Education and Spirituality in Kazakhstan: "Self-cognition" Metadiscipline Features and Methods of Teaching
Abstract
In the 21st century, harmonious combination of intellectual and moral development of an individual is important. How this can be integrated into the educational process? A new subject of Self-Cognition has been introduced into Kazakhstani secondary schools. Purpose of the Study: Generalization of teaching experience in the new school subject of Self-Cognition and establishing didactic bases for Self-Cognition teaching strategies being the realization of the new century pedagogics. Research Methods: Observation and generalization of innovative teachers’ experience in Self-Cognition, comparison of combined lesson structures with the lesson of Self-Cognition, systematization and analysis of new learning strategies, student interviews to conclude whether they have developed an understanding of the new bases of pedagogical science, structure of Self-Cognition subject planning, differences when compared to other school disciplines. The content of the subject is based on the Program of spiritual and moral education of Self-Cognition, focusing on holistic approach to the perception of a human and identification of universal values within him/her – Truth, Love, Righteous Conduct, Inner Peace and Non-violence. The main principles of secular teachings on spirituality - Self-Cognition, are humanistic orientation, human values, social interaction, national heritage, and nature-conformity. Significant differences in the strategies of teaching "Self-knowledge" and other school lessons are revealed. The strategies of value-based education, the personal-sense development, storytelling, etc are emphasized. The methodical recommendations for the improvement of education on the subject "Self-knowledge" are suggested that include the active use of cognitive approach and social constructivism, and the extension of art technologies usage.
Keywords: Universal valueshumanistic pedagogypersonal spirituality
Introduction
New ideas of the 21st century pedagogy and humane pedagogy are being gradually introduced into
mass Kazakhstani school, along with methodology and teaching methods being updated. The
introduction of Self-Cognition subject became an important new milestone in updating secondary education content in Kazakhstan. The subject is unique, since it differs from other subject both in
content and style of conduct. It has been first widely introduced into the national education system in
academic year 2010/2011. Moreover, higher educational institutions started to prepare the future
teachers of Self-Cognition, and for all ‘Education’ group disciplines there was added a mandatory
subject of Self-Cognition.
The initiator of Self-Cognition course introduction was the First Lady of Kazakhstan
S.A. Nazarbayeva. For 25 years of Kazakhstan's independence, currently the second concept of
teaching the subject at school has been realized. In the first stage, the content of Self-Cognition subject
was more focused on ethical and moral standards without emphasizing spirituality. In the second stage
of program development the integrity of the concepts of spirituality and morality have been restored
(Anarbek, 2016). The very history of the subject teaching can be divided into three periods. The first
period covered an experiment conducted in the regions of Kazakhstan with a focus on implementation
of spiritual and moral education program. In the second period, Self-Cognition course became a part of
secondary school curricula as a compulsory subject and respective state standard, textbooks and
teaching materials were developed. In the third period – currently, content and structure analysis of
subject teaching is in place and in line with the new concepts (Arinova, 2016). The purpose of the
subject is child's development and harmonious development of his/her intellectual and moral
capacities.
Cognition and establishing didactic bases for Self-Cognition teaching strategies being the realization of
the new century pedagogics.
Cognition, comparison of combined lesson structures with the lesson of Self-Cognition,
systematization and analysis of new learning strategies, student interviews to conclude whether they
have developed an understanding of the new bases of pedagogical science, structure of Self-Cognition
subject planning, differences when compared to other school disciplines.
Main concepts of Self-Cognition subject
The main principle of humanization of education is to return to the origins of a holistic perception
of an individual. At the present stage of development of Philosophy, Psychology and Pedagogy,
perceptional unity of a person as a trinity of
Program of moral and spiritual education - Self-Cognition, ‘spirit’ and ‘spirituality’ are considered as
objective reality, those not deriving from human activity, it being single, inner essence of the whole
universe and of the man. In the context of the universe, the Spiritual Reality is manifested as life,
movement, development, and sequence. In human consciousness, the Spiritual Reality is manifested as
universal values, higher ideals: conscience, love, truth. The uniqueness of human existence lies in the
fact that only a human being employing his higher reason is able to become aware of his spiritual
nature and inner relationship to the whole universe (Mukazhanova & Omarova, 2014).
