The findings of this research allow to assume that after lockdown it might be worth reconsidering the format of learning for Master’s Degree Programs and shift from conventional face-to-face learning to blended or even distance learning.

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The article deals with the issues of preparation and retraining of teachers, as well as the problems of their financial and legal status, which became the subject of consideration of the pedagogical congresses of 1911– 1914. The study identifies ways to address these issues that were proposed by participants in educational congresses. There is a gradual democratization of education, a revision of the requirements for vocational training and retraining of teachers, their status, national and religious characteristics, and political preferences. The preconditions of scientific approach to pedagogy and necessity of university pedagogical education are considered. The study of the pedagogical congresses of 1911–1914 allows to argue that during this period, educators were deeply concerned about the problems of teaching: the issues of teacher training and retraining, their financial and legal status, as well as during this period, there were first attempts to democratize education and attitudes toward teachers: the issue of the abolition of restrictions on national and religious grounds was discussed, conditions for the admission and dismissal of teachers were prescribed, commissions were created that objectively examine each case and listen to the explanations of the teacher, who was accused of something. One of the characteristics of that period was the transition to a scientific approach to pedagogy and the justification of the need for university teaching education. It should be noted that many of the issues that were considered during the congresses of the mentioned period remain relevant even in the 21st century. Among the prospects for further research, we can mention the consideration of these issues in the dynamics during the next pedagogical congresses and the implementation of decisions taken at these congresses and their influence on the development of education in our country.

Current research is a historic and pedagogical study. It uncovers the problem of aesthetic education in the context of such a meaningful phenomenon of the education of the late 19th century and the early 20th century as pedagogical congresses. The study has proved that the issues of the aesthetic education were considered during almost every pedagogical congress from 1862 till 1919. This type of education was recognized as the necessary part of comprehensive and harmonious development of the child’s personality. Under different political conditions aesthetic education was discussed during the pedagogical congresses either as a separate issue or as an element of other types of education: labor, ethical, national and even physical ones. The main methods and means of the aesthetic education considered by the participants of the pedagogical congresses were the following ones: familiarizing with the works of the prominent foreign and national authors, excursions, getting to know the native land, national traditions, creative labor, different forms of recreation and entertainment, art and musical events, taking care of your appearance. For supporting pedagogical councils, the delegates of the congresses suggested to create aesthetic committees and professional councils.  To cut the long story short, the participants of the pedagogical congresses were very attentive to the issues of the aesthetic education and considered it as one of the necessary elements of harmonious development of the personality What remained uncovered was the degree of implementation of the solutions and recommendations of the participants of the pedagogical congresses in the educational process of the schools, namely, what ideas were introduced and what left just on the paper.

Due to the globalization process and scarcity of learning hours Ukrainian higher educational standards in terms of English for Specific Purposes course are being reconsidered currently to enable university graduates to be highly competitive in the world labour market. Under these conditions assessment as an integrated part of any process of learning has to be reviewed as well. Earlier assessment was used as a tool for increasing extrinsic motivation of students and measuring their success, but nowadays, when the learning hours have been decreased dramatically, we have researched, how to reduce possible demotivating effect of assessment and how to use assessment for enhancing intrinsic motivation of students. For that purpose we have used a variety of continuous assessment. Moreover, we have managed to contribute in the development of 21-st century skills of our students (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaborating, communicating) through self-assessment and peer-assessment while they were developing the criteria for assessment themselves. Furthermore, during the experiment that lasted from September, 2016 till June, 2017 students under our supervision have developed the lists of criteria for assessing such soft skills as presenation preparation and delivery, participation in discussions, etc. The results of the experiment were measured with the help of summative assessment at the end of the study year and questionnaires that students under experiment filled in January, 2017 and in June, 2017. The difference with the control group was tremendous.