Abstract:

Relevance:
The curriculum for training undergraduate students mastering Ecology and Economics at universities of Russia includes a large amount of professional disciplines requiring data processing, forecasting and modeling. In most cases, the calculations are made by students either manually or using Computer Software (CS) in Statistics and Econometrics. Calculations are not often associated with solving specific issues of an organization or mastering specific CS. It is important to show students the ways of solving professional problems using special CS within the time allocated for self-work and interactive training.

Methodology:
Retrospective analysis of the research was carried out to identify the advantages of problem-based learning and using of CS, that are required for future professional activities. Groups of problems are systematized and must be solved by environmentalists and economists. Environmentalists are expected to calculate air, water pollution and analyze waste at a particular enterprise. The tasks for economists/managers are to increase sales, improve relations with consumers, optimize marketing of a particular company. An interuniversity research was conducted using interviews "Development of professional skills". The questions were based on the basis of professional tasks, according to Educational Standards for corresponding training area.

Results:
A methodology for implementation of problem-based learning and using of specific CS in training ecologists (software products "Ecologist", developer Integral, Russia) and economists/managers (software products Bitrix.24.CRM, developer 1C-Bitrix, Russia) has been developed. The results of students’ survey in the groups, where the new method of training was used, showed their readiness to solve professional problems using CS. For example, ecologists gave positive answers to the questions: "Do you know how to process data to assess the impact of an enterprise on the environment?" - 88%; “Are you ready to do your own environmental impact assessment using CS” - 76%. Economists/managers answers positively to the following questions: “Do you know how to collect, process and analyze marketing information” - 92%; "Are you ready to self-optimize relations with customers using CS - 79%." The number of positive answers to the same questions in groups, where the new training methodology was not implemented, was 15-20% lower. It is recommended to use problem-based learning including specific CS in training undergraduate students.

Keywords:

Problem-based learning, Computer Software, training methodology, undergraduate students, interview, survey, economist, ecologist.