The problem of forming information competence in the process of teaching Kyrgyz language to students of the faculty of journalism

Бюллетень науки и практики / Bulletin of Science and Practice

UDC 378:37.012(575.2)(04)                         

Modern society is characterized by active changes in the global information space, the creation of new information technologies, and the rapid development of the mass media system. These trends indicate a transition to the information society, to the widespread use of information and communication technologies, in particular Internet technologies, multimedia software, electronic textbooks and smartphones, onov, etc. Mastery of information and communication technologies is one of the priority areas of modern education both in general education and in higher education. Psychologist Herbert Gerjoy believes that “the new education should teach the individual how to classify and reclassify information, how to evaluate its reliability, how to change categories if necessary, how to move from the concrete to the abstract and vice versa, how to look at problems from a new angle, how to engage in self-education. The illiterate person in the future will not be the person who cannot read, but the one who has not learned to learn” [4].

During the period of dynamic development of the latest information technologies, the issue of developing the information competence of future specialists, including journalists, is relevant as an important component of professional training.

Currently, society's demands on the profession of mass media workers are increasing, and therefore on the professional training of specialists in the field of journalism. Modern society needs a competent specialist who can actively participate in the development of education, science, culture, economy, quickly make decisions, actively act, self-improvement and development throughout life. The successful professional activities of media workers depend on the ability to navigate the modern information society, quickly receive, use, and transmit information. Therefore, the formation of information competence of future specialists in the field of journalism in the process of teaching Kyrgyz language occupies an important place in their professional training, since without modern means of communication, which open up completely different opportunities for communication and education, it is impossible to imagine a modern information society.

The purpose of the article is to study the problem of developing information competence of students of the Faculty of Journalism as an important indicator of the professional training of highly qualified future specialists, to clarify the essence of the concept and its importance and relevance in the modern information society.

Presentation of the main material. Scientists agree that the information competence of a specialist is manifested in working with various information systems, as well as in information processing (search, analysis, transmission, storage). Consequently, information competence is the possession of knowledge, skills and experience in their use in solving a certain range of professional tasks using information technologies. I.A. Zimnyaya defines information competence as the ability to use, reproduce, improve the means and methods of obtaining and reproducing information in printed and electronic form[5]. G.K. Selevko believes that information competence consists of the ability to master information technologies and work with all types of information [10].

Observing the actions of successful people in modern society, it is easy to notice: “a more informed person is not the one who knows more, but the one who participates in a greater number of communications,” notes D.V. Ivanov [6,p.14-15].

Since communication skills for obtaining information are also important for a future journalist in the process of working with information, we consider the information competence of a journalist as the ability of a future specialist to master various methods of working with information using languages and technical means to transmit the information received in accordance with the task at hand.

With an increase in the level of competence, a person feels in demand, since the acquired knowledge is combined with the creative component of the personality.V.V. Serikov [12] formulated signs of competence: recognition and identification of the problem; knowledge of the theoretical foundations of action; confidence in mastering techniques based on personal experience; own style, approach, system of carrying out activities; knowledge of options, the ability to combine them and find new solutions; personal view, position, individuality; creation of a real product; self-regulation, self-esteem; imaginative thinking, orientation towards a holistic perception of the expected result; internal motivation, the need to express oneself in action [12].

The issue of the structure of information competence has been considered by many researchers (V.V. Bondar, A.N. Zavyalov, E.F. Morkovina, A.L. Semenov, A.A. Temerbekova, S.V. Trishina). The authors believe that all components of information competence should be considered in close connection.

As the main O.N. Griban [4] proposes to distinguish the following components:

• 1.    motivational and value-based, which consists in creating conditions for the formation of important value orientations and motivational impulses of a person that influence the attitude towards work and life in general;

• 2.    professional activity, defined as the ability to apply information, mastery of modern methods and methods of searching, collecting educational information, the ability to find information from various sources, the ability to systematize and summarize information, the ability to use the information received for professional and pedagogical activities;

• 3.    technical and technological, reflecting an understanding of the principles of operation, capabilities and limitations of technical devices designed for automated search and processing of information; the ability to classify problems by type, followed by solution and selection of a specific technical tool depending on its main characteristics;

• 4.    communicative, showing knowledge, understanding, use of natural and formal languages, technical means of communication to transmit information from one person to another (verbal and non-verbal) [4].

Information competence is considered by scientists from two positions. On the one hand, the emphasis is on the ability to use technical devices to work with information. On the other hand, information competence is based on the category “information” and provides the social component of professional activity (processes of perceiving information, obtaining knowledge from information, communication, professional motivation, responsibility, ability to work, etc.).

