The Relationship Between Virtual and Actual Reality: Phenomenological-Ontological Approach

The article addresses the relationship between virtual and actual reality as the external world of users. The objective is to study the relationship between two realities: virtual reality and actual reality in their ontological uniqueness and distinctness. The set objective implies that virtual reality should be seen as a specific conditional reality. The applied methodological principle incorporates concepts of ontological/ functional/ artistic conditionalities. The development of modern VR technology contributing to the formation of cyberculture is shown to bring the functional conditionality to the forefront, putting into action and emphasizing the leading part of an individual, the importance of his or her self-subject position (as the Participant or the Observer) in social construction of reality. The specific nature of the boundaries of conditionality as well as their penetrability/ impenetrability (characterizing openness or closeness of realities) make it possible to draw a demarcation line between the actual reality and other realities. The comparative analysis given in the article revealed a number of distinctive features inherent in virtual realities. Due to these features, virtual realities can be differentiated both from the actual reality and the realities (mental, artistic) generally referred to as virtual by a number of scholars. As defined, the actual reality, as long as its social and regulatory pressure is imperative and unconditional, can compete with virtual realities, which, on the other hand, due to their interactivity can have such an impact on the actual reality that any concept of two autonomous worlds makes no sense

When the experiment with the method of organization of local government is really necessary and demandable (for example the town of Asbest, Sverdlovsk region)

In the Russian Federation there is a situation of insufficient public confidence in the system of local government and often this is because we are not always successful experiments with different ways of organizing the system of local government at the present time. Enough to take for example the town of Asbest, Sverdlovsk region. Asbest in recent years has twice changed the system of elections to the representative body of local self-government, and twice changed the system of local government. These experiments over such a short time, not only disorientate population and distance it from exercising its voting rights, but also to a certain extent destabilize political situation, reducing the level of confidence in the selected "representatives of the people", and most importantly – devaluing the very essence of the electoral system and electoral law. It is not surprising that in these circumstances there is public demand for personal liability of representatives of local authorities. In connection with the abolition of direct elections of top officials (in part at least of the city district), and the subsequent cancellation of the elections of the higher proper-person representative body of local self-government, a voter was deprived of some rights in the implementation of local self-government. These experiments and throwing do not raise support from the population. However, in order to guarantee the implementation of the local government, now in Asbest is invited to elect a representative body of the majority system in single-mandate constituencies. This is will significantly increase the personal liability of representative government, and raise its credibility among the population. Unlike the previous experiments this intention is in keeping with the public request.В нынешнее время в Российской Федерации возникла ситуация недостаточного доверия населения к системе местного самоуправления и зачастую это вызвано не всегда удачными экспериментами с различными способами организации самой системы местного самоуправления. Достаточно взять для примера Асбестовский городской округ Свердловской области. Асбестовский городской округ (АГО) за последние годы уже дважды менял систему выборов в представительный орган местного самоуправления, а также дважды менял и саму систему местного самоуправления. Эти эксперименты на протяжении столь короткого времени не только дезориентируют население и дистанцируют его от осуществления своего избирательного права, но и в определенной мере дестабилизируют политическую ситуацию, снижая уровень доверия к выбранным «представителям народа», а главное – девальвируя саму сущность избирательной системы и избирательного права. Неудивительно, что в этих условиях появился общественный запрос на персональную ответственность представителей органов местного самоуправления. В связи с отменой прямых выборов высшего должностного лица (в рамках хотя бы городского округа), а также последующей отмены выборов высшего должного лица представительным органом местного самоуправления, избиратель оказался лишен части прав в осуществлении местного самоуправления. Эти эксперименты и метания не вызывают поддержку у населения. Вместе с тем, в целях обеспечения гарантий на осуществление местного самоуправления, сейчас в АГО предлагается избирать представительный орган по мажоритарной системе по одномандатным округам. Это, как надеются авторы данного решения, позволит значительно повысить персональную ответственность органа представительной власти, а также поднимет его авторитет среди населения. В отличие от предыдущих экспериментов данное намерение вполне отвечает общественному запросу

