Information and Communication Technologies in the field of general education in Armenia

Transcription

1 Information and Communication Technologies in the field of general education in Armenia NOVEMBER 2010

2 REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA Capital Yerevan Area 29,800 km 2 Population 3,250,000 Regions 11

3 Armenian school system, from the very beginning of its formation, has always been stronghold of political and national survival and the guarantee for progress of the Armenian nation. "The basis of state policy in education is development of national school, the main goal of which is formation of a person with high level of professional preparedness and educated in the spirit of patriotism, statehood, and humaneness".

4 The organizational basis of the state education policy is "The Education Development State Program". The Education System of the Republic of Armenia is an integrity of the state education standards, educational programs of different levels and directions ensuring educations and education management bodies.

5 The education system of Armenia includes: Pre-school education, General secondary education comprised of primary, middle level or basic and high school; Preliminary vocational, middle level vocational and higher professional education; Post-graduate education, specialist training and qualification improvement institutions; Education assessment and education services delivering institutions. The main goal of general education is creation of nourishing conditions for displaying and development of mental, spiritual, physical and social capacities of citizens (RA Law on Education).

6 According to the General Education National Curriculum Framework, the secondary general education in Armenia is implemented in the 12-year general secondary school through the following sequential three levels: primary school - 4 years (grades 1-4); middle school - 5 years (grades 5-9); high school - 3 years (10-12 grades). Transition to the 12-year education was launched since academic year. At present, the number of the state secondary general schools is 1404, out of which 9 are primary, 310 are basic, secondary, 47 high school. Total of 386,950 students are enrolled in the general education, with 52% male and 48% female students.

7 The average country enrolment rate for the primary school is 93.6%, at middle level school - 98%, and at high school %: The indicator of gross enrolment rate for the secondary school is 92.7%. Total of 40,300 teachers work at general education schools, 84.7% of teachers being female. The number of teachers with higher pedagogical education background comprises 74.4% of the total number of teachers, and with higher non-pedagogical education - 5.8%. Period of compulsory education is 9 years. In addition to state schools, there are 41 private schools in the country with 6,000 students and 1,200 teachers.

8 Main achievements in the field of ICT integration in the General Education Student/Computer ratio increased from 1/400 at the beginning of the Education Quality and Relevance Project in 2004 to 1/30 at the end of the Project in About 90% of teachers and school principals acknowledge the importance of ICT in teaching and learning process. About 35% of teachers in Armenia received training in ICT skills in the frames of the Education Quality and Relevance Project. Electronic resources for Armenian Language and Literature, Geometry and Algebra, Russian Language and English language have been developed and distributed to all schools.

9 Government programs designed to improve ICT in teaching and learning process 1. The concept of creating an electronic community in Armenia. 2. Activities aimed at improving computer skills in the field of general education in Armenia. 3. The concept of teaching computer skills in primary schools. All of these programs and concepts are being implemented by the decisions of the government of Armenia In the Republic of Armenia, access and distribution of the Information and communication technologies in the sphere of the general education is implemented by the National Center for Educational Technologies under the Ministry of the Education and Science of Armenia.

10 NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION TECHNOLOGIES (NACET) To administer and foster the development of ICT in Education on the government level, by the decision of the Government of Armenia and in the frames of Education Quality and Relevance World Bank Credit Project, the Ministry of Education and Science in 2004 established the National Center for Education Technologies State Non-Commercial organization (NACET). Main Objectives Introduction and Enhancement of Information and Communication Technologies in the Armenian secondary general schools

11 Primary Scope of Activities Administration and support of Armenian School Internet Network Administration of Mobile Internet Computer Station (Laboratory) Project Administration of Armenian Educational Portal Administration of education management information system Implementation of technical upgrades in schools Delivery of computer literacy trainings for the teachers of IT and staff of internet-computer centers of schools Creation of educational brochures, creation of electronic libraries Certification of computer software applications Coordination of ICT in Education programs Programs and activities are mainly funded from the RA State Budget

12 Armenian School Internet Network One of the core areas of NACET policy is the provision of computer hardware, internet connectivity and computer training to schools. NACET currently oversees the implementation of Armenia School Internet Network program, which includes administration and provision of wide range of technical support services for the unique internet-computer school network consisting of 644 schools and more than 60 access points. Till the end of 2010 it is anticipated to enlarge the school network to 944 schools, by providing connectivity to another 300 schools: the connectivity of new 300 schools is currently in the process. It is anticipated to provide connectivity to another 400 schools in 2011.

