MOOC: PLATFORMS OF PROFESSIONAL SELF-DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH

Abstract

The processes of digital transformation of all the spheres of life activities in the modern society and implementation of emergency distance learning in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic cause new challenges in future teachers’ professional training. One of them is to develop skills to learn life long and conduct effective professional self-development. The purpose of the paper is to theoretically analyse the content and the structure of mass open online courses that can be used in the professional training of future primary school teachers of English, which contribute to developing their digital and methodological competences. For achieving the purpose set, we use a number of theoretical research methods (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalisation, etc.). Based on the analysis of MOOC platforms, which are available at the national and international Internet market of educational services, it is found out that Coursera, Prometeus, EdEra are the most popular among educators. It is highlighted that all the courses, developed on MOOC platforms, have the similar structure that include such components: interactive video lectures, learning resources, online tests, forum for discussing different questions. It is noted that MOOC courses are getting commercialised and only some of them give an opportunity to participate in them as listeners without getting certificates. However, MOOC courses have a great potential for developing future teachers’ digital competence, communicative and collaborative skills by using information and communication technologies, improving some aspects of professional and methodological competence. It is proved that an optimal way of implementing MOOC courses in professional training of future primary school teachers’ professional training is to combine them with traditional distance learning within university LMS courses or with traditional methods and forms of offline learning.