Practical use of the digital pedagogical activity simulator: efficiency, innovation, and experience

The article presents the experience of developing and using the digital simulators in teaching and learning at a pedagogical university. Testing the innovative technologies in the course of teachers’ training enables to conclude that this tool is effective when acquiring the professional competencies. The simulators, including the virtual ones, ensure modeling the pedagogical activity in terms of the principles of the activity approach. The analytical part of the article includes the content of the assessment criteria when planning and giving the classes on a digital simulator. The criteria for assessing the operations of a university student on the simulator are consistent with the requirements for the learning outcomes of schoolchildren. The results obtained confirm the relation between the labor operations performed by future teachers and the requirements established by the Federal State Educational Standards for universal learning skills (cognitive, communicative, and regulatory). The content of these requirements involves skills at searching for the study material and assuming the position of an active subject. The requirements content is consistent with the criteria for assessing the operations of the future teacher. The results of testing the simulator enable to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using a digital simulator in teachers’ training. Its use may involve making some changes in Teaching Methodology at a pedagogical university