The article presents the clarified concepts' system in the context of the stated research theme, the current state of skilled workers' and junior specialists' distance learning in the Ukrainian vocational education and training institutions. The received data shows: education institutions' regional affiliation and profiles; education institutions' teaching staff experience in using distance learning technologies in teaching; their assessment of prospects of distance learning implementation in the Ukrainian VET system; teaching staff willingness to improve their distance learning technology mastering. The empirical data were obtained, analysed and systemized by conducting the e-survey using Google Forms web-service with restricted access to the form. The results of the SWOT analysis are presented; distance vocational learning implementation strengths, problems, opportunities and threats are summarized. The levels of teachers' readiness to implement distance vocational learning are revealed by diagnosis results. The proposals concerning the constructive solution of distance learning implementation in the skilled workers' and junior specialists' vocational education and training system are formulated and presented.

Purpose. Enhancing methods for determining parameters of drilling and blasting operations considering the stressstrain state of rocks. Methodology. Dependency of the inclined exposure dip on the stressstrain state of rocks to be caved is determined by the analytical research technique and mathematical modeling applying the finite element method. findings. The work offers methods for determining the energy intensity factor for breaking ores onto the inclined exposure which considers the exposure dip while correcting drilling and blasting parameters. There are also offered calculated numerical limits for the above factor. originality. The scientific novelty consists in determining numerical values of the energy intensity factor for break ing the rock massif considering its stressstrain state when caving onto an inclined exposure (compensation area) taking into account its dip. The work suggests limiting the range of obtained numerical values of the factor when breaking the massif onto any type of exposures. Practical value. Drilling and blasting parameters can be corrected depending on changes of the ore massif stress strain state when caving it onto any type of exposures (horizontal, vertical or inclined). The dedicated computer program created enables immediate acquisition of basic drilling and blasting parameters for particular conditions and analysis of predicted values of fragmentation of the massif to be caved.

Today's requirements for the training of specialists encourage the modernization of education through the introduction of new educational technologies, in particular the introduction of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The article analyzes the aspects of the concept of STEM implementation in the educational sector of Ukraine. The analysis of scientific works on the development of STEM education allowed to establish the features of teaching physics, taking into account current trends in education. The components of STEM teaching of physics include means of blended learning in combination with cloud-based technologies. This concept is especially relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven models of blended learning, which are the most common in educational practice in Ukraine, are analyzed. The concepts of compositional combination of full-scale experiment with the use of digital laboratories, cloud services and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) technologies as tools for the implementation of blended learning in the STEM system are outlined. Guided by the recommendations of the state program to improve the quality of natural and mathematical education, the emphasis is on the use of modern experimental tools and digital laboratories. The use of digital laboratories makes it possible to organize a physical experiment at a fundamentally new level. An example of a complex study of mechanics using a digital laboratory, cloud services and BYOD technology is given. The results of the pedagogical experiment convincingly prove that the technologies of blended learning with the use of cloud services and BYOD tools are a powerful tool in the work of teachers.

The central thesis of this paper is that e-learning courses can have a significant impact on English language for specific purposes (ESP) proficiency of mining mechanical engineering students. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of ESP Moodle-based course “English for Mining Mechanical Engineers” and to reveal the results of its experimental approbation. In order to identify the lectures’ and learners’ needs we have applied the survey research. The survey confirmed the greatest demand for Moodle courses that include all the elements of a coherent training manual to provide self-development of engineering students. The interview results contributed to design of author’s ESP course syllabus. The importance and originality of this study are that to approbate the course materials’ effectiveness two approaches have been adopted simultaneously. The first is blended learning method based on e-learning platform applied in the experimental group and the second one is classic in-class instructor-led studying used in a control group. Students’ progress in ESP proficiency has been assessed using the cross assessment method. The experiment has validated the initial hypothesis that the special online courses focused on honing foreign language skills and integrated in the domain of specific professional knowledge have a beneficial effect on students’ communicative competencies in general. There were identified the advantages of self-tuition based on Moodle platform. The Moodle course lets the teachers save considerable in-class time to focus more on communicative assignments. The findings of this study have a number of practical implications in ESP online courses development.

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Biology is a fairly complicated initial subject because it involves knowledge of biodiversity. Google Lens is a unique, mobile software that allows you to recognition species and genus of the plant student looking for. The article devoted to the analysis of the efficiency of the functioning of the Google Lens related to botanical objects. In order to perform the analysis, botanical objects were classified by type of the plant (grass, tree, bush) and by part of the plant (stem, flower, fruit) which is represented on the analyzed photo. It was shown that Google Lens correctly identified plant species in 92.6% cases. This is a quite high result, which allows recommending this program using during the teaching. The greatest accuracy of Google Lens was observed under analyzing trees and plants stems. The worst accuracy was characterized to Google Lens results of fruits and stems of the bushes recognizing. However, the accuracy was still high and Google Lens can help to provide the researches even in those cases. Google Lens wasn’t able to analyze the local endemic Ukrainian flora. It has been shown that the recognition efficiency depends more on the resolution of the photo than on the physical characteristics of the camera through which they are made. In the article shown the possibility of using the Google Lens in the educational process is a simple way to include principles of STEM-education and “New Ukrainian school” in classes.

Biology is a fairly complicated initial subject because it involves knowledge of biodiversity. Google Lens is a unique, mobile software that allows you to recognition species and genus of the plant student looking for. The article devoted to the analysis of the efficiency of the functioning of the Google Lens related to botanical objects. In order to perform the analysis, botanical objects were classified by type of the plant (grass, tree, bush) and by part of the plant (stem, flower, fruit) which is represented on the analyzed photo. It was shown that Google Lens correctly identified plant species in 92.6% cases. This is a quite high result, which allows recommending this program using during the teaching. The greatest accuracy of Google Lens was observed under analyzing trees and plants stems. The worst accuracy was characterized to Google Lens results of fruits and stems of the bushes recognizing. However, the accuracy was still high and Google Lens can help to provide the researches even in those cases. Google Lens wasn’t able to analyze the local endemic Ukrainian flora. It has been shown that the recognition efficiency depends more on the resolution of the photo than on the physical characteristics of the camera through which they are made. In the article shown the possibility of using the Google Lens in the educational process is a simple way to include principles of STEM-education and “New Ukrainian school” in classes.

The article deals with the formation of informational and digital competence of high school students. First and foremost, the existing digitalization strategies for society already approved in the world and in Ukraine, including the implementation of STEM education and the Digital Agenda, are considered. On the other hand, attention is paid to the inconsistency of the level of ownership and frequency of use of digital technologies with the requirements of these initiatives. The concept of informational and digital competence is analyzed in detail. Existing publications identify key components, skills and competencies required to achieve this competence. A survey is conducted to better understand the current situation. One of the tasks is to determine the level of use of digital information in the classroom by teachers and in students’ preparation at home. The second task was to show how developing students’ informational and digital competence can be done by active introduction of existing software and hardware in the educational process in physics, in particular, a laboratory workshop. The example of laboratory work carried out in educational institutions shows how modern software can be used to analyze the movement of bodies and determine the physical characteristics of this movement. The concrete ways of performing laboratory work, analyzing its results and drawing conclusions are given. It is in the combination of existing teaching practices with modern gadgets, specialized and general programs that the basic way of forming informational and digital competence is seen. Further ways of modernization and improvement of described methods for increasing the level of information and digital competence are proposed.