Formation and development of school biological education in modern Russia

Russia inherited the Soviet system of science and education with its advantages and disadvantages from the Soviet Union period. In recent years it has experienced goals diversification as well as the content of school biological education changes. Primary school aimed propaedeutic of biological knowledge; secondary school aimed the basics of biological sciences development; secondary school at the basic level aimed the culture of knowledge of wildlife, natural-shaped and careful attitude development. The goal of the profile school is to generalize, deepen and expand biological knowledge. Moreover it is important to develop research skills and influence on the process of students’ proorientation in the world of biological professions. The content of biological education focuses on the problems of physical and mental health, healthy lifestyles and ecological literacy development. The authors notice that the construction and structure of the school biology course has changed. The concentric construction of the object makes it complete. A graduate of the basic secondary school receives a relatively complete biological education, which is necessary for his life and further education for professional self-determination. The biology course includes three sections: «Living organisms», «Human and his health» and «General biological regularities». The authors mention that secondary school children have Biology classes one hour less in comparison with the Soviet Union period. Both system-activity and student-centered approaches are the key approaches to teaching biology. They aim the subject results and universal learning activities development (personal, regulatory, communicative and cognitive). Moreover that is important to speak about the key competencies, education and socialization of students, the organization of their extracurricular activities, inclusive education and work with gifted children.