THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF MODERN LECTURERS

Informatization process of modern society leads to development of a new model of high educational system, based on the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICT). The author of the article defines and discusses ICT as one of the key competencies of a modern educators. There are two levels of requirements for ICT competencies of an educator - technological (savviness in information technology) and methodological (savviness in methods of using ICT in the educational process). This means that teachers should not only strive to use ICT in his work, but also be able to shape up information and educational activities in order to improve various approaches to teaching, focused on development of students intellectual potential. Therefore, today a faculty member needs to have special knowledge and skills, to master special technologies and resources developed in accordance with the requirements for the content of a particular training course, and also to develop a willingness to implement them in educational activities. The objective of the study: to systematize the accumulated knowledge, to show the importance of information and communication technologies, and to highlight benefits of using them in the work of university faculties today. The author specifies that the widespread use of ICT in educational activities enables students to develop research skills and creative abilities; to strengthen their motivation for learning and to develop students' ability to work with information; to develop communication skills; to actively involve students in the educational process; to make a step change in monitoring students learning performance; and finally, to introduce them to the achievements of the information society. According to the author, development of ICT competencies in higher educational institutions should be done based on the use of modern information technologies and software, applicable in the educational process. Toward that goal the author provides a review of the most popular and promising modern educational ICT: cloud, Web 2.0, virtual educational environments based on LMS, mobile learning. Thus, the ICT discussed here are aimed at improving teaching process organization, increasing the individuation of teaching and the productivity of students' self-training. Individuation of faculty work enables to enhance motivation for learning, it also enables to get students involved in research activities and provides flexibility in the learning process.