On motivational tools of gamification in higher education: Theoretical aspect

The digital turn in Russian education brings to the fore the problem of students' motivation, engagement and enjoyment. It is one of the most challenging problems inherent in all forms and levels of education, especially in e-learning. It can be partially solved through gamification. In foreign countries, gamification is a recognized technology having methodological and didactic advantages; it has been actively studied and used for many years. In Russia, this promising and popular technology has been addressed and started developing only recently. It should be noted that most studies on gamification (both Russian and foreign) tend to focus on its stimulus-response patterns without delving into its motivational capabilities underlying its efficiency. There is not enough understanding of the differences between external and internal motivations and their role in gamification to create a long-term and sustainable effect. Our research intends to make a theoretical contribution to this field. For this purpose, we look into gamification in terms of philosophical and cultural approaches and analyze motivation theories with regard to gamification. We will use the key concepts of philosophy of pragmatism and social phenomenology and the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the flow theory and the Transactional analysis (TA) as a theoretical and methodological framework. The philosophical concepts that we took as a theoretical and methodological basis have never been used in gamification analysis. Thus, they represent scientific novelty of our research. Based on the research results, the authors substantiate the thesis that intrinsic motivation plays an essential (but not an exclusive!) role in gamification. It is game thinking that contributes to the formation of internal motivation, in contrast to the game mechanics ('points, badges and leaderboards'), which is focused on external motivation. Showed that gamification is quite a challenging technology; when it is used, priority attention should be given to maintaining the balance between its utilitarian (educational) and hedonic (recreational) functions. In gamification, as distinct from any games (real and digital), entertainment is a method rather than a purpose; forgetting this obvious fact is fraught with negative consequences. It is concluded that gamification should never be seen as a universal remedy. © 2020 LLC Ecological Help. All rights reserved

A Text in the Communicative Dimension: The Relationship between the Open and Closed Text in the Context of Umberto Eco’s Ideas

The article addresses the relationship between open and closed texts. The aim of the study is to analyze the specifics of relationship between the open and closed text in the general context of communication between the author and the reader. While supporting mainly U. Eco’s concept in our article, we furnish it with the analysis of four approaches of openness/closedness, which we have singled out. Openness/closedness is conceptualized, firstly: as an ontological perspective of the opposition between the communication parameters: The text-as-process and text-as-outcome; secondly, as interpretation procedures that are common for the articulation of all texts, regardless of their form and contents; thirdly, as the ontological and technological potential of works’ physical unfinishedness that invite the recipient to co-authorship (for example, ‘the work-in-movement’ and hypertext); fourthly, as the ability of a text to provoke multiple or unambiguous interpretations. We also demonstrate that the way of text’s functioning is determined not only by the addressee's attitude to it, but text itself, in return, stimulates this attitude, predisposing to it by its specificity (as informative or artistic, kitsch or art, hypertext or linear text, digital or analog). However, as we explain in the conclusion, the dialectic of openness/closedness can affect the distinctness of these dichotomies: The text can use its openness manipulatively, which turns it into a closed text

The ethics problems by U. Eco (based on the book “Five essays on the topics of ethics”)

Статья посвящена анализу этической проблематики, представленной в книге У.Эко «Пять эссе на темы этики», прежде всего темам войны, фашизма, роли СМИ и т.п., которые и поныне не утратили свою актуальность.The article is devoted to the analysis of ethical issues presented in the book by U. Eco, «Five essays on the topics of ethics», primarily the topics of war, fascism, the role of the media, etc., which has not lost its relevance to this day

The Problems of the Organization of Local Self-Government (on the Example of the Asbest in Sverdlovsk Region)

The article discusses the problems in the system of local self – government organization on the example of one of the municipalities of the Sverdlovsk region – the urban district of Asbestos. At the present time in the Russian Federation there is a situation of insufficient public confidence in the system of local self-government and this is often caused not always by successful experiments with various ways of its organization. The problem is also that this constant leapfrog with changes in the ways of organizing local self-government does not contribute to increasing the efficiency of local self-government, but on the contrary, distracts from solving urgent issues of life support of the municipality. This situation is compounded by the transfer of powers from the municipal level to the regional level (or even to the Federal level), which leads to a mismatch between the decision-making centre and the area of responsibility. So it is not always possible to resolve issues of local importance by local authorities. Ultimately, all this contributes its lion's share to the devaluation of the institute of local self-government.В статье рассматриваются проблемы в системе организации местного самоуправления на примере одного из муниципальных образований Свердловской области – Асбестовского городского округа (АГО). В нынешнее время в Российской Федерации возникла ситуация недостаточного доверия населения к системе местного самоуправления и зачастую это вызвано не всегда удачными экспериментами с различными способами ее организации. Проблема также в том, что эта постоянная чехарда с изменениями способов организации местного самоуправления отнюдь не способствует увеличению эффективности работы его органов, а наоборот, отвлекает от решения насущных вопросов жизнеобеспечения муниципалитета. Эта ситуация усугубляется также тем, что происходит передача полномочий от муниципального уровня к региональному (а то и к федеральному), что оборачивается несовпадением центра принятия решений с зоной ответственности. Так что далеко не всегда вопросы местного значения под силу решать именно органам местного самоуправления. В конечном счете, все это вкладывает свою львиную долю в девальвацию института местного самоуправления

