards as historical artifacts are demonstrated.