Impact of COVID-19 lockdown policy on the anxiety of the engineers-in-training in ABU Zaria Engineering Faculty in Nigeria

Anxiety is a public phenomenon that constitutes a public source of inadequate performance globally and plays a significant role in their lives. Engineering students and academics have been through immense changes in education because of the effect of the COVID-19 crisis. It is well-known that epidemics' occurrence creates or accentuates new stressors, including panic and fears for loved ones or oneself, constraints on social activities and physical movement due to quarantine, and unforeseen and radical change of lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown policy on engineering students’ anxiety in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. The study confirmed that the students had an increase in the anxiety level, in which the female student had a higher level of anxiety than the male students. The highest contributing factors to the anxiety include "worries about academic delays/extension of the academic calendar," "worries about a delay in life plans as a result of the suspension of school," and "worries about running out of supplies." The main areas that anxiety impacted the lives of the students include "a decline in book reading /studies/academics," "finding it hard to focus," "being unable to hang out with friends," and "difficulties in falling asleep." Finally, the students managed the level of anxiety mainly by "the use of internet/social media/chatting," "prayer/self-motivation/meditation/reflection," and "watching movies/TV/music."

Recruitment using automated systems

To identify the needs of modern recruiting and determine the features of staff selection and evaluation using psychological testing, was conducted an analysis of existing developments and systems that are used in the modern recruitment process. The problems that HR managers have when testing a candidate and the company's staff are identified, and the disadvantages of modern recruiting systems are highlighted. According to the detailed structure of the personality and the structure of the psychological portrait, the main features of the candidate's personality were identified and selected methods that can be used for testing. A web-based system "KnitTe" for HR managers was developed, which allows clients to expand the functionality of their CRM systems (initial stage integration with Odoo CRM modules) and helps in making a decision about the suitability of a candidate for a specific position in terms of their psychological personality traits, as well as their psychological compatibility with other team members. The overall structure of the web system allows the client to get data from the CRM system, use built-in psychological tests, and get results. The "KnitTe" web-system uses reliable, valid and verified psychological methods, builds a psychological portrait of the candidate, checks the candidate's compliance with the chosen position, and analyzes the candidate's compatibility with the team.

The influence of modern trends in digital art on the content of training in computer graphics and digital design

The development of digital technologies leads to a variety of pictorial arts. With the advent of computer technology and communication technologies, areas such as computer graphics, computer and digital design, and phenomena such as digital art have emerged. The article analyzes these concepts, which provided an opportunity for further study. Based on the analysis of Internet resources on digital art, the following main trends are identified: virtual art, 3D printing, open source software, art of artificial intelligence, a combination of 2D animation and modern technologies, 3D painting, UX / UI design, game design, concept art and character design. Examples of reflection these tendencies in modern art are given. Given the selected trends, it is shown how they affect the content of training in computer graphics and digital design for students of the educational program "Digital Design" (list of compulsory and optional educational components, the content of educational practice). It is noted that to successfully work with computer graphics, students need to master traditional knowledge of pictorial arts (the concept of composition, color, perspective, proportions, shadows) and the ability to use them to create digital products using computer programs (2D graphic editors and 3D graphics) and digital technology (graphics tablet, personal and personal computer, projection equipment, camera, devices for VR and AR reality, scanner and printer, including 3D scanner and 3D printer).

Competence approach to the study of disciplines students of the specialty "Chemical technology & engineering"

The basis of training of chemists-technologists of chemical profile is the formation of their professional competence. It is necessary that future professionals gain knowledge of modern innovative chemical engineering technologies for modern production and be able to apply them in practical conditions when preparing bachelors in the specialty 161 "Chemical Technology and Engineering". The proposed approach is the development and formation of students' theoretical ideas and knowledge about processes, effective use of technological means, process development, training with design and technical documentation, using modern methods of computer design. It was argued that the specifics of classroom and independent work of students in basic and elective disciplines - is the result of a competency-based approach. Specialized-professional competencies include knowledge of technological processes, knowledge of technological documentation, skills to map technological processes; knowledge of technological process design and skills to conduct various types of project analysis; knowledge of research methods and skills of organizing research and analysis of their results; ability to use theoretical knowledge and practical skills to master the basics of entrepreneurship. The prospect of a competent approach to the study of disciplines in students of this specialty is the formation of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of calculation and choice. The purpose of this approach is to provide students with knowledge of technical means and systems of automatic control and regulation of basic technological parameters of chemical-technological processes through modern information technologies used to create and manage technological parameters.

