Features of distance learning by the disciplines in the Earth Sciences direction at a technical university

Abstract

: Distance education has become widely used both in Russia and abroad in recent decades. A particularly powerful impetus to distance education technology development and spread was given by the coronavirus pandemic in 2019. To improve learning efficiency in the system of distance education, it was required to refine various and accessible forms of education. It was also necessary to make a wider use of new educational technologies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of the latest educational technologies in the distance learning of students in the disciplines of the Earth Sciences direction at a technical university, as well as to form a modern educational space in online learning and stimulate students' independent work based on the assignments supervised by teachers. The study described in this paper deals with the following application features of distance learning at Irkutsk National Research Technical University: the presentation specifics of the theory and the introduction forms of material for laboratory works, choice of the most effective teaching aids, methodology for the current and final control of students' knowledge. Irkutsk National Research Technical University has chosen Moodle from a wide variety of distance learning systems. The advantage of this system is the ability to perform laboratory, practical and course works, which is important for a technical university, also to conduct tests, the results of which can be monitored by both teachers and students in an electronic gradebook. The distance learning system turned out to be more multisided, but more laborious than in-person training. Moreover, it is also complicated by a number of technical problems. The distance learning process requires the establishment of a certain parity of interests, abilities and opportunities between the teaching (professor/lecturer) and the learning (student) parties. The distance learning system has a number of features that should be taken into account when introducing theoretical and lecture material, which requires a more rigorous selection of files or their conversion into less heavy ones, as well as conciseness and clarity of material presentation. The use of virtual laboratories for carrying out laboratory works, availability of distance technologies for training disabled students and corresponding students is gaining great importance. The research results imply that today distance learning is a necessary part of the educational system along with in-person (full-time) or correspondent (part-time) training and one of the main goals of modern distance learning is the ability to work with information and selfimprovement.