Modern realities require constant development from a person. If some twenty years ago, higher education was considered exceptional and was not accessible to everyone, now it is not uncommon for two, three, or even more diplomas. The implementation of ambitious plans allows the presence of such modern technology as a distance learning system.
What is she like?
The name of the system itself prompts an answer to the question posed. The word "remote" means the ability to learn remotely, that is, it is not assumed that a person will be required to attend a specific place at a time allotted for this purpose. This type of training can be implemented using modern communications in the form of a global network, audio and video equipment, and satellite communications.
DLS is a distance learning system that can be described as complex, covering a wide range of software and technical communications, guidelines and organizational measures to provide students with educational information. It also includes the necessary verification of the knowledge gained. For these purposes, computer networks are used.
It should be noted that such systems do not set as their task the crowding out of the traditional full-time form, but only strive to integrate into it as efficiently as possible. The formation of this type of blended learning allows you to positively influence the quality of education.
Advantages
The distance learning system has a number of undeniable advantages over other stationary educational forms. These include the following:
- the opportunity to study in comfortable conditions - at home or in the office;
- an individual approach to each student;
- development of such important qualities as organization and independence;
- Significant saving of time and effort;
- the availability of communication with the teacher - the ability to ask questions of individual interest;
- personal terms that take into account the student’s abilities.
System Management Steps and Process
The distance learning system includes several stages:
- the first is the learning process itself with the help of programs;
- the second is the connection of some elements of classroom education, in the process of which various forms of control of acquired knowledge are applied;
- the third is independent work, including the search and selection of the necessary information for homework.
Interaction with students, as already noted, is carried out using global networks. The development of informational training programs and materials necessary for the implementation of this process is quite an expensive pleasure or requires a lot of time and special skills. Therefore, to create a site, it is necessary to use the same that the considered remote control training system requires. This will allow to regulate and control educational content and will provide an opportunity for its rapid development. The specified goal is served by systems that allow managing content - Content management systems (CMS). With their help, you can create, distribute and manage information. They make it possible to form and regulate the structure of the site, the design of its individual pages and navigation.
The meaning of the concept of distance education
The electronic distance learning system is a comprehensive set of various software products and solutions, some of which are located on the server, and some on the students' personal computers. The interaction between them, based on the transmission of data, occurs through the global network. All information related to the educational process (timetable, programs, statements, curricula) is stored on the server of the educational institution.
Here, the goal of the delivery of educational materials is realized through electronic means. Face-to-face meetings between the teacher and students now serve to enhance education and include answers to complex questions, discussion of problems, discussions, etc. Such an electronic distance learning system makes it possible to more actively involve students in the process of mastering knowledge.
Distribution of a remote form of education
In the modern world, there are a considerable number of platforms that allow you to organize e-learning. The country of their origin, as a rule, is the USA, but some time ago they appeared in Russia. All existing programs can be conditionally divided into two categories: commercial - with closed source, free - with open. One of them is the Moodle distance learning system.
Features of LMS Moodle
The popularity of this educational complex can be explained by its versatility and wide resources, using which you can create your own courses, equipping them with lecture texts, textbooks, presentations and other supporting material. Any type of web browser is suitable for using the Moodle SDO, which makes it accessible for both the teacher and the student. In other words, the system acts not only as a way to organize interactive interaction, but also as an environment for the formation of various categories of educational material.
The first version of Moodle was authored by Australian professor Martin Douzhiamas, who introduced it to the public in 2002. It was intended for university education, but later became successfully used to organize the educational process in schools and corporations.
Moodle distance learning system involves the formation of an object-oriented dynamic learning environment. This means that its application is not limited to any one program, but forms a special educational sphere, suitable not only for the interaction of the teacher and students, but also for the support of full-time education. It can also be used to organize and conduct regular distance learning courses.
The advantages of LMS Moodle are many. Among them are the following:
1. The possibility of free use, which does not provide for licenses, provides free updating and receipt of programs.
2. The program code is open, which allows you to make your own adjustments, taking into account the characteristics of national education or other needs.
3. Continuous development and improvement of software.
4. Ease of installation, updating and operation. Easy to install on a regular computer, can work in all operating systems.
5. Functionality - allows you to manage the entire educational process.
LMS implementation in the practice of Russian organizations
The most famous of those used today is the distance learning system of Russian Railways, developed specifically for the staff of Russian railways. It was created in order to unify the requirements of the educational program, in accordance with which the training of Russian Railways employees on labor protection and verification of their knowledge is carried out.
Its goal is to create a training system with minimal financial costs, which will increase the level of knowledge of Russian Railways personnel in the field of labor protection. All of this is reflected in principles that include:
- creating a continuous process of staff training;
- planning for further development based on research and assessment of competencies;
- the ability to make changes in teaching materials and programs based on the analysis of statistics monitoring the learning process;
- simplicity and accessibility of the educational complex;
- the flexibility of training materials and the reality of their adaptation, taking into account the specifics of the labor protection service of Russian Railways;
- wide opportunities for the assessment and improvement of teaching materials of courses.
CASCOR program
An interesting example of the control of acquired knowledge through LMS is demonstrated by the CASCOR distance learning system. This is a continuation of the above, designed to control the knowledge of students - the staff of Russian railways. CASCOR is an abbreviation that stands for: corporate automated system for monitoring the knowledge of employees related to traffic safety on the basis of LMS.
CASCOR is used in the framework of certification of employees, quizzes and internal audit of knowledge. The program contains criteria on the basis of which it is possible to determine the degree of readiness of an employee to fulfill his duties, namely:
- knowledge of documentation;
- a set of professional skills;
- level of psychological preparedness.
Russian version of SDO
The best option, common in the Russian-speaking environment, is the Prometheus distance learning system. This complex allows you to organize a full-fledged educational process, including an independent verification of knowledge. It is designed for large flows of students. Prometheus SDO can be used both as an independent system and as an auxiliary tool for traditional stationary forms.
The distance learning system includes a number of automated functions:
- redistribution of opportunities and access rights to system management and educational resources;
- educational process management;
- maintaining and monitoring the activity logs of users participating in the educational process;
- training and assessment of knowledge in a global network.
SDO "Prometheus" includes a number of components that automate all work. Among them are such as the subsystem of registration, payments, orders, group management, libraries, testing, etc.
Summing up, we note that modern technologies open up a wide range of opportunities for everyone who seeks self-development and self-improvement. The small thing is to find your system among them.