Future of Work

The aim of the chapter is to advance the framework of meaningful work under the new normal of COVID-19. The conceptualization of meaningful work is defined by the extensive literature review and current research findings. Future of work and its meaning are shaped by the crucial internal and external triggers as human resource practices, job-demand resources model, leadership, job crafting, playful work design, strengths used by individuals, and self-leadership. The meaning at distance work is reinforced by the fulfillment of individual needs. Within this context, new conceptualization of needs for meaning-based person job fit has emerged. The understanding of the relationship between variables and new meaningful work were enlightened by the theoretical framework of self-determination theory, social exchange theory, job-demand resources theory, work identity theory, social learning theory, social cognitive theory, and self-leadership theory. The chapter explores the possible outcomes of COVID-19 and its possible opportunities for employees, organizations, and education sectors.

Efficiency and problems of distance learning: Experience of Russia and Kazakhstan

The last decade has been marked by large-scale and rapid changes in education, taking place on the basis of modern infocommunication and digital technologies, new hardware and software, as well as teaching methods updated in accordance with this. The limited mobility of citizens due to the coronavirus pandemic further intensified these processes, when, even with a low readiness of educational institutions to switch to distance (electronic, remote) technologies, teachers and students had to quickly master these technologies and use them in practice. The resulting experience allows us to identify not only problematic, sometimes even negative, features of distance learning, but also to make sure of the undoubted advantages of these technologies. The article points out the need for a systematic analysis when deciding on the use of e-learning, taking into account both technical and methodological, as well as personnel readiness for the implementation of this technology.The article analyzes these problems using the example of teaching both technical and humanitarian disciplines. The experience of distance work is analyzed on the example of cooperation between the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (Russia) and the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Kazakhstan), which in its practical activities purposefully invites foreign professors to deliver lectures, guide undergraduates, etc., including those based on distance technology. The data of an anonymous questionnaire survey of students of these universities are given, allowing to assess the effectiveness of the decisions made, as well as to clarify the existing problems.

Distance Work with the Preparation of Future Managers of Physical Culture in the Conditions of a Post-Pandemic Society

Due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, all countries began to introduce quarantine measures, which led to the closure of all higher education institution indefinitely. They were forced to switch to a distance learning process in a short time. The readiness for this process was different, purely technical problems arose - the lack of the Internet, computers, educational materials on the network. And most importantly, the teachers are not ready for distance learning. The IT industry was the first to respond to the needs of teachers and students in physical culture and sports: the power of channels was increased, a large number of services and tools for teaching appeared. For video conferencing, the ZOOM tool turned out to be very popular, a large number of blogs with training recommendations were published on social networks, distance courses were held on the development of training resources and the organization of training. After the weakening of quarantine in the world, it became clear that humanity has entered a new stage of development, where distance learning will play a big role. Therefore, it is important to analyze the results of the distance learning process and determine the priority ways of developing online education in training future managers of physical culture and sports. The article is devoted to the problems of using distance work in the training of future managers of physical culture and sports.

Validity and Reliability of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale in the Czech Republic (CRBS-CZE): Determination of Key Barriers in East-Central Europe

Cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) is an effective secondary preventive model of care. However, the use of CR is insufficient, and the reasons for this are not well-characterized in East-Central Europe. This prospective observational study psychometrically validated the recently translated Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale for the Czech language (CRBS-CZE) and identified the main CR barriers. Consecutive cardiac in/out-patients were approached from January 2020 for 18 months, of whom 186 (89.9%) consented. In addition to sociodemographic characteristics, participants completed the 21-item CRBS-CZE (response options 1–5, with higher scores representing greater barriers), and their CR utilization was tracked. Forty-five (24.2%) participants enrolled in CR, of whom 42 completed the CRBS a second time thereafter. Factor analysis revealed four factors, consistent with other CRBS translations. Internal reliability was acceptable for all but one factor (Cronbach’s alpha range = 0.44–0.77). Mean total barrier scores were significantly higher in non-enrollers (p < 0.001), decreased from first and second administration in these enrollers (p < 0.001), and were lower in CR completers (p < 0.001), supporting criterion validity. There were also significant differences in barrier scores by education, geography, tobacco use, among other variables, further supporting validity. The biggest barriers to enrolment were distance, work responsibilities, lack of time, transportation problems, and comorbidities; and the greatest barriers to adherence were distance and travel. Several items were considered irrelevant at first and second administration. Other barriers included wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study demonstrated sufficient validity and reliability of CRBS-CZE, which supports its use in future research.

Vozmozhnosti internet-prostranstva dlia realizatsii kul'turno-obrazovatel'nykh proektov v usloviiakh distantsionnoi raboty

The chapter of the monograph is devoted to the problem of implementing distance work, in particular in the cultural and educational space caused by the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection. It is noted that the abrupt transition to distance forms of work has clearly revealed the weaknesses of online education and enlightenment associated with the unavailability of the education system itself and teaching staff.

ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO IMPROVE HOME OFFICE ERGONOMICS – RESULTS FROM A STUDY ON THE FIRST WAVE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN LATVIA

Introduction: Telework, also known as remote work, distance work, telecommuting, was gaining popularity already before the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite benefits, telework can also cause workers' mental and physical health, and forced telework during the COVID-19 pandemic has promoted the onset of these problems. Objectives: The objective of the study was to analyze the management of ergonomics in teleworking workplaces and the association between pain longer than three days and preventive measures provided by employers in Latvia during the 1st emergency restrictions, which were in force between 12 March and 9 June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Web-survey was used to gather information from respondents – workers. In total, 1006 workers fully filled in the questionnaire in October 2020. Four hundred eighty-three teleworkers of both genders were identified. Results: 35.7% of respondents reported pain longer than three days. The odds of pain were increased in case of lack of all analyzed preventive measures. For those who reported not being provided with a computer and other IT equipment OR for pain was 1.50 (CI 0.95-2.37). Even higher OR was observed in case of not receiving advice on how to arrange an ergonomic workstation (OR= 2.37, CI 1.32-4.25) and not having identified working conditions (OR= 2.61, CI 1.43-4.77). The highest risk was observed if the employer had not provided an office table and office chair (OR=5.46, CI 1.78-16.80). Conclusion: Teleworkers not receiving support from the employer on the arrangement of home offices have an increased risk of having pain for longer than three days. Provision of an office worktable, an office chair, advice on how to arrange an ergonomic workplace and provision of workplace risk assessment are key measures to be taken by the employer to improve home office ergonomics of their workers.

Chine : Enseignement des langues étrangères confiné en ligne

In January 2020, an unprecedented pandemic hit the world. Although it was the middle of a holiday period, Chinese teachers mobilised. In a very short time, the school year started online and distance learning was introduced. Everyone had to deal with the advantages and disadvantages of this new form of teaching. One month after the start of the school year, we conducted a survey to better understand the requirements of distance work, to find out the strong and weak points in order to start thinking about solutions to better conduct this new form of teaching.

Teachers’ mental health during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland

Background Teaching work is stressful, moreover during the pandemic teachers’ stress might have been intensified by distance education as well as by limited access to social support, which functions as a buffer in experiencing stress. The aim of the research was to investigate the relation between distance education and teachers’ well-being, and their close relations and other social relations during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The research was conducted in two stages on 285 Polish primary and secondary school teachers who were recruited by means of the chain referral method. The following measures were used: The Depression Anxiety & Stress Scales-21, Berlin Social Support Scales, The Relationship Satisfaction Scale and The Injustice Experience Questionnaire. Results The teachers experienced at least mild levels of stress, anxiety and depression, both during the first as well as the second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. It has been confirmed that there is a negative relation between relationship quality change and social relations quality change, and stress, anxiety and depression. The variables taken into consideration in the research have provided the explanation for the variation of stress—from 6% in the first stage of the research to 47% in the second stage; for the variation of anxiety—from 21% to 31%; and for the variation of depression—from 12% to 46%, respectively. Conclusions The research results show that due to distance work the distinction between professional work and family life might have been blurred, and as a consequence teachers’ well-being could have been worsened. The isolation put on to stop the spreading of the virus might have contributed to changes in social relations, in close relations in particular, and at the same time negatively influenced teachers’ abilities to effectively cope with the crisis situations.

SOME ASPECTS OF BASIC COMPUTER TRAINING OF BACHELORS IN THE CONDITIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS AND FORMS OF TRAINING

The work is devoted to methodological problems of basic computer training of bachelors with a focus on the use of unconventional methods and forms of education. Unconventional methods and forms of basic computer training of future bachelors are formed under the influence of a number of factors, among which today the main ones are the introduction of a competence approach in higher education and the transition to a mixed (fulltime-distance) form of education. In the process of basic computer training, the information and computer and technological competences of bachelors of technical specialties can be formed on the basis of the use of traditional methods and forms of training. For the formation of procedural and activity competence, unconventional approaches are proposed, based on the use of quasi-professional tasks and the orientation to the formation of such general competencies as the ability to abstract thinking, analysis and synthesis in future bachelors; the ability to make informed decisions; ability to apply knowledge in practical situations, etc. The corresponding structure of the main discipline of basic computer training with the allocation of two modules, the main topics of each module and their approximate volumes is proposed. To ensure readiness for the educational process in emergency situations, it is advisable to use the adaptive full-distance learning scheme AFDLS. Regarding the basic computer training of higher education student, the main methodological issue is the determination of rational proportions of the combination of classroom and distance work in the context of certain types of educational work, establishing criteria and procedures for the transition from one form of education to another. To ensure the possibility of promptly changing the calendar plan and eliminating the need for independent study of complex material, it is proposed in the working programs of computer disciplines to allocate blocks of as small a volume as possible that are little connected with each other.