Dalton plan as a group method of teaching in primary schools

Abstract

The formation of the economic-political, scientific-cultural, and material potential of modern society depends to a large extent on education. School, which emerged in its time as a certain level of development attained relative independence and became, in turn, for subsequent periods the main driving force of progress having recorded and preserved what was created by humanity, turning it into a driving force for social development. Relating to this, the innovative processes happening in education in different historical periods have influenced greatly the course of development of the society, and since the emerging innovative approaches were directly related to the social order of society, they have conditioned the emergence of innovations in content, form and technology of education. Although a lot of research has been carried out on methodologies in education, there is still disagreements regarding the effectiveness and adaptability of these in different cultural contexts, and particularly within Azerbaijani primary education. Therefore, this study will explore the benefits, challenges and/or implications of the Dalton Plan, a recognized educational method, to foster student independence and creativity, and the possibility of an effective implementation in Azerbaijan. We argue that modernizing educational frameworks with innovative education practices requires much attention to be paid to cultural adaptation and teacher training if their potential is to be harnessed to maximum effect. We also draw attention to the need for continual research into innovative educational practices, integrated within the socio-cultural context of Azerbaijan to continue optimizing the learning process.