International Journal of Pedagogics
201
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijp
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue02 2025
PAGE NO.
201-204
10.37547/ijp/Volume05Issue02-54
Medical literacy and learning activity: effective strategies
in the primary education process
Khalillayeva Gozaloy
Urgench State Pedagogical Institute, Teacher of the Department of “Primary Education Methodology”, Uzbekistan
Received:
24 December 2024;
Accepted:
26 January 2025;
Published:
28 February 2025
Abstract:
This article analyzes effective strategies aimed at increasing medical literacy and learning activity in the
process of primary education. Medical literacy is an important competency aimed at developing students' skills in
understanding and using health, hygiene and medical information. Learning activity is formed in the process of
children's independent thinking, active assimilation of knowledge and application in practice. The study reveals
the role of modern pedagogical approaches, interactive methods and innovative technologies in the development
of medical literacy and learning activity. It also highlights the recommended didactic methods for developing these
competencies in primary school students.
Keywords:
Medical literacy, learning activity, primary education, interactive methods, pedagogical strategies,
innovative technologies, independent learning, didactic approaches.
Introduction:
The modern education system is
constantly developing in accordance with the needs of
society. The rapid development of information
technologies, the influence of social networks and mass
media play an important role in shaping the worldview
of students. Therefore, today, in the process of primary
education, it is important not only to instill traditional
knowledge, but also to form independent thinking in
students and develop a critical approach in them.
Medical literacy is a person's ability to understand,
correctly evaluate and apply health, hygiene and
medical information to their lives. Especially in the
context of the pandemic, people's need for medical
knowledge has increased, and medical literacy has
become necessary for every citizen, especially the
younger generation. This competency is considered
very important for children to follow a healthy lifestyle,
protect themselves from misinformation, and
strengthen their health based on scientifically based
medical views.
Educational activity is an important factor in the
process of acquiring knowledge, and implies the active
involvement of students in the learning process, the
development of the ability to freely express their
opinions and apply the acquired knowledge in practice.
However, if the educational process is one-sided,
limited to the delivery of information, the level of
students' mastery may be low. That is why modern
educators emphasize the importance of developing
and implementing effective teaching strategies. Thus,
the development of medical literacy and educational
activity in primary education will not only contribute to
the individual growth of students, but also help them
find their place in future social life. This article analyzes
the role of effective pedagogical strategies, interactive
methods, and innovative technologies that serve to
increase medical literacy and learning activity.
METHODOLOGY
Each educational process sets certain goals. But what
should be the ways to effectively achieve these goals?
What methodological approaches should be used to
increase student activity and develop medical literacy,
especially in primary education? The search for
answers to these questions is a topic of constant
discussion for pedagogical scientists and practitioners.
Interactive methods play an important role in
increasing the effectiveness of education. Traditional
lessons are mainly limited to the delivery of
information by the teacher, which can reduce student
activity. Therefore, technologies that actively involve
students in the learning process should be used. For
example, through the problem-based learning method,
International Journal of Pedagogics
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International Journal of Pedagogics (ISSN: 2771-2281)
children learn to analyze life situations, express their
opinions and solve problems. This serves not only to
acquire knowledge, but also to form the skills of
independent decision-making. Also, gamification, that
is, the introduction of game elements into the learning
process, makes children learn with interest. Studies
show that knowledge learned through games is stored
in memory longer and is more effective in practice. For
example, in order to develop medical literacy,
interactive games on a healthy lifestyle, hygiene rules
and first aid can be organized. This will help children
not only acquire knowledge, but also apply it in real life.
In addition, the project-based learning strategy serves
not only to increase students' knowledge in science,
but also to develop creative thinking. For example,
students can prepare their own research projects on
healthy eating or conduct small experiments on factors
affecting the ecological environment.
A differentiated approach is also an important strategy.
Since each child has unique abilities and interests, their
individual needs and learning speed should be taken
into account in the teaching process. Some students
learn better through visual materials, while others are
more inclined to practical experiences. Therefore, it is
advisable to combine different strategies in the lesson
process.
In the era of advanced technologies, the use of digital
resources is also one of the relevant methods.
Electronic textbooks, online interactive platforms,
video lessons and mobile applications can increase
children's learning activity. Animated videos and
interactive quizzes are especially effective for
increasing medical knowledge. In primary education,
methodological strategies for developing medical
literacy and learning activity should be used in harmony
with each other. By moving away from traditional
approaches and using modern, interactive, game-
based and project-based methods, it is possible to
increase the activity of students, to educate them as
responsible and knowledgeable individuals for their
lives. Each lesson should become not only a place for
children to obtain information, but also a place for
research, discovery and practical experience.
Literature review
Research on the development of medical literacy and
learning activity has become one of the important
directions in world pedagogy and psychology in recent
years. Researchers emphasize the interdependence of
these two factors and note the need to develop
effective
methodological
approaches
in
the
educational process. This section provides an analysis
of various sources on this topic.
Among the leading studies on medical literacy, the
concept of “health literacy” pu
t forward by Nutbeam
occupies a special place. According to him, medical
literacy includes not only the acquisition of medical
knowledge, but also the ability to effectively use the
health care system and make lifestyle decisions.
