Distance learning in universities of the Samara Region: results of situational reflection

The paper analyzes the state of distance learning in universities at the present stage of digitalization of society; conducts a theoretical analysis of publications on the problems of distance learning in universities of the Russian Federation, describes the results of a sociological study of students of Samara universities regarding organizational aspects and conditions of distance learning. The problems of distance learning are identified and the typological features of their classification in the author’s edition are determined. A brief description of legal, psycho-emotional, physiological, organizational, technical and technological problems is given. As part of a practical study, the focus is on the organizational aspect of distance education. The practical component of the study was reflected in the conduct of a sociological survey of students of 1–5 courses of universities in the Samara region to identify certain aspects of their attitude to the organization of distance learning. The validity of the results of the study was ensured by the representativeness of the sample of respondents: the study involved students of different universities, areas and majors, courses, forms of education, which is confirmed by the statistical data of the results of the survey. The study has revealed an opinion of respondents in relation to the quality of distance learning, technological readiness of the subjects of the educational process for the implementation of distance learning, availability of objective conditions (in particular, logistics, functionality of the videoconferencing systems used, etc.). The paper presents quantitative indicators and analyzes the results of the study.