THE USE OF A COMPUTER GAME IN THE FORMATION OF RESEARCH COMPETENCE OF ELDER PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

The article provides a thorough theoretical analysis of modern scientific approaches to the problem of forming research competence in children of senior preschool age, which is one of the current trends in the development of modern preschool education. It is emphasized that the formation of research competence is an important factor in the development of a child’s personality, as it contributes to the formation of his cognitive activity, curiosity, skills of independent acquisition of knowledge, the formation of critical thinking, the ability to make well-founded conclusions, and analyze cause-and-effect relationships. Research competence is considered as an integrated result of the cognitive, emotional, and activity components of development, which is formed in the process of purposeful pedagogical interaction. An analysis of world and domestic scientific research confirming the effectiveness of ICT in preschool education, in particular in the development of research skills and environmental awareness of children, is conducted. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the potential opportunities for using information and communication technologies in the educational process of preschool educational institutions. It is substantiated that ICT can act as an effective tool for stimulating children’s research activity, providing visualization of cognitive content, modeling of phenomena and processes, and creating conditions for interactive learning. It is emphasized that digital tools do not replace traditional methods, but expand the possibilities of the teacher in building an individualized and activity-oriented educational process. Attention is focused on the need to form digital literacy of teachers who must possess modern tools for organizing research activities and act as facilitators of children’s cognition. Promising directions for further scientific research are outlined: development and testing of educational and methodological support on other topics of the educational line "Child in the natural environment" for children of senior preschool age, determination of pedagogical conditions for using ICT in the formation of research skills of preschool children.