Digital transformation of education and the analysis of possible risks: results of a survey of teachers of general education organizations

Abstract

Introduction. Digital transformation of the educational space resulted in a new problem area associated with the search for solutions to eliminate the existing gap between the pace of digitalization of society and education and the preparation of teachers to work in the digital environment in the context of digitalization of the educational process. The article is aimed at monitoring and analyzing the possible risks of digital transformation in the general education system. Materials and methods. During the study of the possible risks of digital transformation in the general education system, a survey among teachers of general education organizations of Krasnodar region was conducted (122 people). The professional standard "Teacher (Pedagogical Activity in the Field of Preschool, Primary General, Basic General, Secondary General Education) (Educator, Teacher)" dated October 18, 2013 No. 544n and the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education (FSES HE 44.03.01 Pedagogical Education) were analyzed and compared. The results of the study. The study aimed at determining the possible risks of digital transformation in the general education system showed that a significant number of respondents noted the following factors as risk zones: technical working conditions of teachers (21.3% of teachers are not provided with the necessary equipment), their ambiguous attitude to distance education (against 72.1% of teachers) and digital transformation of education (against 29.5% of teachers), incomplete understanding of trends in the development of modern education, insufficient level of mastering information and communication technologies (more than 55% of teachers possess ICT at an average or low level). The identified risks are not fully reflected in the professional standard of the teacher, which gives grounds for its significant revision and updating. Discussion and conclusion. Based on the results of the survey of teachers the following recommendations are offered: a) to provide the subjects of the educational process with the necessary computer and telecommunications equipment with high-speed Internet access; b) to create optimal working conditions for teaching staff contributing to the improvement of professional competencies under digitalization; c) to involve more teachers in the development of academic materials posted on Russian educational online resources; d) to implement educational and enlightenment activities among teachers to form ideas about the directions, opportunities and prospects of digital transformation of general education, to generate a new way of thinking of a modern teacher under digitalization.