The role of information technologies in education

In the article we find out the possibilities of using information technologies to modernize the educational process in higher education institutions. The article reveals the content of information technologies, describes the possibilities of their application, and shows their role in higher education institutions for the modernization of education. It is noted the functions inherent in the system of information provision of monitoring and quality control of education. The article distinguished the components of information technologies (hardware and software; applied information; the end user of information and the components of the national information system (modern telecommunications infrastructure; distributed computer network; system of national information resources); system-methodological. Information technologies are classified according to several features: the method of process in the information system; the step of treatment of organization tasks; the classes of hi-tech actions carried out; the kind of user interface). Priority directions in the field of informatization of education (introduction of multimedia technology, use of multimedia products in higher education institutions) have been identified. Aspects of information inequality are described (physical access, financial access, cognitive access, access to significant information, and political access). The significance of distance education for today is shown, and its principles are considered