HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION: DISTANCE LEARNING AND MODERN COMMUNICATIVE OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

New technologies significantly influence the increase in the range of methods and techniques in distance learning. The quality, efficiency and potential of modern communication channels are relevant issues in the current educational paradigm. The authors aimed to evaluate the educational potential of high-tech means of communication and applications, to reveal their impact on modern communication opportunities during distance learning in the free economic zone. The main methods used during the study were analysis, questionnaire, systematisation and generalisation. The preliminary tests and experiment post-tests were introduced to determine the technological and communicative readiness of the respondents (42 student-volunteers). All student-volunteers passed a test to assess the quantity and quality of high-tech means of communication in the educational process and a survey on assessing the quality and effectiveness of distance education compared to full-time education. Questionnaires with the same questions were taken by the students after their training, which involved high-tech educational tools. The need to attract high-tech means of communication in the process of distance learning was shown and students’ attitude towards it was improved. It was found that the level of communication skills development during distance learning directly depends on the use of high-tech technical means. The study proved that high-tech communication tools that were used in the experimental group should be used in the learning process in terms of distance learning. The effectiveness of the use of communicative opportunities in distance learning in order to identify the frequency of their use was described.