Pandemic challenges for educators: transition from physical to digital classroom

Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Department of English Language for Professional Communication, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: LVMilyaeva@fa.ru

Abstract

The article looks into some challenges that university teaching staff has to face during the modern era of digitalization and especially during the transaction period from “physical classroom” to “digital classroom” provoked by the pandemic of COVID-19. The use of information and communication technologies (hereinafter referred to as ICT), tools for online teaching and learning, computer and digital literacy, digital skills and competencies are becoming important components of professional success. The transition to distance learning (especially due to the pandemic of COVID-19) has changed the modern academic world: now the effective use of digital technologies and educational resources is considered a key factor for improving and increasing the value of the learning process. As a result, students get their knowledge and educators share their theoretical and practical experience through an increasing number of digital technologies and resources. This article aims to describe and analyze the main types of available online tools and services that may provide productive work and interactive learning; to describe the challenges that educators face while transforming the academic environment into “online classroom”. The authors applied a cabinet study approach to the analysis of theoretical database, the method of comparison and generalization of the obtained data. As a result, the article presents theoretical background of the ICT potential and their use in the educational process of modern universities.