Practice-oriented science based on cultural-historical psychology: history and prospects

Context and relevance. Education systems around the world are facing the challenges of global changes in technology, the labor market, and demography. Strengthening the interaction between science and practice in education is considered one of the conditions for a successful response to these challenges. In the USSR and post-Soviet Russia, precedents have been created for building productive cooperation between scientists and practitioners in education based on cultural and historical psychology, which are relevant in the current situation inside and outside the country. Objective. The article examines the genesis and content of the idea of a practice-oriented science of education in the context of modern discussions about barriers, opportunities and promising models of interaction between researchers and practitioners. Hypothesis. The practice-oriented science approach can help in responding to the current challenges of transforming education systems in Russia and the world. Methods and materials. Two groups of publications are analyzed: 1) reflecting modern discussions about the gap between science and practice in education and ways to overcome it, the search for effective forms and mechanisms of cooperation between researchers and practitioners; 2) characterizing the history of the conception and implementation of practice-oriented science in education in the USSR (Russian Federation). Results. The foundations and key characteristics of the practice-oriented science of education in Russia are presented. The connection of its development with the processes of development of psychological and pedagogical science and general education in the USSR (Russian Federation) is shown. Conclusions. The practice-oriented science approach has prospects for implementation in Russia and the world to meet the challenges of transforming education systems, but it needs to be developed taking into account the experience of developing and implementing other models of partnership between researchers and practitioners, current discussions and the socio-political context.