Fostering Students’ Responsibility and Learner Autonomy by Using Google Educational Tools

Abstract

The introduction of innovative technologies into the educational process has become an integral part of modern educational systems development. Information-communication technologies varies the teaching-learning process by making it more entertaining for the students and more beneficial for the teachers as it allows using more resources and a wider range of exercises to form and develop students’ skills. In this regard the article analyzes the advantages of the use of Google educational tools for the formation of students’ learner autonomy, responsibility and promotion of pedagogical interaction. It is hypothesized that future foreign language teachers’ and managers’ learning autonomy and responsibility along with learning outcomes can be enhanced by implementing ICT into educational process. The article reviews the notion of information and communication environment of higher educational institutions, analyzes the ways to introduce Google educational tools namely Google Forms and Google Classroom into the daily learning routines of university students. It also provides evidence-based instructional practices along with illustrative examples of its use when introducing new material, giving assignments, initiating reflection, conducting tests and setting deadlines. The questionnaire surveys conducted at higher educational institutions reveal that students exhibit higher levels of responsibility and motivation and display better academic achievements when being educated with the help of Google educational tools. The prospects of further investigation may include substantiation of the organizational and pedagogical conditions of the future foreign language teachers and managers training in the conditions of the information-educational environment of higher educational institutions.