13 Armenian School Internet Network TOTAL NUMBER OF TRAINED PEOPLE IN COMPUTER LITERACY TRAININGS 620 staff of internet-computer centers of 620 schools recently connected to the School Internet Network received training in Network Administration. 620 teachers of Informatics of 620 schools recently connected to the School Internet Network received training in the utilization of online tools in the educational process.

14 Mobile Internet Computer Station Project Mobile Internet-Computer Station Project was launched in 2008 in the framework of Support of Armenian School Internet Network and maintenance of computer equipment budget program. Mobile Internet-Computer Lab is a vehicle transformed into a learning lab, connected to internet through satellite connection. Mobile Lab is equipped with: 7 workstations Centralized UPS, air-conditioning and security systems.

15 Mobile Internet-Computer Station Project Mobile ICS During Mobile ICS delivered computer literacy trainings in 36 communities all over Armenia and trained total of 1250 teachers, students and community members.

16 Computer equipment and Internet availability in schools. In 1457 Armenian schools there are 13,027 Computers (Pentium III and newer). On average, 9 computers in one school. 880 schools have permanent access to the Internet, of which 644 are grouped together in the Armenian school Internet network. Effective organization of technical updates, and technical needs assessment carried out through the online database.

17 Education Management Information System Collects statistical information from all the Armenian schools that is published in the directory "General Education in Armenia". These data are also stored in an online database. Analyzed information improves the efficiency of education management.

18 Armenian Educational Portal Armenian educational portal started to operate from December of 2007, which is the largest educational portal in Armenian language. The portal provides information on Armenian education system, programs being implemented, information about competitions and news, as well as methodological, legal and educational documents. The portal also provides generation, subscription service as well as virtual space for collaboration.

19 Armenian Educational Portal Distance learning learning.armedu.am Distance Learning in Armenian educational environment portal was launched in September Today it is in test mode. Two courses are currently being conducted in online mode: Computer Graphics for beginners and a Operational skills of school LANs.

20 Armenian Educational Portal Armenian educational forum forum.armedu.am The new version of the forum in "Armenian educational environment portal was launched Teachers and students are the participants of the forum. Forum topics are related to education, culture, sports, there are also intellectual tasks and educational games.

21 Electronic diaries Interactive electronic diaries were created, which contain information on students evaluations and performance. Electronic diary allows parents to be aware of their children'sperformance in online mode.

22 National Center for Education Technologies (NaCET) The web page of NаCET operates from February It provides information on organizational updates ICT news announcements information about organization links achieve

23 E-Content Electronic Educational Publications All Armenian schools were provided with 18 electronic educational publications on CDs.

24 E-Content Handbook of a Network User The handbook published at the end of 2009 and distributed to all schools in Armenia. Every school received two copies of handbook and one electronicversion on CD.

25 E-Content Electronic CD for Network Users The interactive electronic version on a CD of the Handbook of a Network User was created in the end of 2009 The CD has 5 sections Handbook Videos Dictionary Links Programs The online version is available on the Armenian educational portal.

26 E-Content Electronic library spyurq.dasagirq.am On the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia an electronic library was created. The library houses many books which are intended for students from elementary schools to high schools.

27 Licensing of OS and other Computer Software 8,300 licensed versions of Windows OS (Vista, 7) and Microsoft office were provided to Armenian schools through in the frames of the agreement signed between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia and Microsoft corporation.

28 Cooperation and innovation Cooperation with Microsoft In Armenia Microsoft Partners In Learning Program has been launched in December Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Microsoft and Ministry of Education and Science. Partners in Learning Program focuses on 3 main areas: innovative schools, innovative teachers and innovative students. Main activities are: Developing Innovative Teachers Network and creating Education portal for Schools Organizing annual conferences and Innovative Education Forum, where teachers are presenting their innovative teaching methods and 2-3 best projects get the opportunity to present their projects in Europe and compete during the European Innovative Education Forum. Participating in Microsoft Innovative Schools Program: Mkhitar Sebastatsy Educational Complex last year and Annania Shirakatsy Lyceum this year has been selected to be a Pathfinder School as part of the Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Schools Program! Organizing teachers trainings on ICT usage in Education. Providing free Live@Edu Services to Schools.

29 School Collaboration One of the Armenian schools, school 198 in Yerevan was invited to take part in two projects: etwining music project etwinning project for intercultural dialogue through fairy tales, drama and art On 4-5 October, the delegation of the Ministry of Education an Science of Armenia took part in Exploratory Round Table on the etwinning programme and Eastern Partnership countries.

30 THANK YOU