MODULAR AND COMPETENT LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STUDENTS' PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

The article examines the key directions in the modernization of vocational education in Russia caused by dynamic changes in the economy, social life, and technological development. The influence of scientific and technological progress, the information revolution, and economic transformations on the system of training mid-level specialists is analyzed. It is substantiated that the traditional model of education, focused mainly on the transmission of ready-made knowledge, no longer fully meets the requirements of the information society, where information becomes obsolete rapidly and professional skills require constant renewal. Under these conditions, innovative educational technologies and the competence-based approach become particularly significant, since they focus not so much on the amount of acquired information as on the learner’s ability to solve problems, adapt to uncertainty, and act productively in a changing environment. The article reveals the essence of the concepts of “competence,” “competency,” and “educational competency,” presents the hierarchy of competencies, and characterizes their key types. It is shown that the modular competence-based approach is the most effective for the system of secondary vocational education, as it ensures the integration of theoretical training, practical activity, and assessment of learning outcomes. The conditions for the implementation of modular technology are considered, including interdisciplinary development of educational content, renewal of the material and technical base, advanced training of teachers, and transformation of their professional role. Special attention is paid to the development of information competency as one of the fundamental components of the professional culture of a modern specialist.