In the article the possibilities and classification of ICTs and tools that can be used in organizing students’ independent study activities of higher education institutions has been explored. It is determined the students’ independent study activities is individual, group, collective activity and is implemented within the process of education under the condition of no pedagogy’s direct involvement. It complies with the requirements of the curriculum and syllabus and is aimed at students’ acquisition of some social experiences in line with the learning objectives of vocational training. The analysis of the latest information and technological approaches to the organization of students’ independent study activities made it possible to determine the means of realization of the leading forms of organization for this activity (independent and research work, lectures, consultations and non- formal education), to characterize and classify the ICTs and tools that support presentation of teaching materials, electronic communication, mastering of learning material, monitoring of students’ learning and cognitive activity, such as ones that serve for the sake of development and support of automated training courses, systems of remote virtual education with elements of artificial intelligence, which implement the principle of adaptive management of learning and the organization of students’ independent study activities. The paper provides the insight into the essence of the conducted investigation on the assesses of the effectiveness of ICTs and tools in the process of organizing students’ independent study activities.

The article deals with the problem of introducing cloud calculations into 10th–11th graders’ training to solve optimization problems in the context of the STEM-education concept. After analyzing existing programmes of optional courses on optimization problems, the programme of the optional course Optimization Problems has been developed and substantiated implying solution of problems by the cloud environment CoCalc. It is a routine calculating operation and not a mathematical model that is accentuated in the programme. It allows considering more problems which are close to reality without adapting the material while training 10th–11th graders. Besides, the mathematical apparatus of the course which is partially known to students as the knowledge acquired from such mathematics sections as the theory of probability, mathematical statistics, mathematical analysis and linear algebra is enough to master the suggested course. The developed course deals with a whole class of problems of conventional optimization which vary greatly. They can be associated with designing devices and technological processes, distributing limited resources and planning business functioning as well as with everyday problems of people. Devices, processes and situations to which a model of optimization problem is applied are called optimization problems. Optimization methods enable optimal solutions for mathematical models. The developed course is noted for building mathematical models and defining a method to be applied to finding an efficient solution.

The article discusses the theory and methods of simulation training, its significance in the context of training specialists for areas where the lack of primary qualification is critical. The most widespread hardware and software solutions for the organization welders' simulation training that use VR- and AR- technologies have been analyzed. A review of the technological infrastructure and software tools for the virtual teaching-and-production laboratory of electric welding has been made on the example of the achievements of Fronius, MIMBUS, Seabery. The features of creating a virtual simulation of the welding process using modern equipment based on studies of the behavioral reactions of the welder have been shown. It is found the simulators allow not only training, but also one can build neuro-fuzzy logic and design automated and robotized welding systems. The functioning peculiarities of welding's simulators with AR have been revealed. It is shown they make it possible to ensure the forming basic qualities of a future specialist, such as concentration, accuracy and agility. The psychological and technical aspects of the coaching programs for the training and retraining of qualified welders have been illustrated. The conclusions about the significant advantages of VR- and AR-technologies in comparison with traditional ones have been made. Possible directions of the development of simulation training for welders have been revealed. Among them the AR-technologies have been presented as such that gaining wide popularity as allow to realize the idea of mass training in basic professional skills.

Integration of ICT significantly increases the possibilities of the educational process and extends the boundaries of the educational sphere as a whole. Publicly available resources, such as e-mail, blogs, forums, online applications, video hosting sites, can serve as the basis for building open learning and education. Informational educational technologies of learning foreign languages are in the focus of this study.The article represents the results of theoretical analysis of content on the subject of its personal- and didactic-definite orientation, as well as some aspects of the practical use of commonly used YouTube video materials in the process of teaching German as the first or second foreign language in higher education, namely at the pedagogical university. Taking into account the practical experience of using the materials of several relevant thematic YouTube channels with a fairly wide constant audience, a concise didactic analysis of their product is presented and recommendations on converting video content into methodological material in the framework of practical course of German language by future teachers are offered.Due to the suggested recommendations, the following tasks can be solved: enrichment of the vocabulary; semantization of phraseological units, constant figures of speech, cliché; development of pronunciation skills; expansion of linguistic competence; improving listening and speaking skills; increasing motivation to learn, etc.

The article deals with the results of the research aimed at the improvement of methodology of use of augmented reality for the development of health preserving competence of a Physical Education teacher under conditions of post-graduate education. From the point of Umwelt phenomenology, augmented reality is characterized by correspondence to nature, its cognitive, metaphoric, diverse, interactive, anthropomorphic nature. The article analyzes the vectors of using augmented reality in the professional activity of a Physical Education teacher, particularly the one that is aimed at health preservation. The software that may be used with this purpose has been described. The attitude of Physical Education teachers to the use of the augmented reality for preserving their students’ health and development of their motion skills, intellect and creativity was determined in the research. The results of the survey show that the majority of teachers positively react to the idea of using augmented reality in their professional activity. However, in some cases, not a fully formed understanding of this issue was observed. The ways of solving the stated problem could be the inclusion of augmented technologies’ techniques into the process of post-graduate education, taking into consideration the anthropological, ethical, cultural contexts as well as teacher involvement in the stated process.