Five levels can be classified in the structure of personality: physical, emotional, mental, distinction
level (mind), and spiritual level. In the hierarchical structure of a human personality, mind must control senses, and the higher reason (distinction level) must guide the mind. The rational mind is nourished by
the intuitive mind, emotions - by the rational mind, and body – by emotions. The intuitive mind, in
turn, is nourished by spiritual level. The genius Albert Einstein said about mind and its role in a very
precise manner: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have
created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift” (Mukazhanova & Omarova, 2014,
Mukazhanova, 2015).
shall be based on the eternal universal values, understood as a manifestation of the higher spiritual
nature of a human being. It should be emphasized that moral and spiritual education, carried out within
the Self-Cognition subject teaching is not religious but secular education, treating physical, mental,
spiritual and moral nature of a man in the unity thereof. Absolute universal values that are inherent in a
man
of creation, the coessence inherent in the entire creation. There is only one absolute Truth, which is the
source of all the others. When one finds it, his/her actions are co-tuned with it. It is not subject to
changes in time - past, present and future
inner voice of conscience.
is understood as
embracing a child gives him the
Teaching methods - design of Self-Cognition lessons at school
It is indeed a creative process when a teacher gets prepared for Self-Cognition lessons, the process
of understanding the spiritual values backed up by professional and life experience. It is a constant
creative search for a lesson plan, its storyline. Lesson themes are aimed at uncovering the values. For
example, Dream and Reality, Joy of Life, Love and Human Destiny, etc.
Positive thinking is shaped by using the elements of relaxation techniques such as Light, Imaginary
Walk in the Forest, Imaginary Undersea Adventure and others (Mukazhanova, 2013). Most teachers
perform this practice to a relaxing meditation music. It lasts for 3-4 minutes. In the course of positive
thinking students, so to speak, harmonize the relationships with their Self, concentrate attention,
“expand their consciousness”, imagine themselves being a part of the universe, being the light, relax,
shape the mindset of positive development, and positive perception of the world. It is consistent with
the value of Peace. Here, a teacher must have relevant psychological background, must learn how to
use, so to say, the coaching Wizard’s tone (Atkinson & Chois, 2015). Since music and context are
positive, this practice actually strengthens the students’ health, reduces stress, and helps to develop
intuition. Positive thinking practice, apart from pursuing current academic challenges, will help the
students in learning how to self-control, control their attitude, mood, overcome stresses in the future.
After that, students share their positive impressions related to the positive thinking practice.
According to the subject of a lesson, the teacher selects a positive quotation – great people sayings.
Students pronounce and discuss it. They may agree or disagree with it, adjust it for themselves, argue
their opinion, offer another great person’s quote, including alternative one, or extend the idea by adding
another great statement. The students grow to comprehend meanings; it is communication of ideas, and
even of generations. Since students are very spontaneous and represent a new generation, sometimes
they tend to “overthrow the authorities”, therefore it is important that one is able to support innovative
approaches, to argue his/her point of view. The teacher listens carefully, bearing in mind stimulating
questions, and should be able to moderate the discussion, summarize, and, where appropriate, to correct
the answers, and improvise.
UNESCO recommended storytelling as a modern teaching strategy for the 21st century (UNESCO,
2010). A teacher either tells or shows a video about stories related to the idea of the lesson or value. A
discussion of meanings should continue according to the storyline - what the main idea of the story is,
how students understand it, lessons learnt, matters of understanding and reflection, amazing ideas, and
things that the story urges to do. A story, a parable or a short novel, selected by the teacher, should
unfold the theme of the lesson and be aimed at identifying universal values. Very often when selecting
the stories teachers are following ethnopedagogical ideas, wisdom, traditional education, stories about
historical figures of Kazakhstan.
Then students perform a creative assignment, often being divided into teams. Problematic, creative
methods, such as brainstorming, role-playing games, staging, art technologies, cognitive technologies,
etc, are applied. The performance of this assignment provides for the concept of social constructivism,
teaches the strategies for teamwork, and ideally, brings to the level of metacognitive strategies for
shaping collective decisions, to the selection of interpersonal communication methods and is focused
on the development of intuitive thinking. Competent arrangement and interesting assignment awaken
the Heart, creating not only “the synthesis of intelligence, passion and action” (Slastenin & etc., 2002)
in the team, but also the development of intuition and inspiration. Then teams of students or pupils
make presentations on their decisions.
