I came to Kent State university after five years of teaching Philosophy and Language in Siberian Federal University (Russia). When I became a student again, I had the only plan to perform. I wanted to learn about the most up-to-date trends in American (and international) education. I knew that technology can do better than it is doing in today's Russian schools and universities. I hoped to find something that could be used for changing my work, my career, my lifestyle.

Today I understand that I found even more. Metaphorically speaking, I wanted to get a set of tools for repairing a garage - 'education system' in the area where I live. Now I want to build a car in that garage. I learnt that the tools can help to make more than I wanted at first. I understood that technology is even more than a set of tools. It is a systemic approach which defines the way of using these tools.

Here is a brief list of my plans for the nearest three-five years:

First, I am going to continue working at Siberian Federal University. I will start several projects, such as distance and blended courses for some groups of students, designing multimedia products for the courses, making a web site for the Philosophy Department.

Second, I am planning to continue developing the project of a language school for teenagers from poor rural areas in my region. I will use what I learnt about e-learning and distance learning to make it effective and available for the students who want to learn foreign languages but have no access to quality education.

Third, I will create several courses for professional development training both in the university and at school. There are a lot of enthusiastic teachers who will participate in training sessions and will be able to make a good team.

Fourth, I am planning to continue my research in the field of social philosophy, and I will focus my research interest on such areas of Philosophy as Education Philosophy and Information Society Development. I will use knowledge and skills obtained in ITEC area to do that.

Fifth, I will continue professional development in the area of Instructional Technology using open and commercial educational services of the Web.

A Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea told that our knowledge is like a circle, the more you learn, the bigger the area inside circle is, but at the same time the area outside the circle (the new and undiscovered things) appears to be expanding. Now I have new ideas about what I can do when I come back home, but I still want to learn more. Now I see that I need more practical skills in the area of developing and localizing educational software and Web services, networking, safety, creative approaches to distance learning, theory of information and communication and much more.