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The Department of New Information Technologies of Instruction successfully performs on the front edge of the contemporary educational psychology, studying psychological problems of the computer-based instructional systems design and use. The Department was established in 1972 on the initiative of Academicians V.M.Glushkov and G.S.Kostiuk. As a base, it had the research group, which was engaged, together with scholars from Cybernetics Institute AS UkrSSR, in elaboration of the grounds of and techniques for non-professional users training. The founder of the Department was Yukhim I.Mashbitz, D.Sc. (psychology), who had been the Head of the Department over 23 years, from 1972 till 1995. A series of handbooks intended for non-professional users was prepared, the programming language ÐßÎÄ (RYAOD) created, which became popular both in Ukraine and abroad. Currently the Head of the Department is Marina L.Smulson, D.Sc. (psychology).
In the Department, the conception of instruction as learning activity management has been elaborated. This conception is underlying the new approach to the technology of instruction, it enables eliciting of correlation between the theory and technology of instruction. Specific features of new information technologies of instruction (NITI) were analysed. The conception of hierarchical NITI design (Y.I.Mashbitz) was also worked out here. On its basis some experimental instructional systems were developed; prepared were manuals for designers of instructional systems, whatever the system type: 1st generation or hypertext.
The staff of the Department has prepared and published the handbooks for teachers on the basics of new information technologies of instruction, on design of hypertext and intelligent instructional systems; the hypertext system for training on text composition was developed as well.
In 1993-2003 we conducted research in psychological mechanisms of instruction. These mechanisms help to elicit relationships between the computer and students on the level of activity pursued by the student and simulated by the system. We focused our attention on such mechanisms as feedback, further definition of the learning task, and dynamic distribution of managerial functions between the student and the tutor (computer).
In 2004-07 we proceeded with investigation of the problem of training teachers for effective use of telecommunication technologies in education. Analyzed were the theoretical aspects of the telecommunication networks’ impact on the structure of education; the basic principles of teachers’ training for effective instructional use of telecommunication channels were elaborated. Assessment was made of the instructional potential of the hypertext computer environment shaped by networked technologies. The research on psychological grounds of the use of Internet for in-service training of teachers was conducted along with the study of prospects for teachers’ training and consulting management through Internet.
In 2008 we started the investigation of the psychological background of e-learning’s efficiency.
The staff of the Department arranged for and conducted a series of conferences on new technologies of instruction (2005, 2007, 2009). We launched a dedicated publication series “Psychological theory and technology of instruction”.
The Department works in close connection with V.M.GlushkovCybernetics Institute at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, M.P.Dragomanov National Pedagogic University, Moscow State University, Institute of Psychology at the Russian Academy of Education (Moscow), and other academic institutions both in Ukraine and abroad
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