Высшее образование в России (May 2018)
EXTRAMURAL EDUCATION: A HISTORICAL PATH TO MOOC
Abstract
The paper considers the historical aspects of extramural educational activities in Russia and abroad, discusses the evolution of the goals of the Russian system of extramural education: the historical significance of the shift from making up for shortfall in engineering staff through the national sectoral higher education institutions in the 1920s, to the problems of lifetime learning, constant advanced training by means of implementing educational environment of modern universities. The authors have carried out a detailed analysis of the technologies and means of distance learning at every historical stage in Russia, in particular, the methods of teaching physics at the initial stage of extramural education development in Russia have been given. The printed textbooks, special learning materials, and the postal delivery prevailed at that period. The second stage began in the middle of 60s when the first distant learning courses appeared. The third stage has been driven by the development of computer and IT technologies. Two-sided communication has been made possible in various formats (text, sound, video) and in two modes – synchronous and asynchronous. The paper dwells on the special features of the current stage of distance learning, gives the background of a new technology of mass open online courses (MOOC), which is currently considered to be the most effective for distance learning. The authors propose to link the present and the near future of distance education in Russia with the phenomenon of MOOC since this format covers a large array of those wishing to get higher education and to improve their educational activities, and provides high-grade education in a cost-effective manner both for University and for a student. In conclusion the authors analyze the experience and prospects of using MOOC in Russian and foreign universities, discuss the features of the MOOC available at the Russian National platform of open education (NPOE) and their role in the educational process of the Russian universities (including distance learning).