FROM ADMINISTRATION TO ECOSYSTEM: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR MANAGING THE RESEARCH WORK OF FUTURE TEACHERS

Abstract

The relevance of this study stems from the shift in teacher education toward the “research as practice” model, which requires future teachers to possess competencies in scientific inquiry and data analysis. However, the learning management systems (LMS) in which the educational process predominantly takes place today are effective at transmitting knowledge but poorly support the open-ended, non-linear, and project-­based nature of research work. The purpose of this article is to propose a conceptual model of an ecosystem for managing the research work (R&D) of future teachers, based on the synthesis of digital technologies and the principles of developmental management. The study is structured according to the logic of design-­based research aimed at developing and testing a pedagogical innovation. The research was of a mixed-­methods nature and comprised three consecutive stages: 1) analytical and design; 2) experimental; 3) evaluative and reflective. The methodological framework consisted of a case analy­sis of the integration of research modules into LMS, theore­tical modeling, and an expert survey of pedagogical university faculty. The outcome of the study is a three-­component “R&D Ecosystem” architecture, which includes modules for intelligent tracking, collaborative reflection, and a project portfolio. It is demonstrated that the implementation of the model shifts the focus of management from deadline control to the formation of the student’s research identity and agency. The significance of the work lies in the possibility of integrating the proposed model into existing LMS platforms (such as Moodle) to modernize teacher training.