Abstract:

Life-long education increases the mobility of teachers and students, and at the same time brings forth the problem of students’ independent cognitive activity. This issue is particularly relevant at present because there is an urgent need to train a multi-skilled specialist capable of professional mobility.

All this becomes possible thanks to global computerization and IT penetration into all spheres of life. Thus, various educational platforms enhance the efficiency of education and students get a good opportunity to study individually and independently, following step by step the instructions of electronic teaching materials. Distance learning based on new information and communication technologies can become a real alternative to traditional classroom leaning.

Contemporary higher education aims at developing students' skills of self-study, their ability of getting knowledge on their own. Students are expected to arrange their study independently and efficiently, to expand their theoretical horizons, to extract the necessary information from various sources and study it, and to be ready to apply all knowledge and skills gained in the course of work. Without these skills, it will be difficult for a future specialist to take his/her bearings in the torrent of information and increasing volume of data.

This work provides not only a theoretical basis for a modular-sized educational program within distance learning environment, but also its implementation at the university. The use of self-study technology allows to intensify the learning process and bring it closer to a student-centered education.

Keywords:

Education, distance learning, independent work, self-study, information and communication technologies, student-centered education.