New Teaching Methods in Petrozavodsk State University: Problems and Perspectives Anton Lapshin & Gleb Yarovoy Faculty of Political and Social Sciences

New teaching methods: contents New Initiatives at PetrSU to improve the education process New Initiatives at PetrSU to improve the education process Use of New Technologies Use of New Technologies Use of Innovative Methods Use of Innovative Methods  Distance Learning at PetrSU  Initiative on Distance Learning (Stanford)  Other … Problems and perspectives Problems and perspectives

The New Era in the Higher Education ? New Priority for the University: Program “The development of system of quality management in education” “The development of system of quality management in education”

The New Rector’s speech The main factors affecting the University are: Russia’s joining the WTO Russia’s joining the WTO Russia’s participation in the Bologna process Russia’s participation in the Bologna process Demographic hole (fall in quantity of university entrants) Demographic hole (fall in quantity of university entrants) Modernisation of professional education in Russia Modernisation of professional education in Russia Increase of the competition between universities (for entrants, finances, projects, influence) Increase of the competition between universities (for entrants, finances, projects, influence) Decrease in the level of entrants’ knowledge Decrease in the level of entrants’ knowledge Necessity to certificate the system of quality management Necessity to certificate the system of quality management

The Main Aim Is “to improve the key factors affecting the quality of education” “to improve the key factors affecting the quality of education” in order to survive at the market in order to survive at the market One of the main instruments is “use of modern technologies in the education process” The New Rector’s speech

Use of modern technologies in the education process Our advantages are: use of new technologies (i.e. computers and other digital equipment) use of new technologies (i.e. computers and other digital equipment) development of the digital learning courses development of the digital learning courses use of modern methods of education ( – what exactly ?!) use of modern methods of education ( – what exactly ?!)

Our disadvantage is: insufficient attentiveness to the increasing of requirements to the quality of students’ training, including * professional qualities and skills insufficient attentiveness to the increasing of requirements to the quality of students’ training, including * professional qualities and skills * speech and sociality * foreign languages * skills of team work * project activities * initiative * mental outlook * general culture etc. The main aim of modern technologies is to overcome disadvantages! Use of modern technologies in the education process

But… What is really meant by “modern technologies”? A) Use of “new technologies” per se A) Use of “new technologies” per seand B) Use of “innovative methods” B) Use of “innovative methods” Use of modern technologies in the education process

New technologies to teach students New technologies to teach students … or … New technologies to save teachers ? New technologies to save teachers ? Use of New Technologies in the Education Process

The average teacher’s workload is 900 lecturing hours per year ! The average teacher’s workload is 900 lecturing hours per year ! University administration to decrease workload to 800 hours/year in 5 years University administration to decrease workload to 800 hours/year in 5 years Teachers’ task is to reduce their workload by using modern equipment: overheads, digital projectors etc. Teachers’ task is to reduce their workload by using modern equipment: overheads, digital projectors etc. University funds to invest in new equipment University funds to invest in new equipment

Modern methods in the teaching process Distance learning – Distance learning – one of the main priorities one of the main priorities in the process of modernization in the process of modernization of teaching process at PetrSU. of teaching process at PetrSU.

Distance Learning at PetrSU Background for distance learning at PetrSU: Development of corporative net Creation of internet resources for scientific and educational activity Development of Web-space of PetrSU Development of e-library Professional skills of PetrSU academic and technical staff

Distance Learning at PetrSU Main beneficiaries of distance learning: Main beneficiaries of distance learning: Branches of PetrSU (Belomorsk, Kostomuksha, Sortavala, Kola) Branches of PetrSU (Belomorsk, Kostomuksha, Sortavala, Kola) Students of PetrSU (digital courses in addition to classes) Students of PetrSU (digital courses in addition to classes) Other universities (in prospect) Other universities (in prospect)

Distance Learning at PetrSU Developments: Budget for distance learning development in 2006 – roubles (about euro) The number of projects in 2005 – – 81 projects Main result of – increasing of quality of distance courses Leaders in distance learning development : Faculty of Economic Faculty of Physics and Technologies Forest Engineering Faculty Mathematics Faculty Faculty of Political and Social Sciences: 2 distance courses in 2005: History of Political Thought Political Risks

Distance Learning at PetrSU Structure of distance courses: Program, thematically plan, instructions Program, thematically plan, instructions Texts of lectures Texts of lectures Presentations, video lectures, Presentations, video lectures, Animated materials Animated materials Reader Reader Glossary Glossary Tests Tests Questions for exam Questions for exam Techniques for interactive communication with teachers Techniques for interactive communication with teachers Distance learning system of PetrSU got the first place on All-Russian forum “Educational Environment 2004” (Moscow)

Slogan: “To foster critical thinking skills and global awareness in university students from transitional societies in order to create an intellectually empowered generation of future government, business and community leaders”. Five courses: Ten Russian Universities: Amur State University Petrozavodsk State University North Ossetian State UniversitySaratov State University Southern Ural State UniversityTyumen State University Ural State UniversityYakutsk State University Yaroslavl State UniversityMoscow Institute for Higher Economics

Innovative methods in education PROBLEMS Insufficient use of new teaching methods, modern technologies and equipment etc. Insufficient use of new teaching methods, modern technologies and equipment etc. Mission possible: to respond the new challenges, i.e. to promote dynamic modernization, increasing the efficiency of the teaching process and quality of education services. Mission possible: to respond the new challenges, i.e. to promote dynamic modernization, increasing the efficiency of the teaching process and quality of education services.

Innovative methods in education PERSPECTIVES The Bologna process as a main engine. The Bologna process as a main engine. Activities in the context of Bologna: Activities in the context of Bologna: Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University TEMPUS projects, e.g. UNEGO TEMPUS projects, e.g. UNEGO

Innovative methods in education Kow-tow to the organizers ! Good luck to ourselves ! … Thank you for your attention !