What is the Attitude of Moscow School Directors to Project-based Learning? A Qualitative Study.

The research is devoted to the introduction of project based learning in Moscow schools. As an object of analysis of this study the author takes directors of secondary schools in Moscow, who have experience in implementing the project method. According to the second generation of the Federal State Educational Standard, by 2020, project activities should become a compulsory lesson in high schools in the Russian Federation, thus completing the implementation phase of the project method in Russian schools.The subject of the research is the opinion of the directors about the project method and the analysis of obstacles to its implementation in the school. This paper answers the following research questions: How do directors in Moscow schools describe the concept of “project method”? How do school directors in Moscow organize projects based learning in their schools? What problems and barriers are called by the Moscow school directors when introducing the project method in educational organizations? How do directors evaluate the consequences of introducing a project method into their school's educational program? As a result of the research, it was possible to identify three types of organization of project activities in Moscow schools. The main conclusion of the work is that the project method occupies a marginal position in Moscow schools. In order for project based learning to occupy a more prominent position in the school education system, significant changes are needed: in the content and process of training teachers and the school administration, in the practice of current evaluation of education, and also in the composition of performance benchmarks for learning. Key words: Federal State Educational Standard, project based learning, project activity of schoolchildren, project method, competences of the 21st century.