Development of Online Master's Degree Course in Education Digitalization Conditions: On BSU Experience
Abstract
This article presents a study of the development of the online master’s degree course at Belgorod National Research University (BSU) in a context of education digitalization in Russia. It demonstrates the successful introduction of the frameworks of intensity, scalability, and a modular approach to learning, asynchrony, interactivity, automation, openness, and adaptability. We consider the online master’s course as an open information and learning environment that is designed for effective management and monitoring of the educational process. The online master’s degree course at BSU aims to create a flexible and adaptive educational system that meets the needs of the digital economy and ensures the fullest use of the didactic potential of digital technologies. It is proved that to ensure high-quality assimilation of the master’s degree program, the managers of the educational process need to provide pedagogical support to learners. The basis for effective development of online master’s degree course is in availability of online courses (MOOC) placed on online platforms; formation of students’ ICT competence; application of interactive teaching methods; motivational readiness for self-education; readiness of teachers to interact online; available on-line maintenance in the educational process and the possibility of computer networks/Wi-Fi. According to the study, the conditions for the effective development of online master’s degree course in higher education allow: ensuring the personalization of the educational process; involving each student in learning activities; motivating learners at all stages of the learning process; providing the continuous personalized monitoring of students’ learning achievements, giving the prompt feedback to students; ensuring the availability of educational programs for learners who live in remote areas, as well as those with disabilities.
Keywords: continuing education digitalization, online learning, e-learning, online master’s degree course, cyberculture, MOOC
References
[1] Belenko, V., Klepikova, A., Nemtsev, S., Belenko, T. and Mezentseva, O. (2019). MOOC introduction into educational process: Experience of on-line courses integration in University educational programs. CEUR Workshop Proceedings. In: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference Innovative Approaches to the Application of Digital Technologies in Education and Research (SLET-2019). Stavropol-Dombay, Russia, vol. 2494.
[2] Bilenko, P., Blinov, V., Dulinov, M., Esenina, E., Kondakov, A. and Sergeev, I. (2019). Didactic concept of digital professional education and training. Moscow: Pero Publishing House, p. 97.
[3] Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the results of testing models for the use of online courses and developing scientifically-based recommendations for the use of online courses in the introduction of educational programs of higher education. (2017). [Electronic resource]. Retrieved March 2, 2019 from http://itoo.urfu.ru/uploadfiles/ckfinder/files/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC% D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8.pdf
[4] Gershon, E. (2018). Digital Frontier: CU Boulder pioneers a MOOC-based graduate degree in Electrical Engineering. The Coloradan. June, 1. Retrieved February 14, 2020 from https://www.colorado.edu/ coloradan/2018/06/01/digital-frontier.
[5] Klepikova, A., Musaelian, E., Kormakova, V. and Prokopenko, Y. (2018). Quality management principles of scientific and methodological support for students’ activity within e-learning environment. In: Proceedings of the International Multidisciplinary Symposium ICT Research in Russian Federation and Europe “Integrating Research Agendas and Devising Joint Challenges”, Roma, Italy, Stavropol, Russia, pp. 63-75.
[6] Kondakov, A. (2020). Digital education: opportunities matrix. Retrieved February 3, 2020 from http:///F: /_/{%}D0{%}A3{%}D1{%}80{%}D0{%}A4{%}D0{%}A3/2{%}20(1).pdf
[7] Kormakova, V., Klepikova, A., Musaelian, E., Baybikowa, G. and Lapina, M. (2019). Formation of ICT — Competencies of postgraduate students of teacher education based on interactive techniques. CEUR Workshop Proceedings. In: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference Innovative Approaches to the Application of Digital Technologies in Education and Research. Stavropol-Dombay, Russia, vol. 2494.
[8] Learn more about online degrees on Coursera. (2020). [Electronic resource]. Retrieved February 14, 2020 from https://www.coursera.org/degrees.
[9] Illinois online. (2020). Master of Computer Science in Data Science. [Electronic resource]. Retrieved February 14, 2020 from https://online.illinois.edu/mcs-ds
[10] McAndrew, K. (2018). Taming innovation: how the online master’s degree course returned the initiative in transformation to the University. Educational Studies, vol. 4, p. 60-80.
[11] Methodological recommendations on the introduction of online courses in the curriculum. Retrieved March 2, 2019 from https://s31333.cdn.ngenix.net/fd95ff/2443ca32/docs/methodicalrecommendations-2.pdf.
[12] MIPT. (2020). Modern combinatory theory. Russia’s first online master’s degree course [Electronic resource]. Retrieved February 15, 2020 from http://omscmipt.ru/
[13] OMS CS. (2020). Online Master of Science Computer Science. Retrieved February 14, 2020 from https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/
[14] Research-based recommendations on the use of online courses in the introduction of higher education educational programs developed by the Ural Federal University based on the results of the project ”Research of new forms of organization of the educational process through open online courses”. Retrieved March 2, 2019 from http://fgosvo.ru/uploadfiles/metod/67_6014_URFU.pdf.
[15] Semenova, T. and Vilkova, K. (2017). Types of integration of mass open online courses in the educational process of universities. University management: practice and analysis, vol. 21, issue 6, p. 114-126. DOI 10.15826/umpa.2017.06.080.
[16] Stephen, L. (2018). Higher education: the experience of an online learning advocate. Educational Studies, vol. 4, p. 167-187. DOI: 10.17323/1814-9545-2018-4-167-187.
[17] Zubkov, A. (2018). Integration of mass open online courses into the educational process of higher education institution: foreign experience. Science about person: humanitarian researches, vol. 2, issue 32, pp. 94-98.
[18] Zakirova, T. (2017). Project activity of students as a method of developing competences of University students. Modern problems of science and education, vol. 5, p. 326.