Shaping Self-Awareness among Participants of the “Future in Science” Program in the Conditions of a Summer Camp

Introduction. The article examines the results of the implementation of the profile summer camp session (shift) organized by the Russian Academy of Education and the National Children’s Center “Ocean” within the framework of the agreement on network interaction through the supplementary general educational development program “The Future in Science”. The purpose of the study is to analyze the features of forming self-awareness among participants of the “Future in Science” program in the conditions of a summer camp. Materials and Methods. When developing the program “The Future in Science”, the authors focused on obtaining practical experience for learners in the field of research activities. During the implementation, entrance and final questionnaires were conducted among the learners. The survey was conducted among 33 students aged between 13 and 17 years old, enrolled in the profile 15th squad for the 10th session (shift) at the Russian Children’s Center “Ocean”. The initial questionnaire was designed to determine the interests, inclinations, scientific preferences and goals of the participants; the final one was intended to assess the results and effectiveness of its implementation. The data processing was carried out using the methods of percentage ratio, graphical representation and factorial method of questionnaire processing, which allowed to identify trends and problem areas. Results. The results of the survey allowed us to obtain qualitative data on the dynamics of motivation and research activity of students. The results obtained confirm that specially organized conditions of subject-subject interaction contribute to the active development of participants’ self-awareness. It is revealed that the included interaction between teachers and learners activates the desire of the latter to get engaged in science. Owing to the organization of conditions for active self-reflection, the program participants realized their capabilities and their boundaries, forming an understanding of their claims to their personal trajectory of self-development, future profession, increased motivation to develop a sense of personality and civic identity. Discussion and Conclusion. The conclusions drawn by the authors contribute to the development of scientific ideas about the patterns of age-related personality development. The materials of the article may be useful for researchers in the field of psychology of personality development, psychology of aging, psychological pedagogy, as well as for practitioners of the education system involved in the organization of specialized shifts for children and adolescents.