Considering age aspect when developing goal-setting ability in the context of competence approach

The paper deals ith the aspect of age when developing a goal-setting ability in the context of competence approach. The study shows that this ability initially involves distinguishing the original justification and clarifying the essence and nature of the development object (clear understanding of the developed ability); understanding of the prerequisites and origins for ability formation; analysis of the psychological and pedagogical conditions enabling the development of ability. The paper is aimed at providing theoretical justification of studying goal-setting ability and giving substantial characteristics of goal-setting process. The paper uses the structure of the goal-setting ability proposed by the authors, which assumes further theoretical and practical study of psychological features and functions of these components among students at each stage of ontogenesis. Studying the mechanisms of ability development within ontogenesis seems to be productive in the context of the major student activity and mental structures...