EDUCATIONAL WEB-QUEST AS A TOOL FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION

Introduction. It is established that the system of distance education is undergoing profound and rapid changes under the influence of information and communication technologies, distance education is becoming a branch of the economy, so higher education institutions are faced with the task of intensifying educational processes and applying active and interactive teaching methods. One of the most effective educational opportunities in the organisation of distance education is the technology of educational web-quests. Purpose. The article aims to analyse the features of an educational web-quest as a tool for distance education. It is established and substantiated that educational web-quests can be an important tool for improving the educational process in higher education institutions. Methods. Taking into account the specifics of the research object, we relied mainly on theoretical methods of pedagogical research (synthesis, analysis, deduction, induction, classification, comparison, specification, generalisation, abstraction). The empirical basis of the study was formed by the results of observation (observation of the process of developing and implementing educational web quests), analysis of focus groups with students (a series of 5 group interviews involving 73 people), and the results of interviews with teachers who use educational web quests in their work with students (12 interviews lasting 60 minutes). Results. The essence of the concept of «educational web-quest» is defined and its features as an instrument of distance education are analysed. It is proved that the educational web-quest, as an interactive information and communication technology, allows solving the following tasks: educational task – involvement of students in the active cognitive process, developmental task – development of interest in learning, disclosure of their abilities, educational task – cultivation of team spirit and personal responsibility for the final result. It is proved that the educational web-quest is built on the basis of information and communication technologies and uses the richness and immensity of the information space of the global computer network for educational purposes, with the aim of increasing motivation, introducing students to modern technologies, and maximising the use of the Internet.Originality. The theoretical and methodological aspects of the use of educational web-quests in the educational process of higher education institutions are characterised. The problems of teachers in the development and implementation of educational web-quests and the problems of students in the course of educational web-quests are analysed. Conclusion. Recommendations for using an educational web quest as a tool for distance education: actualisation of the problems of using an educational web quest as a tool for distance education; provision of professional training for working with digital environments; providing students with assistance in determining their personal characteristics, which will help solve problems with concentration on educational material; providing students with the opportunity to seek qualified methodological, psychological and technical assistance; developing or revising a list of recommendations and instructions for working with services; raising awareness of participants of the educational process in the field of their support (opportunities to receive methodological assistance, technical support); revision of the schedule of distance learning taking into account health-saving factors; development of a service thatallows sharing the experience of modernising educational content using electronic educational technologies.