Studies presented by UNESCO emphasize the need to
develop medical literacy starting from primary
education, and for this, interactive teaching methods
are of great importance.
Russian scientists, including Polyakov, note the need to
use multimedia educational tools and visual
educational technologies to popularize medical literacy
among children. Similarly, American researchers
Kickbusch and Maag, analyzing the prospects for
developing medical literacy through digital means,
emphasize that instilling knowledge about a healthy
lifestyle in children through mobile applications and
interactive games is more effective than traditional
lessons.
Freire, on the other hand, put forward the "Dialogical
Education" model, which emphasizes that students
should be formed not only as recipients of information,
but also as individuals who analyze, debate, and think
creatively about knowledge. This approach is also
relevant in the development of medical literacy, and it
is shown that it is important to encourage students to
think freely about health and quality of life.
In recent years, there has been an increase in research
on the use of gamification and digital educational
technologies in the educational process. For example,
Prensky, in his work "The Digital Generation and
Teaching", emphasizes that modern children are
accustomed to learning with technology and are not
interested in traditional methods. Therefore, virtual
laboratories, simulations and lessons in the form of
games are of great importance for increasing medical
literacy and learning activity.
Research conducted by Chinese scientists Chen and Li
shows the effectiveness of educational models adapted
to the unique learning style of each child through
artificial intelligence and individual learning platforms.
This is especially important in the development of
differentiated learning strategies, which allows for the
introduction of an individual approach depending on
the abilities of each student.
A review of the literature shows that there are different
approaches to increasing medical literacy and learning
activity, each of which has its own advantages.
Interactive methods, experience-based learning,
gamification and digital technologies are among the
most relevant methods for today's education. In
developing medical literacy, it is important to convey
medical information to students in an interesting and
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International Journal of Pedagogics (ISSN: 2771-2281)
memorable form, and in increasing learning activity, it
is important to expand the opportunities for children to
conduct independent research and discovery.
Therefore, the integration of modern innovative
approaches into the educational process remains one
of the main criteria for increasing the effectiveness of
primary education.
DISCUSSION
Today's educational process is becoming increasingly
complex and requires innovative approaches in
addition to traditional teaching methods. Especially in
primary grades, the issue of increasing students'
interest in learning and instilling vital knowledge in
them remains relevant. The development of medical
literacy and learning activity is recognized as an integral
part of this process.
According to research conducted by the World Health
Organization
(WHO, 2019), only 39% of the world’s
population
has
sufficient
knowledge
and
understanding of health. This indicator is also of great
importance for the younger generation, as teaching
children from a young age the correct medical
knowledge and rules of a healthy lifestyle can affect the
future health of society. Therefore, the introduction of
medical literacy into the educational process is
important not only for the quality of education, but also
for social stability in general.
Research shows that the activity of students in the
learning process is directly related to their ability to
apply knowledge in practice. For example, according to
a 2021 study by Harvard University, children taught
using interactive methods learned 37% more
effectively than their peers who learned through
traditional approaches. This means that it is important
to provide children with active education so that they
can not only memorize theoretical information, but
also understand it and apply it to real life.
Increasing the activity of students is especially relevant
in teaching medical literacy. Studies show that if
children receive knowledge only through textbooks or
lectures, the retention rate of this knowledge is around
20 percent. However, the retention rate of information
learned through games, experiments or practical
exercises reaches 70-80 percent. For example, in a
2020 experiment in Germany, the level of knowledge of
children who received education through a special
interactive program on healthy eating and hygiene was
45 percent higher than that of children who were
taught with a theoretical textbook.
Gamification and educational effectiveness
Gamification (introduction of game elements) is
becoming one of the important methods in the modern
education system. Prensky's concept of "The Digital
Generation and Education" emphasizes that visual and
interactive approaches are more effective for modern
children than traditional textbooks. For example, in a
study conducted in Canada, students who used virtual
laboratories to study biology and medicine learned 35
percent faster than in traditional classes.
If gamification elements are introduced in primary
education to increase health literacy and learning
activity, the learning process for children will be more
interesting and memorable. For example, instead of
teaching simple healthy lifestyle rules through
textbooks,
explaining
them
through
videos,
animations, quest games or quizzes will give a more
effective result.
CONCLUSION
Health literacy and learning activity are one of the
concepts that are of great importance in the modern
primary education process, increasing students'
knowledge about a healthy lifestyle and creating
conditions for more effective learning by involving
them in the active learning process. Research shows
that if children actively participate in the lesson
process, search for knowledge on their own and apply
it in practice, their knowledge will be stronger and will
be stored in memory for a long time.
In order to increase the level of medical literacy of
students, along with traditional teaching methods, the
use of interactive methods, gamification, project-based
learning and digital technologies can yield effective
results. World experience shows that the use of game
elements, practical experiences and visual educational
materials increases the interest of students and
encourages them to actively learn. Also, in order to
instill medical knowledge in the minds of the younger
generation, teachers themselves must master new
pedagogical technologies and be able to use modern
educational tools. In conclusion, the development of
medical literacy and learning activity not only increases
the efficiency of the educational process, but also helps
the future generation to become healthy and conscious
members of society. Therefore, it is important to
effectively use innovative approaches in primary
education, and new scientific research and
experimental work in this area should be continued.
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