Problems and ways to improve the effi ciency of studying natural science disciplines by military cadets

Pedagogical challenges in improving the effectiveness of natural science education at a military university include insuffi cient cadet motivation, weak interdisciplinary integration, outdated teaching methods, a shortage of modern visual aids and electronic resources, as well as the need to develop cadets’ independent cognitive activity and critical thinking skills to solve applied military problems. Cadets often fail to see a direct connection between fundamental scientifi c knowledge and their future military specialty, which reduces their interest in studying the subjects. Some instructors use traditional, passive teaching methods that don’t meet modern requirements and don’t foster active learning in cadets. Cadets don’t always possess suffi cient skills in independent research and information analysis, which are necessary for a deep understanding of scientifi c principles and their practical application. This article examines the challenges faced by fi rst-year military academy cadets. A completely new teaching system and numerous additional factors that increase workload and fatigue hinder cadets’ effective mastery of the natural sciences. To address this situation and improve the quality of education, the authors believe it is necessary to change approaches to organizing cadets’ independent work. The following solutions to pedagogical problems are proposed: strengthening the practical focus, developing new teaching methods, implementing active learning methods, establishing close interaction between instructors from different disciplines to create a unifi ed educational environment, individualizing instruction and using a differentiated approach to learning based on each student’s level of preparation, introducing independent work under the guidance of an instructor, increasing the number of hours for instructor consultations, redistributing the workload within a discipline across semesters, and focusing on creating a motivational environment for demonstrating the practical signifi cance of subjects and their connection to future professions.