Syrtsova E. L.

Vyatka State University of Humanities

Kirov, Russia

 

RESOURCES OF E-LEARNING IN DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT'S AUTONOMY

 

 

Now in a context of the theory of continuous education a problem of development of technologies of e-learning attracted increasing interest of the scientists and teachers. This form of organization of training will allow solving a set of problems, where another forms of education are powerless. To receive the first or second higher education, to increase the qualification, to exchange experience, to receive an advice of an expert, to participate actively in professional dialogue not leaving family and work are problems, which concern the large number of the citizens of any country, especially so large as Russia. On the data of the analytical research carried out by UNESCO, about 8 million people would wish to receive education or to increase the qualification in remote form in Russia. Many countries give steadfast attention to development of system of education and united system of continuous education, which integral part is e-learning.

What advantages does this form of training give? Why is it so attractive for a great number of people? Development of the system of e-learning gets the special value in higher school education. In Russia more than 200 universities already have the remote form of training. E-learning in higher school education is capable to supply:

         granting a real chance for students with the limited opportunities of health to receive knowledge, to communicate with the teacher, to receive personal tuition from a tutor or other teachers of the higher school;

         constructing of the individual plan of studying disciplines in order to students' individual  features and abilities, their needs and interests;

         an opportunity to receive expert opinion on an interesting question not only from the tutor fixed for the speciality (or a concrete educational group), but also from any teacher of the higher school;

         the rational distribution of time spent by the student on studying of educational disciplines in conformity with the educational plan of preparation on the chosen speciality; the student independently determines, how much time he will spend on studying of this or that educational discipline, for example, by principles of "immersing in an educational subject", "training in fast rate", etc;

         student's operative reception of the information about his educational level with the help of using of the special programs for remote electronic testing of a level of studying the contents of educational discipline (it is similar to application of Internet - testing in system of professional education);

         students' free and fast access to electronic databases of an educational institution containing the educational and methodical literature on various educational disciplines;

         an opportunity for talented students to study interesting educational discipline more profound;

         active participation in various electronic forums and conferences, which are carried out by higher schools on-line.

Now there is a change of requirements for a graduate of a higher educational institution. On change to one values others come, caused by changed social and economic, technological, information conditions of development of a modern society. For the present expert it is not enough to have fundamental knowledge. Much knowledge quickly becomes outdated; the flow of the information so promptly grows, that the knowledge, acquired at higher school, does not suffice. Therefore the work with information, the skill to extract knowledge independently, to increase the qualification becomes a parameter of professionalism. And the system of e-learning as much as possible focuses future experts on work in an independent mode, directly forms the necessary qualities.

Besides a valuable skill for a professional is to accept proved, argued decisions, to take responsibility on itself for results of his activity. In e-learning the share of independence is maximal. A student knows, that he is responsible for the results of his education, for the quality of knowledge and skills as well as a teacher, and frequently even in a greater degree. Certainly, he can expect his tutor's help, but nevertheless he will be obliged to himself for the successes, his own patience, concentration, responsibility, cognitive activity, rational distribution of forces and time for studying the contents of a subject.  

In e-learning the important role belongs to an opportunity of an establishment of constructive dialogue between a teacher and a student. It allows supplying an individual style of interaction, paying attention to everyone's features, realizing and  understanding the point of view of a partner. Mutual understanding, to which a man aspires and which is a necessary condition of his development, is achieved only in dialogue, and first of all in confidential dialogue between a teacher and a student.

E-learning promotes disclosing of potential of each student. It gives a student an opportunity of personal growth, development, disclosing of individuality. Autonomy of a person in education is a social and psychological quality allowing a man to work irrespective of internal and external installations, and to demonstrate ability to act independently.

The introduction of the remote form of training in practice of higher school education in our opinion will supply formation of students' autonomy, because its development is closely connected with necessity of display of cognitive activity, independence, initiative, responsibility, freedom of a choice, skills of self-checking, motivation to mastering in new ways of action.