Subjectivity Formation of a Technical University Master’s Student: A New Challenge for Engineering Education

An important condition for the digital transformation of education is the subjectivity of students and teachers. The formation of subjectivity as the ability to set one’s own goals and change either oneself or the educational environment to achieve them raises a number of questions: what is meant by the subjectivity of a student and a teacher, what does it mean to be a subject of the educational process, which factors contribute to and which hinder the formation of subjectivity. The authors focus on the conditions that promote and prevent the formation of subjectivity in master’s education of future engineers. Based on a review of foreign and domestic approaches to understanding subjectivity and the conditions for its development, it is concluded that all researchers distinguish similar aspects and manifestations in subjectivity: motivational (intrinsic motivation), emotional-valuable (proactive and responsible attitude to life), regulatory (the ability to set goals and follow them through to the end), cognitive (desire and ability to apply knowledge) and practical (skills, experience of independent activity). It has been established that foreign studies more often consider subjectivity as a resource, which improves the quality of education, while Russian studies consider it as a goal and a result of education. The article describes a taxonomy of subjectivity, which allows to measure it as an educational result. Based on the analysis of necessary and sufficient conditions for subjectivity formation, the hypothesis is made that the sufficient condition for subjectivity formation in mastering the “pedagogics” discipline is stepwise equitable partnership between all subjects of educational process. The condition is specified as a sequence of actions of a teacher and a master’s student in the process of mastering the discipline. The article describes the results of a pedagogical experiment in a group of master’s students of PNRPU Faculty of Civil Engineering, aimed at testing the proposed conditions. The results obtained show that step-bystep organized peer-to-peer interaction enabled most students in the experimental group to achieve the subjectivity level by the end of the discipline, while in the control group most students reached only the objectivity level. The motivational and practical aspects of subjectivity changed most significantly in the experimental group.

Humanistic Mentoring in Graduate Education

In a global health pandemic context, a group 16 of education Master's students met voluntarily with their tutors in a virtual research support seminar, during the Saturday mornings of the first and second semester of 2020. This study aimed to know to what extent did mentoring and human tutoring characteristics emerge in a virtual research seminar experience. Through a qualitative research approach that included the analysis of the conversations and dialogues of the recorded sessions, insights showed that some of these characteristics emerged naturally along with the sessions, but as time passed, emotional and personal aspects were appearing more often than some others, showing that students felt more comfortable talking about themselves and supporting their classmates, as well as expressing their academic doubts and project thoughts freely because of humanistic tutoring approach. Most of them achieved the goal of finishing their project chapters on time. The humanistic and professional characteristics of teachers emerged as the main factors to develop this humanistic tutoring approach.

The Effectiveness of Distance Learning (BlackBoard) in Pursuing the Educational Process at Taif University during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the .....

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia facing the Covid-19 pandemic, as it is trying with all its efforts to pursue higher education in its universities and schools through distance learning. The current research tried to investigate Taif University experience in distance learning and the effectiveness of BlackBoard in pursuing education in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic from the viewpoints of teachers and students. To achieve this goal, the descriptive survey approach was used. Two questionnaires were designed A random sample was chosen from all colleges of the University The sample consisted of (240) faculty members and 804 students. The results showed great effectiveness of BlackBoard in pursuing education from the viewpoints of faculty members, and to a very great degree from the students' point of view. No impact of the two variables (gender, rank) appeared in the viewpoints of faculty members in that effectiveness. male students’ viewpoints were higher than those of females, and the viewpoints of master's students were higher than those of undergraduate students on this effectiveness.

GRADUATED THESIS AS A CHALLENGE FOR MASTER'S STUDENTS: THE CASE OF R. GLIER KYIV MUNICIPAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC

This study examines the practice of writing graduated theses by students who have participated in music competitions. The research method was a focus group. The reasons for this practice are described. It is proved the student cannot comply with the prescribed procedure for writing graduated these. It is concluded that it is time to legitimize this practice. The basis for legitimizing one recognizes its existence, its acceptance by both students and leaders, the positive effect of its use. Measures to legitimize this practice are proposed.