A Rapid, Inexpensive High Throughput Screen Method for Neurite Outgrowth

Neurite outgrowth assays are the most common phenotypic screen to assess chemical effects on neuronal cells. Current automated assays involve expensive equipment, lengthy sample preparation and handling, costly reagents and slow rates of data acquisition and analysis. We have developed a high throughput screen (HTS) for neurite outgrowth using a robust neuronal cell model coupled to fast and inexpensive visualization methods, reduced data volume and rapid data analysis. Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) cell, a subclone of PC12, possessing rapid growth and enhanced sensitivity to NGF was used as a model neuron. This method reduces preparation time by using cells expressing GFP or native cells stained with HCS CellMask™ Red in a multiplexed 30 min fixation and staining step. A 2x2 camera binning process reduced both image data files and analysis times by 75% and 60% respectively, compared to current protocols. In addition, eliminating autofocus steps during montage generation reduced data collection time. Pharmacological profiles for stimulation and inhibition of neurite outgrowth by NGF and SU6656 were comparable to current standard method utilizing immunofluorescence detection of tubulin. Potentiation of NGF-induced neurite outgrowth by members of a 1,120-member Prestwick compound library as assayed using this method identified six molecules, including etoposide, isoflupredone acetate, fludrocortisone acetate, thioguanosine, oxyphenbutazone and gibberellic acid, that more than doubled the neurite mass primed by 2 ng/ml NGF. This simple procedure represents an important routine approach in high throughput screening of large chemical libraries using the neurite outgrowth phenotype as a measure of the effects of chemical molecules on neuronal cells

Специфика универсальных компетенций высшего образования России в контексте компетентностно-ориентированного образования: концептуальный анализ

Problem and goal. Amid the currently advancing (technological, social, techno-social) trends, prominent attention is drawn to skills and competences, which are universal for all spheres of activity - soft skills, key competences. They are known as universal competences in Russian higher education. The aim of the article is to pinpoint universal competences (UCs) and to analyze their specific features in the context of competence-based education. Materials and methods. The authors use methods of etymological, conceptual and comparative analysis combined with dialectical and diachronic approaches and discursive reflection. The study was based on competence-based education-related documents and projects of EU, OECD, UNESCO, the World Bank as well as on monographs and articles of top experts and research groups. Results. During the study, the term of universal competences was differentiated from the associated terms (soft skills, key competencies, generic competencies, and 21st century skills); the role of universal competences was identified as a balancer in higher education for equilibrating its two missions: Preparing students for successful career and helping them become well-rounded personalities. It has been found that the terminological confusion and the lack of consensus on many aspects of competence-based education have an ambivalent character. The idea of universal competences was identified as a Russian version of a tool (and the outcome) of the integration of two opposite intentions of the national educational policy: Blending in the mainstream of the competence-based approach and retaining its uniqueness. A contribution was made to expanding the conception of universalism as the foundation for competence-based education, including the one in Russia. Conclusion. We acknowledge that the concept of universal competences can make competence-based education more balanced in Russian environment or, on the contrary, it can aggravate its inherent imbalance. © 2022 LLC Ecological Help. All rights reserved

The role of the creative-ethical position of the person in the context differences of nature and culture

В статье рассматривается философско-этическая рефлексия современных российских мыслителей Ю. М. Бородая и В. Руднева о роли творчески-этической позиции человека в мире.The article is devoted to the modern Russian thinkersʼ philosophical and ethical reflection on the role of creative and ethical position in the world

Quality management of educational activities in higher education

The transformations that have taken place in education have led to the emergence of a new educational framework under which modern higher education institutions are actively adapting. The activity of educational organizations was rethought and teachers’ work acquired new features. Today institutions of higher education must build educational activities in such a way as to be able to satisfy changing needs of the state and society. Therefore, in higher education educational activities should be built at a high level. Thus, to achieve it, it is significant to ensure decent management of it. The purpose of the article is to reveal general features of management activities in a higher educational institution and, on their basis, to develop a model for managing them. The model of management of educational activities in higher education proposed by the authors is focused on new approaches to quality as the main component of quality management being a system object. The work achieved the goal of uncovering the general features of managerial activity in a higher educational institution and, based on them, developed a model for managing educational activities. The model of educational activity management in higher education that we have developed is focused on new approaches to quality as the main component of education management, it is a system object. The model, as the study showed, helps to improve the process of managing educational activities, to bring it to a new level. According to the study, the authors concluded that the model showed its effectiveness and contributed to educational management improvement