GOOGLE CLASSROOM COMPLEX APPLICATION FOR CREATING VARIABLE DISTANCE COURSES

Abstract

Topicality. Considering the presence of all-state standards of general secondary education and the classroom system, the possibility of applying an individual educational path (IEP) is still remains potential. In other areas (e.g. IT, training for teachers and civil servants), there is a need for more flexible training for specialists. IEP provides an opportunity for the learner to choose their own pace, methods and tools for studying.The majority of programmes and distance learning courses have a linear structure, which substantially limits the possible variability in the choice of pace and sequence of tasks. The urgency of developing such tools or adapting existing ones to facilitate the individualization of learning is particularly noticeable in the face of increasing demand for distance learning under COVID-19. Formulation of the problem. Google Classroom has no tools to provide variability in training courses and reduce the burden on the teacher. Ways to solve the problem. It is suggested to create an add-on to Google Classroom in G Suite for Education, which implements the functionality of variability and the reduction of the burden on teachers. Results. The Classroom X prototype is presented. It provides the ability to schedule workflows based on previous tasks, automatic task submission, task automation (with minimal teacher involvement), material repetition, dynamic change of individual educational path when the learner’s circumstances and needs change. It significantly reduces or eliminates the burden on the tutor. The application has been successfully tested. Conclusions. The study shows the potential for the improvement of Google Classroom for the organization of distance learning. In the course of the experiments in the training groups of advanced training, the principle mechanism has been checked in practice, which provides the extended variability of the teaching material submission and the reduction of the burden on the teacher. Such functionality is especially valuable in the context of total forced transition to distance learning in the conditions of COVID-19 quarantine.