EXPERIENCE OF DISTANCE LEARNING ARRANGEMENT IN CHINA

Abstract

The article deals with the experience of China, which is recognized as a leader in the field of distance learning implementation. The objectives of the study are to cover the history of distance education in China and to identify features and ways of its effective implementation. The methodological basis of the research is basic concepts of comparative pedagogy, issues of economic development in China, historical aspects of the Chinese education system development, problems of professional teacher development in China and the history of distance education in China. The aspects of distance education have been outlined: 1) a geographical distance between the student and the teacher in the learning process (at secondary schools and higher educational establishments); 2) a new type of learning communication, which is due to the separation of teaching and learning processes in time and space; 3) the study of distance education as a new technological form of education that emerged in the information society. Three approaches to the phenomenon of “distance education” have been identified: industrialization theory, concept of distance and the nature of educational communication. The following methods of research have been used: generalization and comparison methods which help to study the connections between different approaches; concept classification method; critical thinking method, prognostic research method.

The emphasis is put on the use of massive open online courses (MOOCs) which are in demand in China. The advantages of MOOCs have been mentioned: openness, massiveness and adaptability. The difficulties of the use of MOOCs have been defined: lack of personal interaction between teachers and students; limited scope and diversity of educational resources and the fairness of evaluation systems. The educational platforms, enabling to provide MOOCs: “XuetangX” and “iCourse” have been analyzed. The novelty of the study is to identify the efficient and true tried ways of arranging distance education in China which can be tested promptly in Ukrainian system of education.