Big data in additional professional adult education

The research problem and the rationale for its relevance. The current stage of digitalization of education, accompanied by the transition to digital learning platforms, has created a set of prerequisites for the use of information processing methods based on big data analysis in the educational process. The use of big data potentially makes it possible to give a new quality to information processes in any sphere. This conclusion is fully applicable to the sphere of education. Nowadays, there is a considerable amount of scientific research devoted to the application of big data in education. However, the problem of identifying the specifics of big data application in the system of additional education, including additional professional adult education, has not been sufficiently elaborated. The goal of research. Identification of specifics, leading application scenarios, nomenclature and main sources of big data in the conditions of implementation of additional educational programs focused on additional professional education of adults. Methodology. The research used the following comprehensive methods: study and analysis of the pedagogical literature, comparative analysis of experience in the organization of training (in the main and additional educational programs) based on the use of modern digital platforms, including the use of big data technology and artificial intelligence. Results. The article deals with the peculiarities of big data technology application in adult education. It analyzes the views of modern researchers on the directions of application of big data in education, including additional professional education of adults. The article reveals the peculiarities of big data usage in education - application scenarios, nomenclature, and sources. The specifics, leading scenarios of application, nomenclature and main sources of big data in the conditions of implementation of additional professional educational programs focused on adult education are defined. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the fact that the leading scenario of big data application in additional professional adult education is defined - “training for artificial intelligence”. The theoretical novelty of the research consists in the fact that the nomenclature of big data as applied to additional professional adult education is extended to include two new classes. The first class includes large data describing the professional activity of students and their social environment (in its various aspects). The second class includes big data describing the age characteristics of learners (in professional and didactic aspects). The list of big data sources has been expanded and supplemented to take into account the specifics of adult learners. Practical novelty of the study lies in the fact that the proposed leading scenario of application of big data in additional vocational adult education, the identified specificity of their use in the context under consideration and the developed nomenclature can be used in the design and implementation of additional professional educational programs focused on adult learning, implementing individual educational paths and having a significant inclusive potential relevant to adult learners.