The professional activity of a journalist, according to G.V. Lazutina [9], includes a creative act, methods of journalistic creativity, technical means and professional moral ideas that guide the behavior of a journalist. Obviously, both technical and social components are important for a journalist.

Let us consider the professional activity of a journalist from these two positions. The main function of journalism is to satisfy the information needs of society in various spheres (political, economic, social, spiritual, etc.). The security and stability of the state depends on the quality and objectivity of information. Journalists are directly involved in shaping people's socio-economic and political views, culture and ethical standards. The future of society largely depends on their professionalism.

Journalistic information, in the opinion, should be: complete and accurate to form the correct idea of the world in the audience, and also valuable for achieving personal goals (the value of information is not always constant and relevant). In order for the information to correspond to the above properties, the journalist must master the methodological foundations of collecting and interpreting data. A low level of data collection will lead to distortion of information and presentation of false facts to the audience. Moreover, the ability to interactively use language, symbols, and texts is important for data collection; ability to use knowledge (information literacy); ability to apply (new) interactive technologies; a person’s ability to navigate the information space, operate with data based on the use of modern ICT in accordance with the needs of the labor market and for the effective performance of professional duties. Information competence should include such elements as value orientations, i.e. critical analysis of information and data constituting content obtained from various sources.

The use of the Internet, on the one hand, has led to the prompt submission of new information, on the other hand, to the use of unverified facts, invasion of personal space, and violation of ethical standards. And in this case, representatives of the journalistic profession are faced with a choice: adapt information content to market conditions, but move into the field of advertising, or “maintain the high mission of journalism” [2].

According to these principles, the primary task of a journalist is to ensure that people receive truthful and reliable information through an honest reflection of objective reality [3].

To work at a high level, it is necessary to develop skills that allow you to solve the following tasks: identification of the information problem; identification of possible sources; searching for information within sources; organization of the received material; assessment of product quality; solving the problem based on available information; transfer of information.

As for the technical component of information competence, a future specialist in the journalistic profession today must master modern information technologies and, in accordance with the development trends of the information society, improve their professional level. As researcher O. V. rightly notes. Kopylov [8], the era of digital technologies poses the task of identifying new aspects of the functioning of journalism, inscribed in communicative realities. The use of ICT in education ensures the improvement of the educational process, the accessibility and effectiveness of education, and the preparation of young people for life in the information society. This can be achieved by informatization of education, aimed at meeting the educational information and communication needs of participants in the educational process, the introduction of distance learning using information and communication technologies together with traditional teaching aids; the release of electronic textbooks, the creation of modern teaching aids that meet the world scientific and technical level, etc. Under the informatization of education I. S. Kiselev [7] understands the process aimed at improving the quality of education by replacing traditional information technologies with more effective ones in all types of activities in the education system.

Multimedia software allows you to integrate text, graphic, animation, video and sound information. The simultaneous use of several channels of perception of educational information allows you to increase the level of mastery of educational material.

It is important for students of the Faculty of Journalism to learn to compare, synthesize, analyze, plan, using information and communication technologies that enhance the role of active methods of cognition and distance learning. Currently, in higher educational institutions, the proportion of independent work in all academic disciplines has been increased, in particular in journalism subjects. ICTs provide future mass media workers with electronic learning resources for independent processing, tasks for independent implementation, which allows for an individual approach to each student, making positive changes to the traditional education system, using electronic boards, electronic libraries, and multimedia tools.

Educational programs and courses for the development of information competence contribute to the acquisition by student journalists of skills and abilities to work with computer programs, the Internet, and means of communication; developing the ability to apply information competencies to communicate with people and further professional development. Students acquire basic competencies that include the ability to use information and communication technologies for collaboration and interaction in various environments: email, web forums, video and audio chats, file sharing, etc. Modern journalists must be competent in the use of ICT and understand the impact of the information age and ICT on modern life in society.

The self-education of future journalists also plays a significant role. Information competence is developed not only in classes or during independent work on assigned tasks, but during leisure time, for example, in the process of watching television programs, films, using electronic equipment, in particular os of desktop computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc. Searching for the necessary information on the Internet, communicating in social networks, chats, maintaining your own blog, searching for the necessary material in electronic libraries helps critical perception of information.

To summarize the above, it should be noted that information competence presupposes the ability to understand the processes of the information space, the ability to take advantage of the opportunities provided by society for implementation. Information competence is improved throughout life through education. With an increase in the level of information competence, the demand for an individual in society increases.