PSYCHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS’ VISUAL COMPETENCE IN THE PROCESS OF STUDYING PHYSICS

Abstract

Іn today’s context of the digitalization of education, the rapid development of information and communication technologies, and the widespread adoption of multimedia and digital learning tools, the issue of developing students’ visual literacy has become particularly relevant. The growing volume of visual information requires future professionals to be able to perceive, analyze, interpret, critically evaluate, and apply it in their professional activities. The purpose of this article is to conduct a theoretical analysis of the psychological mechanisms underlying the development of students’ visual competence and to substantiate their role in the process of studying physics. The study demonstrates that the development of visual competence is based on the interaction of a number of psychological processes and mechanisms, among which visual perception, attention, visual memory, imagination, visual (spatial) thinking, and critical thinking play a leading role. It is these skills that enable the effective processing of visual information, the formation of coherent images, and the establishment of connections between objects and phenomena. An important factor in the development of visual competence is the integration of visual and verbal information, as well as the use of multimedia tools, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence technologies, which create new opportunities for visualizing educational material. It has been established that the use of such tools requires a well-developed critical approach to visual information, as well as the ability to assess its reliability, scientific accuracy, and appropriateness. It has been found that the development of visual competence is based on the interaction of cognitive, psychological, and pedagogical factors. Its purposeful development in the process of studying physics contributes to a deeper understanding of natural phenomena, the development of scientific thinking, information literacy, and students’ professional competencies, which is one of the key оf modern education.