Transformation of higher education during the pandemic: Pain points

© 2020 Moscow Polytechnic University. All rights reserved. The relevance of the study is due to the contradiction between the mass transition of the Russian system of higher education to the distance learning format and the insufficient willingness of participants in the educational process to work under the new requirements caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. Teachers, students and administrators of higher educational institutions in Russia have encountered a number of difficulties. Their analysis will highlight the objective and subjective factors of their occurrence and develop recommendations for the further organization of distance learning in its combination with the traditional format. The purpose of the study was to analyze the modern work experience in the remote format of one of the leading Russian universities - Kazan Federal University. On this basis, the article analyzes successes and problems of this process, shows the contradictions between traditional and distance learning, considers the main models of educational organization that involve traditional and remote learning formats using distance educational technologies. It is concluded that in the system of basic formal education at all levels and areas of training, distance learning can be considered as a form that complements and strengthens the social, pedagogical, organizational, psychological, and didactic potential of the traditional (face-to-face) educational format. The work comprehensively used the methods of theoretical (analysis, synthesis, systematization, comparison, etc.) and empirical (study of literature, conversation, questioning, observation) research

Transformation of the Assessment of the Quality of Educational Activities and Training of Future Science Teachers in the Context of the Pandemic

The article proposes the concept of transformation of the assessment of the quality of educational activities and the training of future science teachers, the main ideas of which are the objectivity of the assessment; its complex nature; the technological nature of the assessment procedures; their openness; the unity of normative and “non-normative” criteria. It is established that the transformation of the assessment of the quality of educational activities and the training of future science teachers necessitate a comprehensive transformation of its content, instrumental and technological characteristics. The technology of transformation of the assessment of the quality of educational activities and the training of future science teachers in the context of the pandemic has been developed, which involves the implementation of three interrelated stages -preparatory, main and final. Its implementation will ensure the adaptation of the assessment of the quality of educational activities to the changed conditions of education; the formation of the subject position of the student in the conditions of informatization of educational activities; improving the quality of professional education by individualizing the content of the assessment of the educational activities of future science teachers, as well as the variability of the assessment procedures used in its implementation. On the basis of expert assessments, proposals for the transformation of the assessment of the quality of educational activities and the training of future science teachers are formulated. Their implementation will allow not only to quickly identify problems in the content and procedural aspects of professional education of future science teachers, but also to timely determine the directions for improving its conditions

Philosophical anthropology in postmodernism

The approach to studying society in the postmodernist framework is relevant to understand postmodernist paradigm in contemporary philosophy. The rapid development of computerization and mass media in postmodern culture has been destroying the quality of human interaction with the surrounding environment and social reality, causes a feeling of losing touch with reality. This is due to the emergence of many virtual realities. The purpose of the article is to analyze the anthropological ideas in the philosophy of postmodernism. Postmodern anthropology is realized not only in the context of scientific revolution and internal form of culture but also as self-consciousness of modern civilization. Postmodernists prefer to discuss human beings as not whole self-contained individuals, units that may be broken down (divided), and call them ‘dividuals,’ beings or persons significantly distinct from their modern descendants, this being the best characteristic of the modern social state and contrasting to a Cartesian tradition. Methodologically the article is based on a systematic approach combining structural-functional, dialectical and hermeneutical methods. This approach allows us to reveal essential aspects of postmodern philosophy in their dialectical interrelation, to overcome constraints inherent in the heuristic potential of certain methodologies. The survey covers issues related both directly to the field of general theoretical postmodern philosophy and social sciences and makes a review on the researches on the human identity in the postmodern era. The analysis conducted made it possible to distinguish the main characteristics of postmodernism. The main intention of postmodernism considered is the crushing criticism of traditional values: humanism, rationalism, radicalism towards social structure and development, its rejection, denial of individuals' ability to be responsible for their actions, their inability to resist the power of supranational structures. © 2018, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved

