The paper considers a contradiction between the great demand for teachers’ professional development, induced by the new Federal State Educational Standards, and the lack of relevant training programs for school teachers.

The author has conducted a survey to assess teachers’ readiness for innovative activity required by the new educational standards. The survey reveals that 97% of teachers denote either difficulty or disapproval of imple- menting the above standards. Investigating the reasons for teachers’ negative attitude, the author puts forward a hypothesis of their insufficient motivation and commitment.

In theoretical part of the research teachers’ motivation is considered as a goal, intention, necessity, and personal quality that can be developed. As a result, a method of teachers’ motivation development is suggested actuating the motivation mechanism of achievements. The method is based on the project technique facilitating teachers’ professional and individual goal-setting ability. The program modules for teachers’ further training and prospective results are given. 

The article considers the urgent problems of modern education related to creative consciousness development and acceptable imitation proportion. The author refers to the communication theory to show the interrelation between creativity and communicative processes. The overview and analysis of a number of studies including G.Lassvell’s formula and Y.M. Lotman’s semiotic system prove that the communication category directly influences the logic of personal development.

The main emphasis is on J. Habermas’ theory with its core concept of rational communication procedure and accumulation of knowledge by means of moral consciousness. Habermas singles out six stages of moral judgment: two pre-conventional (interaction controlled by authority and interest-driven cooperation); two conventional (role action and interaction driven by norms); post-conventional; and discursive.

The author makes a conclusion that creativity is based on both the originality of creative action itself, according to the classical paradigm, and cooperation between the author and creative product consumer: e.g. writer and reader, teacher and student, etc. The research findings can be used in further studies of communicative relations in educational sphere and in practical teaching. 

The paper looks at the conceptual methodological approaches to organizing independent work of cadets at military higher schools. There is a gap between the existing system of independent educational activity and new requirements for educational process implying person-oriented tasks, variability and creative directions of cognitive activity. The authors point out both general and specific problems hindering effective independent work of cadets, as well as the resources for improving the current situation available in military educational sphere.

The paper suggests a systematic, synergetic and problematic approach to raising independent work efficiency; emphasizes the necessity for renewal of the content and organization of independent work performed by the pro- spective officers; suggests the expansion of boundaries and removal of time constrains. The ways of informational and analytical provision reinforcing interdisciplinary relations and achievement of necessary competences for future professional activity are described. The research outcome can be applied by higher school teachers in organizing independent students’ work. 

The paper deals with different approaches to defining the education quality concept, and analyzes its sociological aspects revealed in the works of foreign and Russian authors. As a key issue, the author emphasizes the divergent interests of different social groups in the context of higher school reorganization. Based on the empirical research conducted at seven universities in Yekaterinburg, the author maintains that the evaluation of the reforms by educational society is largely negative, its rejection being of a systematic rather than a random character. Both professorial teaching staff and students opposing the reform do not seem to change their attitude until the considerable amendments to the reforms are introduced. The main concern is about the quality and values of education, its gradual transformation from classical fundamental education focusing students’ personal development to the practical one targeting the competitiveness of graduates. The author argues that without consideration of opposing opinions of teachers and students the reorganization process is destined to slow down or even fail. 

Тhe paper introduces the training computer system of sub- agential type based on a didactic multidimensional technology. The methodology bases incorporate the systematic activity approach, some elements of artificial intelligence theory, and the instrumental didactic theory and technology developed by Scientific Experimental Laboratory at Bashkirsky State Pedagogical University. The above training system – Didactic Multidimensional Technology Design of Sub-Agential Type (DMT_DESIGN (SA).1) – has been developed for raising teachers’ technological competence and creativity regarding both the general and vocational education. Its training structure is specified by invariant socio-cultural and anthropological bases; logically semantic modeling of course materials is provided. The research data can be used by people, engaged in developing educational information technologies; practicing teachers; and post-graduates conducting research and implementing the findings. 

