THE INTEGRATION OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INTO THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING STUDENTS' PRACTICAL SKILLS IN THE SUBJECT "THE EQUIPPING OF HOTEL AND RESTAURANT BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS"

Abstract

This article substantiates the role of the digital educational environment as a key factor in improving the quality of professional training for future lecturers in the service industry. Its didactic potential in the development of professional and practical skills, technical thinking, and the acquisition of professional competencies by students is identified. Modern approaches to the digitalisation of the educational process are analysed, in particular the utilisation of virtual laboratories and 3D visualisation technologies, as well as simulation technologies in the teaching of the subject "The Equipping of Hotel and Restaurant Business Establishments". The structure of professional and practical skills is examined as a system of interrelated components: cognitive, operational-activity, technological, control-analytical, and motivational-value, which together ensure the formation of professional readiness of future specialists for effective performance in the hotel and restaurant industry. The pedagogical conditions for the effective integration of digital technologies into the process of forming professional and practical skills of students are determined, including the scientifically grounded selection of digital tools in accordance with the content of the discipline, systematic integration of digital technologies into the structure of the educational process based on blended learning principles, and orientation towards practice-based activities. The didactic capabilities of digital tools are characterised, including their role in providing visual representation of complex technical processes, modelling real-world production situations, individualising learning, and organising prompt knowledge assessment. It is substantiated that the digitalisation of the educational process serves as a key factor in the modernisation of vocational education in the hotel and restaurant industry and ensures the preparation of competitive specialists capable of effective professional activity in a modern technological environment.