Review of the monograph by K. P. Osadcha "Theoretical and methodological fundamentals of vocational training of future teachers for tutoring"

In the publication the theoretical and methodological research of K. P. Osadcha “Theoretical and methodological fundamentals of vocational training of future teachers for tutoring” has been analyzed, which reflects the theoretical and practical aspects for vocational training of future teachers to new realities of teaching, namely the implementation of tutoring in working with children at primary, secondary and high school. The authors have analyzed the structure of this monograph, highlighted main author achievements, which are the historical and pedagogical analysis of the development for tutoring in Ukraine, the determination of the essence the tutoring, the structure of the tutor competence and conceptual foundations of vocational training of future teachers for tutoring.

The importance of interactive and practically oriented games in the process of financial literacy teaching at educational institutions

This article considers the possibilities of game technologies using for financial literacy teaching in the institutions of general secondary education. The attention is emphasized on the methodology of financial literacy teaching, which is focused on an innovative way of training and optimal implementation of tasks of interactive and practically oriented educational process. It is analyzed a number of scientific pedagogical and educational activities on financial literacy, which were conducted at the Western Ukrainian National University together with teachers of general secondary, vocational and higher education institutions about the trends and prospects of using game technologies in the educational process. The attention emphasizes on the importance of game modeling introducing in the educational institutions, which contributes to the reorientation of acquired knowledge and skills of financial literacy from the external sphere to internal, followed by their effective release during practical application. In this article there is a brief description of the author's board interactive financial games "My first million", "My budget", "Small entrepreneurs", "Payment in the store", "Bank card", "ATM", "Telephone fraud" and their testing at the courses of financial literacy for anti-terrorist operation participants’ children. A questionnaire survey among schoolchildren was conducted after a successful completion of the courses, to assess the level of knowledge of financial literacy basics. It was observed that 63.79% of schoolchildren have the high and sufficient level of knowledge of financial literacy. The insufficient level of knowledge on the issues of skillful management of personal funds, acquisition of savings skills with the least losses and greatest benefits, protection against financial fraud was found in 24.13% of respondents, which requires the further consistent work of teachers with schoolchildren in the formation of financial competencies. This study proved the importance of using of teaching game component as a significant addition to the traditional methods of financial literacy teaching in educational institutions and courses for the formation of financial competencies in schoolchildren.

The US experience of management programs curriculum design: The recommendations for improving management curricula in Ukraine

Introduction. The paper analyzes the issue of curriculum design of management programs in Ukraine. Taking into account the employers’ dissatisfaction with the skills of management graduates in Ukraine, the author studies the features of curriculum design of undergraduate management programs in Ukraine comparing them with the US ones. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to compare the curriculum design of American and Ukrainian management programs to find out the differences and similarities in order to develop recommendations for making Ukrainian management curricula more relevant to the needs of Ukrainian business community. Methods. The study analyzes the curriculum design of three American and three Ukrainian management programs in higher education. The comparative analysis of American and Ukrainian management curricula included three lines: the analysis of required and elective courses, program contents, and the number of credits. Results. The comparative data received allow to define the five trends in curriculum design of Ukrainian management programs. Firstly, American management programs contain less credits in comparison with Ukrainian ones (3.85 vs. 5 credits per course; required courses: 122.3 vs. 240 credits; elective courses: 76 vs. 30 credits). Secondly, American management programs offer less subjects comparing with Ukrainian analogs – 24 vs 33 subjects per program. The comparative analysis reveals that this variety of disciplines is due to the double subjects in Ukrainian management curricula. Thirdly, the curricula of American management programs provide more subjects related to the development of soft skills, whereas their Ukrainian analogs still more focus on theoretical foundations of management. Fourthly, both types of curriculum assume studying economic theory and organizational behavior theory in-depth, but lack the courses related to the sustainable development issues. Finally, American management programs are more universal and globally focused, whereas Ukrainian management curricula contain a lot of locally-oriented types of courses. Conclusion. The paper allows to conclude that Ukrainian management programs are too overloaded with the same type subjects, credits, and theoretical knowledge. Based on the comparative analysis provided, it is recommended to decrease the number of credits and double subjects, but implement the disciplines related to the development of soft skills and global competencies of Ukrainian future managers.