From challenges to opportunities: Reorganization of teacher education during the covid-19 pandemic in post-socialist countries

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, there is no doubt that education researchers will analyze the changes in teaching and learning over the years to come. There is no certainty that new waves and variants of COVID-19 will not force humanity to radically change educational technologies in the future. This will bring mankind closer to the predictions of science-fiction authors and futurists, not taken seriously before. In this regard, it is important to scientifically document and analyze various measures for transforming education in the current situation, thus, creating the database for future generations. Analysis reveals that geographically adjacent countries with numerous current or historical interrelations, show the uniqueness of their response to the pandemic because of a number of current economic, social, cultural and geographical factors. Quite promising in this regard are the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which in the second half of the 20th century had almost identical principles for developing national education systems, but changed significantly under the influence of the reforms of the last thirty years. Comparing the cases of five universities from Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic enable us, not only to identify common problems, but also to describe the most effective measures for the reorganization of higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, dictated by the need to sustain the quality of teacher training

Philosophical anthropology in postmodernism

The approach to studying society in the postmodernist framework is relevant to understand postmodernist paradigm in contemporary philosophy. The rapid development of computerization and mass media in postmodern culture has been destroying the quality of human interaction with the surrounding environment and social reality, causes a feeling of losing touch with reality. This is due to the emergence of many virtual realities. The purpose of the article is to analyze the anthropological ideas in the philosophy of postmodernism. Postmodern anthropology is realized not only in the context of scientific revolution and internal form of culture but also as self-consciousness of modern civilization. Postmodernists prefer to discuss human beings as not whole self-contained individuals, units that may be broken down (divided), and call them ‘dividuals,’ beings or persons significantly distinct from their modern descendants, this being the best characteristic of the modern social state and contrasting to a Cartesian tradition. Methodologically the article is based on a systematic approach combining structural-functional, dialectical and hermeneutical methods. This approach allows us to reveal essential aspects of postmodern philosophy in their dialectical interrelation, to overcome constraints inherent in the heuristic potential of certain methodologies. The survey covers issues related both directly to the field of general theoretical postmodern philosophy and social sciences and makes a review on the researches on the human identity in the postmodern era. The analysis conducted made it possible to distinguish the main characteristics of postmodernism. The main intention of postmodernism considered is the crushing criticism of traditional values: humanism, rationalism, radicalism towards social structure and development, its rejection, denial of individuals' ability to be responsible for their actions, their inability to resist the power of supranational structures. © 2018, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved

Post-soviet identity and teacher education: Past, present, future

© 2020, Kazan Federal University. All rights reserved. Research into the historical background of ongoing global and national reforms is essential for the development of effective strategies, models and content of teacher education. Historical and anthropological research in education offers a good perspective on the matter as it draws from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural scientific approaches, thus helping to fully comprehend socio-cultural processes. The article explores the development of teacher education in the Post-Soviet countries (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine) from its beginning in pre-revolutionary Russia up to the present day. The purpose of the research is to analyze the evolution of initial teacher education up to the end of the 20th century and its further transformation during the past thirty years. Until the early 1990s, the teacher education system represented a common education area that shared the same content and approaches to pedagogical education. After that, compromised by political factors, the system was transformed. The juxtaposition of convergent trends and national features of teacher education systems in the Post-Soviet countries provides an opportunity to thoroughly assess current teacher education policies through the lens of pedagogical, geopolitical, economic and cultural partnership of the CIS countries

A philosophical-sociological diagnosis of youth subcultures in the context of social changes

