This article defines 27 criteria for evaluating the functionality of e-learning platforms, grouped into three macro groups: (a) learning management, (b) learning content management, and (c) communications and collaboration tools. The proposed criteria can be used to evaluate any e-learning platform’s functionality. They allow teachers and administrators to make conscious choices about the highest-quality e-learning platform for their schools and developers to improve e-learning platforms’ functionality. The developed criteria became the basis for rating the functionality of Ukrainian developers’ eight e-learning platforms' and determining the degree of support (in whole or partly) of e-learning components, categorized on the cognitive, social constructivist, motivation, and e-learning theories (CT, SCT, MT, and E-LT). The results indicate that the lack of communication and collaboration tools necessary to ensure quality distance learning is the main problem of Ukrainian e-leaning platforms. Comparative analysis of the functionality of e-learning platforms and components categorized on the learning theories helped determine that only three of the eight Ukrainian e-learning platforms (Accent [Mobischool], Class Assessment, My Class) fully follow the CT, SCT, and MT, but these platforms are all commercial products; therefore, they only partially support the E-LT. Solving this problem will be facilitated by developing e-learning platforms with open access, financed by the state budget in the context of the development of open and distance learning for Ukrainian students, as well as improving communication and collaboration tools in the context of conforming e-learning components to the social constructivist learning theory.
Background: The war influences every step of the publishing process from the organ-izational structure of the journal and its business model to the psychological and financial well-being of its staff. Objectives: The main aim of our research was to collect and analyse data on how the war has changed the operation and daily lives of those who work in editorial services and how significantly it has impacted their job and work. Methods: The surveyed population comprised the staff on the scientific journals listed in the Ukrainian electronic register of the state scientific institution, namely the Ukrainian Institute of Scientific and Technical Expertise and Information. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to collect data on the background and activities of the journal during wartime. Results: Among a total of 160 respondents (a response rate of 13.2%), 85 (53.1%) expe-rienced changes in editorial structure and work, particularly evident in fewer articles (mentioned by 71, or 44.4%, respondents), a switch to working remotely owing to relo-cation of staff (38, or 23.8%, respondents), changes in the frequency of publication (34, or 21.3%, respondents), changes in the topics covered in the articles (25, or 15.6%, respondents), and staff cuts (16, or 10%, respondents). Conclusions: Ukrainian editors continued their work despite severe psychological difficulties and financial dependency. The editors expect greater support from the international community and suggestions on practical strategies to deal with the challenges without significant losses. Continuing surveys to identify problems arising from the changing conditions were also recommended.
The article is based on the analysis of ten electronic textbooks for the first grade of the New Ukrainian Schools. It was put to the competition by the publishers and presented in the electronic library of the Institute for the Modernization of the Content of Education (four textbooks «I am exploring the world», three textbooks in art, two electronic and one electronic textbook, textbook «Ukrainian Language. ABC Book. Parts 1 and 2») two models of the editorial and publishing preparation of projects of multimedia interactive electronic textbooks are defined and described. The first is «outsourcing model» which means involvement a technology company or multimedia publishing house in the creating of electronic textbooks. The second is «standalone model» which means independent creation of multimedia electronic textbooks by specialists of traditional publishing who use the specialized third-party software. It’s concluded that the market for interactive multimedia electronic textbooks can develop in several directions: more publishers of printed textbooks enter the market (in case if technological platforms that are available for Ukrainian publishers on the criterion «price – quality» and software for interactive programming will be provided) or filling of the niche of this market by tech companies and digital multimedia publishers (the main example is multimedia publishing house «Розумники» («A Clever Ones»)).
The purpose of the study, which we started in October 2018 with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the intergovernmental Ukrainian-Finnish project “Learning together”, is to analyze the quality of modern textbooks for the first grade of the New Ukrainian School, to identify outdated scientific paradigms, to identify and systematize cultural problems of textbook publication, which should be taken into account during the editorial and publishing of textbooks for the second and third grades. Methodology. At the initial stage of the study, a bibliographic method was used for the identification and systematization of scientific sources, normative legal documents on the problems of textbook creation. The use of methods of discourse analysis, logical, semantic, context analysis of text and visual components of textbooks for the first grade of the New Ukrainian School made it possible to identify the problematic aspects of the textbook publication culture. Typical flaws in the culture of textbook publication for the New Ukrainian School are systematized using methods of scientific generalization and classification. The results of the research showed a number of problems: visualization of outdated Soviet discourse, systematic errors, consistency and logic of presentation of the material, fairly low linguistic culture of publications, and sometimes unsatisfactory quality of artistic design. The solution of these problems requires a complex, systemic and integrative approaches. This includes the training of editors, publishers, authors, the formation of their high social responsibility, the creation of a single scientific and informational space for authors, reviewers and editors based on the leading publishing houses and academic departments of publishing and editing, the organization of seminars, trainings, summer/winter schools, etc. Such work has already begun within the preparatory stage of the international project “Finnish support for a New Ukrainian School”. The results of the research were used during the All-Ukrainian scientific and practical seminar “New textbook for the New Ukrainian School: Requirements, criteria for evaluation, registration” organized by the Institute for the modernization of the content of education for publishers who worked on textbooks for the second grade of the New Ukrainian School (November 22, 2018), training for experts who assessed the textbook for the second grade of the New Ukrainian School (January 21-23, 2019) and training sessions for publishers of textbooks for the New Ukrainian School (March 12-15, 2019), prepared by using experts from the Ukrainian- Finnish project “Learning together.”
Based on a comparative analysis of the publishing culture of textbooks for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades of the New School, it is revealed how professional seminars for publishers and textbook editors discuss the problems of publishing culture of textbooks for 1st grade (November 2018, March 2019 and for the 2nd grade (June 2019) influenced the quality of editorial and publishing preparation of textbooks for the third grade of the New Ukrainian School.
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