Distance course: features of development and use

In 2013, the Regulation on Distance Learning came into force, probably then no one could have imagined that distance learning would be as popular around the world as it is now. In general, the purpose of developing distance education was to provide the opportunity to receive education in another city or country, but without the direct presence of a person, presence only in the most necessary circumstances, including state exams, thesis defense, and so on. Apropos, even before 2013, distance learning was used in the most famous institutions of higher education in the world. The present is impossible to imagine without distance learning. What has only recently become an isolated phenomenon has become widespread. But at the same time there is a problem of how to effectively organize the educational process using distance learning technologies. The solution to this problem is to use an educational platform, in particular, the Moodle platform. The creation of courses on the Moodle platform with a description of the main stages is characterized. The possibilities of the Moodle educational platform are described and the developed distance courses on the Moodle platform are presented, in particular "Computer networks and the Internet", "Computer graphics and design of polygraphic editions", "Computer design and multimedia", "Programming Internet-oriented applications", which consist of such sections as instructional, which also contains a chat and a forum, lectures, laboratory (practical) works, independent work, modular control work, exam, individual training. The advantages and disadvantages of using distance learning are presented.

Computer usage proficiency towards pedagogical knowledge and learning improvement

The introduction of computers and ICT related gadgets in education is presently yielding noticeable impacts and it’s been widely accepted to aid learning. Thus, creating an ever increasing desire and urge in school owners, teachers, parents and students to acquire them for learning. The aim of this research is to examine the effect of computer usage proficiency on both teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and students’ academic performance. A total of two hundred (200) respondents selected through a stratified random sampling technique comprising of forty (40) respondents (twenty-five (25) teachers and (15) students) each from five selected Junior Secondary Schools in Ogun state, Nigeria served as the research population. Collated data were analyzed using frequency counts and Chi-Square at 0.05 alpha level of significance. Also, three null hypotheses were formulated to determine the significant relationship among computer usage proficiency, teachers’ pedagogical competence and students’ academic performance. Research findings revealed that computer assisted approach is the most preferred teacher’s pedagogical approach indicating that old and long-service teachers show poor approach towards employing computers and ICT gadgets to aid teaching and learning. The study further established that teachers’ pedagogical competence is not independent of computer knowledge which will resultantly influence students’ academic performance positively.

The quality of professional education in the context of today's challenges (the example of future railway transport specialists education)

The article reveals the essence of the definition of "quality of education". The essence of notion is analyzed, based on the conceptual foundations of professional education reform. The components of modern professional education are decentralization of management and funding; social partnership in the field of professional education and training and the labor market; quality of professional education. The system model of railway transport specialists education is built and substantiated. The problem of education quality in global European dimension is analyzed. The quality of education today is seen as a process and as a result. On the one hand, the "quality of education" is a process that meets human needs for knowledge and demands of society. On the other hand, "quality of education" is the result of educational institutions activities which allows to assess the level of pupils, students (future specialists) education in accordance with the requirements of educational standards, curricula, etc. The necessary steps to be taken to ensure the quality of higher (professional higher) education are considered and analyzed. The main components of the quality of education are considered and studied. The structure of the definition of "quality of education" is built and substantiated from the standpoint of a systematic approach. The role of monitoring the quality of education is revealed and their functions in professional training and in the educational process are singled out: ascertaining, controlling, strategic. The essence of qualimetry as a science is revealed, which allows to quantify the quality of objects, things, processes, phenomena. The principles of qualimetric science (quality as a synthesis of properties of the studied object or phenomenon; satisfaction of specific needs of an individual or society; degree of satisfaction of needs; specific units of measurement; absolute indicators from experimental results; calculation of relative indicators; weighting factor of each property of the studied object or process, comprehensive quantitative quality assessment). Analysis of the qualimetric model for assessing the quality of education in college was built and carried out (on the example of the Kyiv College of Transport Infrastructure).