At the final stage, on a high note, students sing a song linked to the subject or universal values by
meaning. This method is consistent with bringing the students onto the level of Mind, powering their
positive thinking. At the same time, a union of students is observed. Teacher can choose a song in any
language - Kazakh, English, or Russian. Songs can be old well-known or modern ones. Students are
allowed to stand when performing creative assignments and songs. They can even dance when singing
a song. The whole environment, the classroom vibe, its designation and development change. We have
often wondered what potential lies down there in a song. It is worthwhile noting that in churches the
performance of songs by a choir fulfills a spiritual union function. How about holidays, when everyone
is in the mood for singing? It has spiritual, relaxing, and emotional effect.
To conclude, a home assignment is given followed by a moment of peacefulness.
Let’s compare structures of combined traditional school lesson and that of Self-Cognition (See
Table).

Analysis of Self-Cognition teaching experience indicates the priority of value-semantic content of
education, focus on modern pedagogical and psychological theories and technologies. In this particular
case, it is important to have faith in man, in his/her humanistic potential and positive essence. A variety
of approaches is applied: activity, environment-based, existential, multicultural, dialogical, and others.
B. Brdička systematized leading ideas for didactical upgrade from “behaviorism → cognitivism →
constructivism → to connectionism” (Brdička, 2012). G. Siemens (Siemens, 2006) put the idea of
connectionism forward. When designing lessons there lies great potential of teaching not only social
construction of their relationships and space by students, but also the potential of applying connectivity
approach. For example, formulation of assignments according to “Blended Learning” technology,
search for interesting stories and videos by students themselves in the Internet, etc. At the same time,
there are high risks in teaching the subject, such as “dependence” on teacher’s personality, subjectivity
of pedagogical activity, his/her knowledge, competences, creativity. This vision requires improving the
system of professional competence development.
Assessment of Self-Cognition teaching experience during school practice by university students - future teachers
Undergraduates majoring in Social Pedagogy and Self-Cognition passed teaching practice at school
during one semester, actively giving Self-Cognition lessons under the supervision of experienced
schoolteachers. As a feedback, a student survey was conducted at the end of the practice in the form of
a questionnaire. Assessment of Self-Cognition by undergraduates turned out to be quite interesting.
What are the peculiarities in teaching Self-Cognition? Students outline, firstly, social and motivational
attitude of students, and secondly - new methods of teaching, as well as requirements to teachers.
Student A.S. listed the following features:
E.D.
D.S. “
One of the students responded as follows when asked about the need to teach such a subject at
school:
The questionnaire covered students’ proposals to improve the teaching of the subject. The proposals
mainly related to the forms and methods of teaching. They can be summarized as follows: (A.S.)
Findings
Introduction of Self-Cognition subject corresponds to the pedagogy of the 21st century, and allows
providing for the development of intelligence and spirituality concepts. This is important under forward
looking education focusing on the progress of science, the creation of new breakthrough technologies,
and space exploration. Lesson designing applies modern storytelling strategy, value-based education,
coaching, and relaxation. Actual use of psychological relaxation techniques, reference and orientation
to Jung's theory, humanistic psychology of A. Maslow and K. Rogers, neuro-linguistic programming
theory, M. Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow Theory and others.
It is recommended to include few cognitive concepts (perhaps just foundations of social, emotional
intellect) into senior grades curriculum, to take advantage of the cognitive approach and social
constructivism, expand the use of art technologies, to teach resilience and coping behavior. Thus, it is
possible to expand the content and expected results from learning the lesson by real-life behavioral
skills.
Conclusion
Teachers certified by Bobek National Scientific, Practical, and Wellness Center are allowed to teach
Self-Cognition. Of course, to conduct a lesson, apart from Self-Cognition program a teacher should
possess good axiological culture, a rich inner world, constantly pursue inner spiritual work; be able to
attract different students to dialogue, to argue. The educator must be a role model of a person living in
the unity of thought, word and deed. It is important for the teacher to master the art of combing lesson
blocks by theme as a storyline based on the principle of identifying the universal values, and to be able
to make transitions with a focus on the subject and value. In fact, it is more like a role of writer and
director rather than teacher.
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Cite this article as:
Mynbayeva, A., Anarbek, N., & Yesseyeva, M. (2016). Education and Spirituality in Kazakhstan: "Self-cognition" Metadiscipline Features and Methods of Teaching. In Z. Bekirogullari, M. Y. Minas, & R. X. Thambusamy (Eds.), Cognitive - Social, and Behavioural Sciences - icCSBs 2016, May, vol 8. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences (pp. 154-161). Future Academy. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.05.16