Inauguration of the “WorldView on the Teacher’s Desk” manual: New and Unique Resource for the Educational Community

On November 20, the “WorldView on the Teacher’s Desk” manual was unveiled at the hall of Zangak Bookstore in the heart of Yerevan. This innovative resource for the educational community drew together more than 90 teachers from across Armenia and Yerevan, as well as representatives from the National Center for Education Development and Innovation Foundation, Armenian universities, esteemed educational organizations, foundations, researchers, and students.

The Visual Armenia Foundation introduced this educational guide, which combines innovative technology with modern pedagogical thinking. “The concept and need for this manual came directly from you, our dear teachers. Today, we are thrilled to bring it to life. Even the title, ‘WorldView on the Teacher’s Desk,’ was inspired by you,” said Arevik Avetisyan, head of the WorldView educational program and the manual project manager, during her opening remarks.

Hovhannes Ghazaryan, Executive Director of the Foundation and Founder of the WorldView educational platform, addressed the audience, saying, “I am delighted to see teachers we’ve worked with extensively, alongside new faces and representatives from partner organizations. We all share the common goal of ensuring quality education, achievable only through close cooperation. This manual exemplifies the collaboration between the teaching community, the Foundation, and field experts, addressing the need for modern teaching strategies and techniques for Armenian teachers, illustrated with examples from the WorldView platform.”

Ghazaryan thanked the creative team and all those that endorsed it with their professional opinion, including the YSU Department of Armenian History, the Khachatur Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University’s Department of World History and Teaching Methodology, the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences, and education expert Serob Khachatryan.

He concluded his remarks by saying: “This is a moment when words of gratitude are truly warranted. I would like to extend a special thanks to our main supporter and friend, the President of Manoogian Simone Foundation, philanthropist Ms. Christine Simone. She is truly a dedicated benefactor who, other than providing financial support, invests her valuable experience, knowledge, vision, and time into the success of all our programs. She personally visits schools in even the most remote regions of Armenia, engaging with teachers and students to understand their needs and offer solutions.”

Keynote speaker Serob Khachatryan, a lecturer at YSU and educational expert, stated, “I want to congratulate everyone, not only on the publication of the manual but also on the emergence of the Visual Armenia Foundation and its programs within the educational landscape. In my opinion, this is one of the most impactful educational organizations established in Armenia in recent years, setting a new standard and work style for the educational environment”.

“I greatly value the process behind this work. Ultimately, it’s always possible to manipulate or alter final outcomes, but I am truly impressed by how this manual was developed, the collaboration involved, and the supportive environment created.”

“This manual is especially valuable because it was crafted by dedicated and highly experienced teachers. In terms of content, it is a tremendous gift to our educators. We all know that new standards have been introduced, and many of our teachers are still getting familiar with them. This manual provides engaging and practical answers for various questions, such as how to write an essay, define measurable objectives, plan lessons, and implement project-based learning.”

“The creative team has successfully integrated the entire educational process into this manual. I also appreciate its academic rigor; the resources included here have been thoroughly vetted and are backed by practical application. The manual is equipped with links leading to digital tools that connect to WorldView’s rich proprietary resources. This type of guide has never been developed for teachers in Armenia before”.

“I particularly value the section on “Developing Historical Thinking through the WorldView Platform. If we truly implement this manual in our subject teaching, I believe it will significantly enhance the effectiveness of our instruction”.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the management team of the Foundation, as none of this would have been possible without their strong leadership culture. The quality of management directly reflects the quality of their products.”

In a room filled with positive energy, Seda Kocharyan, co-author of the manual and a respected figure in the educational community as a methodologist and instructor for the WorldView educational program, addressed the attendees via video message:

“Voltaire once said, ‘Ignorance is the mother of all evils’ and the root cause of many social issues and injustices. Therefore, the salvation of both individuals and nations lies in the dissemination of education and reason. And who are the ones that can spread knowledge? Certainly, it is the teachers.”

“In this endeavor,” Ms. Kocharyan continued, “we educators need not only courage and patience but also a range of competencies. The new era requires new methods. The foundation of this manual is based on the idea that Armenian teachers and students should utilize the methods and approaches employed in the world’s best schools. Armenian students should not lag behind their peers from any other country in their development, and Armenian teachers must skillfully master and apply all the methods accessible to teachers in the best educational institutions worldwide”.

“I truly hope that this book will become the primary methodological guide for Armenian teachers to effectively face the challenges in education.”

Also present at the event were teachers who have already utilized the manual. One of them, Arpenik Margaryan, encouraged her colleagues to acquire it, stating, “I want to express my utmost gratitude to the authors and the creative team for providing us with such an ‘instrument’ in our hands. I also especially appreciate that, even in this digital age, you haven’t forgotten about creating a printed book; after all, we really love books!”

Haykanush Ghevondyan, co-author and methodologist for the WorldView educational program, added, “As authors and practicing teachers we fully understand our main challenges—from defining learning outcomes to implementing project-based learning. How do you set lesson outcomes, goals, and objectives? How do you align them with existing standards? How do you plan a lesson in five steps? How do you conduct project-based teaching, assess student work, and facilitate collaboration? This manual provides all that and more, including examples of homework, hybrid learning, student worksheets, and step-by-step guides. We’ve adapted some methods, while others have been created by drawing inspiration from the possibilities offered by WorldView.”

The manual aims to provide teachers of social sciences – specifically Armenian History and World History – with effective tools for implementing a successful teaching process through the WorldView educational platform. In its five sections, teachers will find a wealth of tools, methods, strategies, examples, and resources.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, this manual was authored by well-known experts and teachers in our educational community: Seda Kocharyan, Haykanush Ghevondyan, Naira Yerkanyan, and Mariam Khachatryan.

After the event concluded, attendees engaged in lively and informal conversations, enriched by the positive atmosphere in the room. People left the event feeling optimistic about the future of education.