Blended learning as an innovative form of professional training of future teachers of defects for professional activity: a pilot study

Peculiarities of blended learning as an innovative form of professional training for future special education teachers for their professional activities under martial law conditions were studied. The potential applications of information technologies and the importance of introducing ICT as an integral component of modern education are characterized.   It was found that in the process of mixed learning under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and martial law, traditional forms and methods have been reformatted into modern forms, such as: video lecture, video conference forums, chat conversations in Viber, Telegram applications, communication with e-mail; presentations (in the format of multimedia presentations, scribing, etc.), podcasts, webinars, virtual laboratories, virtual worlds, etc. It was established that to achieve a harmonious synthesis of the theoretical and practical components of the educational process, as well as to ensure the individual trajectory of professional and personal development of students, it is necessary to create an innovative information and communication educational space that will cover the entire process of mixed learning, in which pedagogical and educational technologies will be combined with innovative technologies of distance, electronic, and mobile learning. On the basis of The Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, a pilot study was conducted among students of higher education with the aim of analyzing the experience of the practical implementation of blended learning in the training of special education teachers under martial law. An information and communication educational space has been developed and proposed for use, covering the entire process of mixed learning, during which pedagogical and educational technologies are combined with innovative distance, electronic and mobile learning technologies. According to the data obtained during the pilot study, it was established that there are all prerequisites for the implementation of a number of psychological-pedagogical and scientific-methodological activities in the format of scientific-methodical and scientific-practical conferences, seminars, trainings, etc., which will contribute to solving the problems of professional training of future teachers — special education teachers through mixed education.