Digital transformation and its risks in higher education: Students' and teachers' attitude

Abstract

© 2020 by authors. The article analyzes the actual problem of the risks of digitalization of higher education. The goal of the study was to determine the level of using of digital tools and technologies by students and teachers in the educational process to identify the main problems and risks of digitalization of higher education. The key problem of digitalization of higher education in Russia is the approval of a technocratic model for its implementation, based on the reduction of this process to "digitization". The real goal of digitalization in universities should give emphasis on improving the creative nature of education. In order to analyze the current situation with the digitalization of higher education, an online survey of students and teachers of the Kazan (Volga) Federal District was used. The research results show that both students and teachers use a limited number of digital educational resources. Students prefer the passive forms of using information and communication technologies (webinars, online courses). Teachers use digital tools primarily for planning and downloading their taught courses. They also use them as an organizing mechanism for their classes, rather than to promote improved learning technologies. The most important conclusion of our study is that the risks of digitalization of education at universities are directly related to the incompetence of teachers in the using of digital educational technologies. Therefore, improving the mechanism of teachers' professional adaptation to digital reality is crucial in improving the quality of education at universities.