Using video conferencing systems for organizing distance learning

From April 27 to December 11, 2020, at the faculty of advanced training and professional retraining of PetrSU, university teachers were trained online under an additional professional advanced training program “Using video conferencing systems for organizing distance learning.”
204 teachers of Petrozavodsk State University, representatives of all educational institutions of PetrSU, were trained online under the program “Using video-conferencing systems for organizing distance learning”.

An additional professional advanced training program “Using video-conferencing systems for organizing distance learning” was developed by Alla Nikolayevna Koryakina, head of the department of electronic educational resources of the Educational and Methodological Department of PetrSU.

The purpose of the program is to improve the qualifications of the teaching staff in the use of video-conferencing systems for distance learning, to study a new format for conducting training sessions using modern software. The training took place online. The development and implementation of the program was carried out in the mode of network interaction of specialists from the Regional Center for New Information Technologies of PetrSU, the Department of Electronic Educational Resources of the Educational and Methodological Administration of PetrSU and the Faculty of Advanced Studies and Professional Retraining of PetrSU.

In the course of training, students received innovative theoretical and practical knowledge about the methods of conducting online classes and an understanding of the features of their application in educational activities; got acquainted with software tools TrueConf, Zoom, BigBlueButton, Skype, Microsoft Teems, as well as with the specifics of organizing educational activities using video conferencing systems; developed practical skills in applying the studied methodology in the educational process.

Classes were conducted by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Ph.D., Konstantin Gennadievich Tarasov (“Electronic Learning and Distance Learning Technologies”), Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence of PetrSU Alexey Georgievich Marakhtanov (“Formation of the digital environment of PetrSU”). Tatyana Aleksandrovna Kirillova, the leading programmer of the department of scientific and educational resources of the RCNIT PetrSU, introduced the audience to the main platforms of distance learning, and also conducted practical exercises on using the BigBlueButton platform. Khrustaleva Natalya Vladimirovna, head of the department of scientific and educational resources of the RCNIT PetrSU, held classes with students on using the Zoom platform in organizing the educational process. Alexey Kuleshov, a programmer from RCNIT PetrSU, introduced the possibilities of working on the TrueConf platform. Elena Vladimirovna Korzun, a specialist in work with students of the faculty of advanced training and professional retraining of PetrSU, was the permanent moderator of the provision of training sessions.

All students mastered the techniques of working with teachers online, as well as successfully mastered the curriculum “Using video conferencing systems for organizing distance learning”, passed the final certification and received certificates of professional development.