The article focuses on a diagnosis of youth subcultures in the context of public security. The authors, through their empirical research, exhibit favored, by subcultures, moral values, their processes of socialization as well as a particular type of responsibility showed by members of youth subcultures. The following subcultures were taken into consideration by the empirical research: the skinhead, the hip-hop, the chav, the punk, the metal, and the hippie. The research has confirmed a relationship between the quality of socialization displayed by youth subcultures and socializing factors such as family, school, peer group, and the mass media. It has been shown that the quality of social impact largely depends on responsibility attitudes of individual members of each subculture. Moreover, the research has revealed that a sense of responsibility is not an internalized value among the young, i.e., is not the one, which becomes a code of conduct or regulates human behavior. In that context, we have to mention that representatives of subcultures declared their clear sense of responsibility for their own families in the course of the undertaken research. Hence, it can be deduced that the family community is an important socializing factor which leaves an indelible mark on them. © 2019, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved

Analysis of Articles on Education and Instructional Technologies (Scopus)

© 2020. All Rights Reserved. It is an indisputable fact that technology is a part of our lives. It is known that research and education technologies are concentrated. By examining the articles and dissertations published in the field, the scope, strengths and weaknesses of the studies were determined. An important gap has been filled in to guide researches what kind of studies may be needed in the future. Many studies for this purpose were found in the literature. However, since similar studies dealing with educational technologies are outdated, this study is considered important in terms of gathering current research trends and results. The aim of this study is to analyse the articles published in the Scopus database on educational technologies and instructional technologies, thematically and methodologically. The study was designed by adopting a case study from qualitative research models. The sample has not been determined for postgraduate dissertations to be included in the study, and it was aimed to reach the whole universe. In this context, all articles have been accessed through the library system of the university in the Scopus database included. The keywords ‘educational technologies’ and ‘instructional technologies’ were used in the article search. The document types have been examined by year, by country, by authors, by field research and by place of publication

Analysis of Articles on Education and Instructional Technologies (Scopus)

It is an indisputable fact that technology is a part of our lives. It is known that research and education technologies are concentrated. By examining the articles and dissertations published in the field, the scope, strengths and weaknesses of the studies were determined. An important gap has been filled in to guide researches what kind of studies may be needed in the future. Many studies for this purpose were found in the literature. However, since similar studies dealing with educational technologies are outdated, this study is considered important in terms of gathering current research trends and results. The aim of this study is to analyse the articles published in the Scopus database on educational technologies and instructional technologies, thematically and methodologically. The study was designed by adopting a case study from qualitative research models. The sample has not been determined for postgraduate dissertations to be included in the study, and it was aimed to reach the whole universe. In this context, all articles have been accessed through the library system of the university in the Scopus database included. The keywords ‘educational technologies’ and ‘instructional technologies’ were used in the article search. The document types have been examined by year, by country, by authors, by field research and by place of publication. © 2020. All Rights Reserved

Developing the informational and digital environment of a university: Problem analysis and assessment

The research objective is to reveal and analyze the problems in developing the informational environment of a university. The authors applied theoretical and empirical methods, such as observation, polling, composing a Likert scale, calculation of Spearman ranking correlation coefficients, tabular and diagram techniques of data visualization, etc., which enabled to achieve the set goal. The score method based on Likert scale enabled to reveal the problem aspects of forming the informational and digital environment of a university. Also, these techniques enabled to quantitatively assess each problem, assess their significance and reveal the degree of each factor's relation to each problem of using the information and communication technologies at a university. University professors were polled about using innovative information technologies in order to both enhance the education efficiency and apply new pedagogical concepts and techniques. The poll revealed the problem aspects impeding the development of the informational environment. The research results are presented as a series of diagrams, reliably characterizing the issues which the university professors face when implementing the educational process. Besides, a number of indicators were calculated to determine the correlation coefficients, which enabled to quantitatively assess the degree of correlation between the two series of the compared quantitative indicators. The research revealed the factors impeding the development of the informational environment of a university. Awareness of these factors by the university administration and teaching staff would allow overcoming them, with a view of increasing the quality of educational services. The authors are making a substantiated conclusion that, despite certain difficulties, the informational technologies integrated into the educational process comply with the modern requirements of the society and enhance the competencies of both the students and professors participating in the educational process. © 2019 by the authors