THEORETICAL FUNDAMENTALS OF PREPARATION OF MASTER’S STUDENTS FOR TEACHING PROFESSIONAL METHODS OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

The article highlights the theoretical principles of training master’s students majoring in 012 “Preschool Education” on teaching professional methods; legislative and normative documents on the peculiarities of training specialists in higher education institutions are considered. The purpose of the article is to characterize the content component of the preparation of master’s students for teaching in the field of preschool education, in particular professional methods. It is emphasized that the quality of professional activity of all categories of specialists working in the system of preschool education depends on the system of training future teachers in the field of preschool education. The study provides a thorough analysis of the initial discipline “Technologies for teaching professional methods of preschool education”. The working program of the discipline is analysed and the list of topics of lectures is given. The article reveals the content, methods, technologies and forms of work with master’s students at lectures, seminars and practical classes. The concept of “professional competence”, “methodological competence” is defined. In the course of the research, some difficulties encountered by master’s students during the performance of practical tasks are presented; means of increase of methodical competence and levels of its formation at students are defined. It is noted that the effectiveness of training future teachers of preschool education depends on a number of factors, including the use of innovative forms of the educational process, the introduction of modern training technologies, educational programs, research, improvement of practical skills by modelling professional situations, self-education and self-development student. Teaching the discipline “Technologies of teaching professional methods of preschool education” is aimed at forming the readiness of graduate students to teach in higher education. Keywords: professional competence; methodical competence; master’s students; modern information technologies; teaching activity; professional methods; work program; preschool education.

Level of Knowledge of Agricultural Science Graduate Students about Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Practices of Agriculture

Climate change (CC) is a global environmental problem and source of concern. Effective planning and implementation of CC mitigation and adaptation may arise from knowledge of its causes and effects. Therefore, dissemination of knowledge is highly important for ensuring that the knowledge grows and spreads amongst the various stakeholders and that it is turned into action. The students of today are the leaders and policy makers of tomorrow. They will effectively serve as change agents once their knowledge base has been well established. This study provides analysis of graduate students' level of knowledge of CC, its nature, causes, effects, mitigation, and adaptation. The study population was 57 agricultural science master's students in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Jarash University, Jordan, and the sample consisted of 50 of those students. The study used online test as the knowledge assessment and data collection tool. Frequency distribution analysis uncovered that the sample students possess high level of general knowledge of CC, moderate level of knowledge of mitigation of CC, and high level of knowledge of adaptation to CC. As to the three investigated facets of general knowledge of CC, these students have high levels of knowledge of the nature and the effects of CC and moderate level of knowledge of its causes. These findings contribute to understanding of students' knowledge achievements and gaps and of the need for curricular reform in terms of structure and content that can be shared by agricultural science faculties around the World with similar CC graduate programs.

Research challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic: The experience of a functional genomics laboratory

<p>Measures to mitigate and prevent COVID-19 infections included closing universities around the world for an indefinite time and transferring their educational activities to online platforms. Universities were not prepared for such a transition and the online teaching-learning process evolved gradually. Fortunately, there have been many advances in educational technology in recent decades which proved useful during this pandemic. I am proud that the National School of Higher Studies (Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, ENES), Unidad León, of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), was one of the institutions that was able to make this digital transition. Basic research has faced its own challenges during the current pandemic. My laboratory does functional genomics research in plants with undergraduate and master’s students. The experiments of the students were at different stages when the pandemic began and could not stop going to the laboratory due to the need to care for experimental plants and cell cultures. Different strategies were developed to maintain research activities, such as: 1) Scheduling research shifts to promote social distancing, 2) Postponing non-essential experiments, 3) Rationing research supplies that were in short supply during the pandemic. Personally, I consider that the use of digital platforms has also generated unexpected opportunities such as new types of scientific collaboration. I had enough free time to edit student theses, write and publish research articles. Interestingly, the students in my work team have participated in virtual international scientific conferences, the only format that evolved during this pandemic. Digital platforms allowed tutors to be in constant contact with students to advise and support them emotionally. The students in my laboratory have been through difficult times. I asked them to tell their story in their own words (These can be read in the student’s section. Editor’s Note).</p>