| Abstract [eng] |
National and global education (learning) systems are in a crisis: the gap between citizens who have access to quality education and who don’t have is growing. To tackle this problem life long training (learning) system development is urgent. Lithuania has created a public education strategy for 2003–2012, its essence is the development of socially just, accessible education system, enabling the public to learn throughout their lives. One form of such training (learning) is distance learning based on the use of modern ICT. Essence of Lithuanian distance education is the development of distance education (learning) network that provides everyone with accessible lifelong learning (teaching). Student mobility, migration of parents etc. suggests that distance education (learning) needs may be felt in mainstream schools, so for analysis the following topic was chosen: “Distance education (learning) in general education schools: situation and needs analysis”. Research object is distance learning (teaching) in Lithuanian general education schools. Purpose of the survey is to analyse the need in the distance education (learning) in the Lithuanian general education schools. The objectives are: to analyze modern distance education (learning) concept, its theoretical framework, to analyze distance education (learning) situation and need in Lithuanian education system, to reveal distance education (learning) situation and its need in the Lithuanian general education schools, its demand factors and target groups. In order to perform the study the scientific information sources, analysis of documents, experts and student survey was used. For empirical study, 11 experts were selected, competent to assess the situation of general education schools in the district or country-wide survey using Delfi method. Also there was questioning survey of 399 pupils of 9–12 grades from Siauliai County general education schools performed. Respondents were selected by “snow ball” method. The study found that the need in distance education (learning) service is felt not only in higher education and adult non-formal education systems, but also in the mainstream schools. During self-learning students are already applying distance education (learning) elements. Distance learning (teaching) today is urgent for those who do not have opportunities to participate in the traditional classroom but wish to continue learning and to acquire general education in Lithuanian general education schools. The following groups of students with distance education (learning) needs have been found: patients in hospitals, sanatoria and at home, people with congenital or acquired disabilities, those who have left for shorter or longer. This need is promoted by the objective of ensuring access to learning and equal opportunities for all who wish to learn. Distance education (learning) services in the general schools are limited by teachers' lack of competence in the area of distance learning, funding shortages, lack of distance learning tools. |
