Project Approach to Forming Russian Students’ Patriotism: Subjects, Technologies, and Outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to determine and assess the potential of a project approach in fostering the Russian students’ patriotism on the basis of new communication technologies. The objective of this study is to overcome the lack of scientific knowledge on successful project formats for patriotic education of student youth with the help of innovative technologies. The authors developed the empirical research design by utilizing a qualitative methodology, employing the expert survey method, and conducting semi-structured interviews. The development, implementation, and evaluation of project initiatives aimed at fostering Russian students’ patriotism involved fifty experts from the federal and regional levels. The expert survey method allowed the authors to determine the current state of implementation of the project approach by public administration entities in the field of fostering patriotism among Russian students, based on new communication technologies, and to assess their effectiveness. The results of the expert survey showed that one of the important factors affecting the configuration of project practices and ways to implement them is the technological complex, which is used by public administration entities at various levels in the development and implementation of projects in the field of patriotic education of youth. The assessment of the implementation of the project-­based approach in fostering patriotism among student youth showed that there is a need to develop new content and technological formats. The authors identified and characterized a number of information and communication technologies (media and dialogue) and hybrid (educational, gaming, immersive, museum-­based, competitive, event-­based, creative) technologies implemented in digital format. The results of the study showed that a variety of project initiatives in the field of patriotic education of young people demonstrates a “palette” of original technological solutions for the formation of value components (patriotism as a civic value), emotional components (love and pride for the Motherland), and activity components (constructive civic participation) of patriotism. However, in the modern public discourse linking educational and youth policy, there is a shortage of meanings representing patriotism that are understandable and accessible at the level of youth perception, which fact requires additional conceptual and practical study.