AltspaceVR IN DISTANCE EDUCATION OF PHILOLOGY STUDENTS

Today, virtual and augmented reality is being introduced into various professional fields, including the educational process. Virtual reality technology makes it possible to immerse people in a simulated virtual world and makes communication much easier, because it is a spatially entertaining form in which each user-visitor can create not only their own image, shape or choose the environment and so forth. The study demonstrates with concrete examples the possibilities of using the AltspaceVR platform in teaching educational disciplines, turning an ordinary educational process into a fascinating journey. The authors of the publication (Associate Professors of the Department of Ukrainian Philology and Journalism of Kherson State University) shared their experience in the pilot mentoring programme for teachers of higher education institutions «New Tool ‒ New Opportunities: AltspaceVR» initiated by the «Learn and Differentiate: Infomedia Literacy» project team, which is implemented by the International Research and Exchanges board (IREX) and supported by the US and UK Embassies in partnership with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science and the Academy of Ukrainian Press. Using the example of the information zone «Gender Stereotypes» of the educational discipline «Gender Linguistics», presentation of the educational discipline «Language Self-Branding of Modern Specialist», announcement of the educational discipline «Language Portrait of the City», the teachers demonstrate the possibilities of using AltspaceVR platform as an informational and educational environment. The authors argumentally prove that in distance learning mode, working in a virtual reality game environment today becomes not only a reality but also a necessity. The use of AltspaceVR as one of the latest technologies in teaching is quite reasonable. The AltspaceVR platform allows participants of the educational process to realize the same opportunities and get the same impressions as when participating in a real (traditional) event without leaving home. The main advantage of using the AltspaceVR platform in distance learning is its interactivity, which prevents the learning process from becoming boring. In contrast to Zoom and other platforms, there is an opportunity to involve participants as much as possible, for instance through role playing, games, etc. The effective implementation of virtual reality technologies, in particular the use of the AltspaceVR platform in the educational process, has a powerful potential to form an individual with a high level of digital literacy, capable of learning, communication and collaboration. The academic freedom of the teacher allows to define the tool of digital learning and part of its implementation in the educational process. A relevant issue today is the teacher’s workload, since modelling the artificially created world on the AltspaceVR platform for classes is quite time-consuming. And, of course, mastering the latest information and communication technologies requires new competencies and a high level of teacher’s digital literacy. Consequently, the question of training teaching staff to realize distance learning, who would be able to support the full cycle of organizing the educational process, needs to be solved.