The paper gives an overeview of foreign studies devoted to bilinguism and its influence on socio-cognitive personality development. Experimental research conducted in the recent years has broken the myth of negative influence of childhood bilinguism. Moreover, based on the comparative analysis, the present research shows the advantages of children and adults grown up in the bilingual environment. Their advantages compared with the monolingual peers include the well-developed meta-lingual abilities and executive functions - executive control, attention, planning, concentration, rejection of inessential information - necessary for fulfilling verbal tasks and activity control. The paper emphasizes the influence of bilinguism on cognitive decentration, ability to learn foreign languages and develop higher social sensitivity regarding both verbal and non-verbal communication (i.e. interpretation of mimics, gestures, intonations), and more adequate reaction to communicative behavior of surrounding people.

The author concludes that bilinguism stimulates creativity, facilitates divergent thinking necessary for observing a variety of possible solutions and creative ideas development. Bilingual skills broaden children’s mental horizons leaving them more prepared for adult life compared to their monolingual peers. 

The paper explores the main versions of the university idea, mission and essence in the context of different historical eras. The authors analyze the philosophical and pedagogical heritage of foreign and Russian thinkers, and trace the main evolutionary stages of higher school development 
A great variety of university ideas comes from the precise historical peculiari- ties and experiences; though, all the existing versions are associated with ideal- istic (platonic, essentialist) positions. However, the authors highlight the his- torical relativistic approach regarding the higher school as flexible and adapting to the requirements of the relating era, and holding that declaration of the uni- versity idea changes according to the altering society demands. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the most prospective direction for overcoming the higher educational crisis involves considering the society demands and constructing and reconstructing a functional response of the higher school to those de- mands. The research findings can be applied to further studies aimed at ana- lyzing the higher school position and predicting its future. 

The linguistic consciousness is regarded as a multilevel system, its stereotype level being one of the structural bases. Applying a statistic analysis, the author justifies a reflex-driven nature of stereotype statements emphasizing their socio- and psycho-linguistic grounds. The paper describes a stereotype statement derivation, conditioned by language pragmatics, and focused on communication, which brings forth a need for standard. A stereotype statement development mechanism is based on a multiple repetition of a similar speech situation. As a result, communicative units used in such situations are perceived as steady correlated forms. Speech stereotypes, as many other standards, are less informative than non-stereotype forms. However, it does not undermine the significance of their studying, since they result from accumulation of socio-historical experience and knowledge.

Given the mass communication, the process of identification and fixation of repeated common, emotional, and therefore, linguistic situations, is important and appropriate; and a list of such stereotype units can be subsequently used in the process of teaching foreign languages. 

The paper deals with the issue of increasing scope of labor migration to the northern regions of Russia and simultaneous outflow of talented young people from Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous region. Given trends and tendencies aggravate the problem of education and training the specialists capable of maintaining and developing the regional economy in compliance with the northern traditions and values, and in the interest of present and future generations.

The author analyzes peculiarities of «I-concept» formation by school- children in northern regions along with social and psychological difficulties caused by increasing migration processes. As a way for developing a positive future image of native region, the author recommends using the constructive life experience method, implying specificity of northern consciousness and self-determination, and stimulating pupils’ cognitive activity.

The teaching method based on the positive life experience is described including the complex of techniques: actualization and analysis of pupils’ life experience, creative modeling of ideal educational objects, comparing statistic data and the main social indices of the region in question and Russia in average. Implementation of the above method in specialized lyceums of Khanty-Mansiysk is described including the experimental data. The research findings can be used by teachers working in other regions with unfavorable climatic conditions. 

The paper looks at the necessity of developing a new person- oriented paradigm of physical education, which involves a transition from the normative approach to sport-oriented one in training children, adolescents and young adults; compliance of educational means, forms, methods and conditions with the student’s psychological peculiarities; and sport specialization according to personal inclinations and abilities.

The research subject is defined as the physically active personality development with the reference to psychological and age peculiarities. The aim of the study is to update the existing physical education system according to the demands for its health promoting and preserving functions. The methodology compiles the systematic and person-oriented approaches.

Personal characteristics of students choosing different kinds of sports for physical education are described along with the correlation between their individual qualities and specificity of physical development. The research findings can be used in developing the curricula for physical education on different levels.