The Future of Education

The actual situation in education is characterized by the expansion of the possibility of using visual incentives for the organization of educational communication. Computer technologies allow using a wide range of visual incentives\\mediators in a class (pictures, dynamic images, video etc.). Visual mediators affect the emotional-sensory perception. Such perceptions transform the linear memorizing process into the process of constructing interpretations and associations.  This leads to better memorizing of information (Amit, 1992). On the other hand, take place a narrowing of the channels of perceptions caused by dismissing of real spontaneous communication, dialogue (Shoemaker & Reese, 1996). Some studies show that the specification of educational communication depends on a type of the used visual mediators (Hanover Research, 2011).

Thus the relevance of the study is caused by three reasons: 1) visual mediators are widespread in education; 2) qualitative parameters of visual mediators in education are not defined; 3) influence of various types of visual mediators on results of educational communication is poorly investigated.

The present study aims to explore effect of various types of visual mediators on educational communication in massive open online courses (MOOC). The study relied on the theory of M. McLuhan (McLuhan, 1964). Visual mediators are divided into “hot” and “cold”. "Hot" mediators are aimed at translating information flow and enhancing the memorization process through capturing a visual image. "Cold" mediators are directed to the strengthening of process of interpretation, understanding, and search of new communications between the visual incentives, which are available in memory. “Cold” mediators activate creation of new interpersonal and semantic communications.

Coursera, EdEx, Udemy, GeekBrains were used as resource to identify visual mediators. 200 MOOC were analysed. The courses are typologies according to the following structure: organization of oral interaction; characteristics of visual incentives (objects); methods of mediation (mediation); characteristics of the effectiveness of communication. The study was conducted in National Research Tomsk State University (with the support of the Russian Foundation for Humanities). 10 teachers and 180 students took part in the study.

The study can be used to create online courses, optimize the educational process depending on the goals.