Abstract. Education system in Ukraine is undergoing large-scale reforms including modernization on different school levels and higher educational institutions. Students' world view is laid out at school, that is why teachers must be ready to promote new content of education. According to the Concept "New School of Ukraine" among the key competencies of a student are the ability of intercultural communication in social and cultural contexts, digital competence, awareness of national identity as the basis of open-mindedness and respect for the diversity of cultural expression of others, and more. With this paper the author intends to initiate modifying demanded competencies and skills for contemporary primary school teachers based on cross-cultural experience. The article explains the necessity of forming a digital competence as a separate component of the professional skills of the modern teacher and shows its influence on the development of the personality of the modern student. Much attention is drawn to the domestic challenges in the implementation of digital devices in classrooms. Some foreign experience is analyzed in this research.

The article highlights the urgency of the problem of digitalization of education, substantiates the need to develop digital competence of young people in the context of using various electronic resources, technologies, the ability to be critical of the accuracy of information, competently use digital media to achieve personal, professional or social goals. The need for the development of reading competence in university students is emphasized. The study used methods of conceptual and comparative analysis, as well as psychodiagnostic and statistical methods. The results of an empirical study conducted in Ukrainian universities on the researched problem are presented. The positive and negative sides in the use of printed and electronic publications by modern students are given. Their preferences for using these sources to solve educational problems are revealed. The peculiarities of the development of readers’ interests of future specialists and the prospects of competition of the printed book with the electronic one are determined. According to the survey, it was found that respondents prefer e-books, they have more advantages in terms of practical application. It is investigated that for study they more often choose printed books, textbooks, which help them to focus more deeply on scientific information and to comprehend it critically (more than 70% of respondents). Emphasis on the importance in modern conditions of a successful combination in educational (professional) activities of electronic and printed publications.

The article highlights brief theoretical aspects of the origin of distance learning tracing the experience of foreign counties as well as Ukraine’s practice in this regard. The paper outlines practical and social aspects of distance education; definition of what successful distance learning should look like; effective solution to the problem of implementing distance or blended learning by the academic staff of the Precarpathian national University. The necessity of engaging both teachers and students in integrating innovative digital technologies in academic process of education institutions to ensure a quality level of practical classes, creating favorable conditions for self-realization and professional development of future primary school teachers is substantiated. Major accent is placed on the efficiency of the use of particular digital tools like Kahoot, Mentimeter, Pear Deck and Flipgrid for innovative organization of education environment, creative presentation of theoretical information, consolidating students’ knowledge, practical skills and abilities, formative and summative assessment of learning outcomes, development of students’ competences within certain courses, as well as systematic professional self-improvement. It was found out that among the difficulties most often faced by the education institutions in working with students was identified as follows: providing equal access to online or blended education under the condition of Coronavirus pandemic in rural, mountain and low-income communities, etc. The authors proved the quality of introduction and application of distance learning at the Pedagogy Faculty of the PNU in the process of teaching/studying the academic courses of the language and literature cycle can be assessed by means of the mentioned in the research digital instruments. This will contribute to the practical orientation of the educational process, active participation of each student in the learning process, increasing motivation and engagement in all forms of cooperation in the education environment.

The article highlights the relevance of the use of educational innovations in the preparation of a future English teacher to work in the New Ukrainian School. The author of the manuscript emphasizes the need to use a variety of innovative methods and best European practices in the educational process with students of Pedagogical specialties of higher education institutions; considers the numerous opportunities and new mechanisms for teacher professional growth and retraining of pedagogical staff, which include certification and a “money after teacher” mechanism. The researcher claims that the digitization of all spheres of society and the popularity of information technologies in the world have taken a prominent place in the education sector, in particular they are an integral part of teaching English all over the world at different levels. The author analyzes which innovations in the English language teaching help educators create more independent students who are motivated to learn new content and to get good learning outcomes. The article partially describes the experience of using innovations on the example of students of the Pedagogical Faculty at the SHEI “Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian national University”.

The article offers detail analysis of the notion literacy from various perspectives; traces its evolution from the original understanding (the ability to read, write, and use arithmetic) up to the contemporary complex interpretation by numerous sources, encompassing the multiple meanings and scopes of unquestionably vital competencies. Besides, the author emphasizes the relevance of teaching/learning Geocultural scientific literacy as an education discipline in institutions of higher education in general and understanding its components in particular while preparing teachers for New Ukrainian School. The paper stresses that modern pedagogical education of Ukraine, is an integral component of the European educational space, aimed at forming a professional with firm scientific knowledge, ability to transmit it within the subjects of the academic process and is capable of active and effective livelihoods in a multinational and multicultural environment. Thus, solid knowledge of geocultural scientific literacy provides the perfect grounds for international cooperation in education sector, understanding uniqueness of relationships between the cultures, communities’ members, natural environments, politics, history and other measurements. This knowledge serves the basis for studying many university disciplines.