Formation of Group Creative Thinking When Working with Virtual Walls

The problem to be solved by the research is due to the need to prepare a graduate capable of creative thinking, working in a team, managing changes, projects, teams of people within the modern educational environment, and insufficient degree of development of the methodological base for training specialists of the future that meets these requirements. The aim of the study is to theoretically substantiate and experimentally test effectiveness of using virtual walls for formation of group creative thinking, as an important skill that corresponds to conditions of uncertainty of the future. The research methodology is the analysis and generalization of scientific works on the problem of determining the essence of group creative thinking, the virtual wall, clarifying requirements for training of highly qualified specialists of the future. Methods of group interactive learning (demonstration in the distant form of interaction, online discussion, defense of projects, and work on a virtual team wall) are used to enhance cognition, create favorable conditions for creativity when working in a team. The Trello service is a software tool for supporting online collaboration and group creative discovery. The pedagogical experiment is presented on the example of assessing changes in the levels of skills that constitute the essence of group creative thinking. Research results. The work clarifies the essence of the concept "group creative thinking" and describes the directions of group work on a virtual wall, which is most effective when forming it. The authors formulated the conditions under which the group activity on a virtual wall contributes to formation of group creative thinking: awareness of the meaning and motives of activity; the need for self-expression, active participation in the discussion, etc. Specific materials are proposed to improve the quality of education by means of supporting students' group activities, focused on their creative development and preparation for future professional activities. In the conclusion findings that confirm the inclusion of group activities on a virtual team wall in the training of specialists of the future contributes to formation of skills and abilities that make up the essence of group creative thinking are given.