Within the scope of the “Knowledge is Power” educational initiative, training courses will be held for about 120 teachers from the city of Stepanakert (Artsakh) and the villages of Martuni region and the city of Martuni in order to present modern teaching methods and the current approaches.

As the creators of the “Knowledge is Power” educational initiative told Hayern Aysor, the courses are organized at the initiative of a group of specialists from Armenia and Artsakh. The program has already been approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Artsakh Republic.

It is proposed to hold the two following simultaneous courses that teachers can register for according to their preferences:

1. Three-day course devoted to modern teaching methods and technologies, including planning method and Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) education.
2. Two-day course devoted to psychological approaches, including formation and enhancement of positive sentimental relations, ensuring a positive atmosphere through psychological tricks and games.

Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Artsakh Republic Slava Asryan attaches importance to this program. “This initiative provides the opportunity to introduce teachers to modern teaching methods and the new technologies, particularly STEM education, which includes the methods for teaching subjects and planning, instills elements of the engineering culture and teaches natural sciences and math in an integrated format since these sectors are strictly interrelated in real life. We are certain that the initiative will serve its goal and will serve as an impetus for educational reforms for the benefit of the upbringing of the young generation,” the Minister mentioned.

“During the meetings with government officials of Artsakh, importance has always been attached to the issue of teaching through modern methods, and we decided to launch this initiative through combined efforts. The experienced specialists will not only present the modern approaches to education, but also carry out hands-on activities. If we want to ensure progress in the education sector, then the application of modern methods is simply a necessity. STEM is currently considered one of the main trends in global education since knowledge of the specified fields is becoming the most in-demand in the modern world,” the initiative’s creator Anush Yedigaryan emphasized.

The organizers are certain that the courses will not only provide the participants with the knowledge they need, but will also foster the coordinated cooperation between the teachers of various schools, creating a platform for considering modern educational methods and technologies.

The training courses will be held in late July in Stepanakert and in the Gishi village of Martuni region. The trainers are specialists who have studied or improved their knowledge abroad and have rich experience in teaching and holding teacher training courses.

The training program features hands-on, group and research assignments. Emphasis is placed on the approaches to STEM education that help students conduct research and foster analytical thinking, help build potential for cooperation and select the professions that are in demand in the modern world.

Some of the teachers who undergo training through the program will also teach at the “Knowledge is Power” Summer School Program to be organized for pupils between the ages of 10 and 16 in the Martuni region of Artsakh through the “Knowledge is Power” initiative. The approaches to STEM education also underlie this summer school program.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ArtsakhEducationInitiative/