Theoretical and methodological basis of the distant learning in the system of teachers’ postgraduate education

Abstract

The theoretical and methodological aspects of a distant learning in the system of teachers’ postgraduate education that correspond to requirements of the modern pedagogical education reform are analyzed in the research. Based on scientific sources, materials of state standards, international and native experience the base definitions of the distant learning were separated, the modern understanding of the category “distant learning in the postgraduate pedagogical education system” was formulated.

The analysis of definitions of the notion of “distant learning” by different scientists demonstrates that there are no general approaches to this notion in the world, indicates its polysemantic character and multifunctionality. Thus, the distant learning is considered as:

– new organization of the learning process, based on the principle of independent learning;

– new method of the learning process realization, based on the use of modern informational-communicative technologies that allow to study directly distantly without a personal contact between a teacher and pupils;

– new degree of the distant learning under conditions of informational technologies use, based on personal computers, video, audio, fiber-optic and satellite technology;

– is organized by concrete themes and learning process of academic disciplines that provides an active information exchange between students and teachers and among students;

– forms the training system, which provides an interaction between a teacher and students, students realize distantly together and deduce all typical components of the learning process, realized using concrete e-technologies or other means that provide interactivity;

– systematic purposeful learning, realized at a certain distance from a teacher’s location. The learning process and learning are separated not only in the cosmos but also in time.

But all aforesaid definitions have only descriptive character, reflecting only one or several sides of the notion of distant learning. But this notion is not described as to the postgraduate pedagogical education system. So, the definition of distant learning in the postgraduate education system is an organization of the educational process, based on the principle of independent learning, when a teacher and learning person interact at a distance and realize all components, inherent to the learning process (aims, content, methods, organizational forms, means of learning), by specific means of e-technologies or other ones that provide interactivity