AN APPROACH TO MANAGING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ SELF-STUDY BASED ON INTERDISCIPLINARY E-PROJECTS

Abstract

Introduction. There are two tendencies considerably allocated in educational process of the modern higher school: the increasing amount of time for independent work of students and the active introduction of the information and communication technologies (ICT) which is followed by its continuous updating and improvement. The article contributes to the problem of managing competency-based and professionally-oriented self-study for future teachers; the suggested method combines the advantages of project-based learning and the use of ICT.Aim. The objective of the paper is to assess the efficacy of interdisciplinary e-project-based approach to managing university students' self-study.Methods. To evaluate the efficacy of such innovative method as interdisciplinary e-projects, we use quantitative and qualitative assessment. A set of quantitative pre- and post-surveys are administered for students in order to evaluate their learning outcomes and competencies development. Students' motivation and attitudes were evaluated through questionnaires, interviews and discussions. An expert group appraisal method was used to define assessment components.Results. The groups of didactic properties and ICT didactic functions are allocated and analysed. Types of educational projects are presented. Definition and characteristic of the interdisciplinary e-project are given. Results of the pedagogical experiment conducted in M. T. Kalashnikov Izhevsk State University are described; the technology of development among students of foreign-language and information-communication competences as the most important professional ones is approved.Scientific novelty. The method of interdisciplinary e-projects is offered; it involves a set of the educational-informative techniques and procedures realized in the electronic environment and directed to the solution of the interdisciplinary problem connected with types and tasks of vocational activity. Interdisciplinary eproject-based approach to managing university students' self-study prevents the loss of vital professional competences that were formed at early stages of training; the problem-oriented nature of activity of pupils should be considered while performing e-projects. Gradual and systematic use of the method of interdisciplinary e-projects throughout the whole period of training in higher education institution provides positive dynamics of vocational training quality.Practical significance. E-project-based approach proposed in this paper can be used for full-and part-time educational courses, correspondence courses, and for vocational development courses.