ИСТИНА

In the literature we can find description of two groups of factors which influence effective learning (EL): psychological and pedagogical. Based on the Activity Approach designed by Russian psychologists, we consider that the main predictor of EL is a child's goal-oriented activity, which should be organized. The teacher should choose appropriate actions, give students the method for their actions, encourage students to use it, and organize stage-by-stage formation. What about a student who learns effectively? To what extent does he or she use these factors? We suppose that the important predictor of EL is orientation towards given knowledge (OGK) — the inclusion of the given knowledge in the student's new actions as their method. Our main aim is to discuss the nature of OGK, to suggest some methods for it's diagnostics and to present a research project of the differences between fourth graders from different educational systems.