Lessons Have Enhanced Quality and Better Student Engagement with WorldView – A Conversation with Mentor-Teacher Olik Tosunyan

If it weren’t for the WorldView educational platform Olik Tosunyan might have stopped teaching. As a teacher for three years, she began using this platform in October 2023 and confidently states that the quality of her lessons has improved.

“When I started working at the school, I wanted my lessons to be engaging, so my students were active participants rather than just physically present. Now, I can unequivocally say that lessons conducted with WorldView differ significantly in both quality and student engagement than when I first started teaching. They are particularly captivated by measurements, such as how many kilometers it is from one city to another and how long it would take to travel by horseback, on foot, by car, or by plane. Additionally, WorldView has facilitated the teacher’s role,” noted Tosunyan, who teaches history and social studies at the Hovtashen Secondary School in the Ararat region.

She no longer spends time searching for various paper maps (sometimes in vain) and transporting them to the classroom. “All the necessary maps, materials, and reliable information on each topic are available on WorldView. You just need to log in, and the lesson becomes vivid and engaging.”

“For instance, we didn’t have a specific thematic map regarding the Artaxiad Dynasty (189 BC- 1). Previously, I tried to explain the topic using a map of the Armenian Highlands, but now there’s a dedicated thematic map on WorldView, making it easy. Another challenge I often faced was when students asked which territories a particular ancient state occupied and what modern country it is part of now. No matter how hard I tried to explain, they often couldn’t grasp it. Now, the changes are visible on the map with just one step, making it easy to understand. For example, when we study the Armenian Highlands, I can switch to a political map, and it clearly shows which region belongs to which country today.”

Tosunyan and her students also participated in the “Smart Boards for WorldView Schools 2024” program, winning a smart board for their school. Currently, it’s the only one in the school, and teachers need to sign up to use it. “The students eagerly await their turn, and when I announce it’s our time for a lesson with the smart screen, everyone gets excited.”

After attending two three-month trainings for WorldView, Olik Tosunyan is now part of the Mentorship Program. She mentions that it is the first of its kind in Armenia—where you learn, arm yourself with new methods, and even receive a scholarship for it. She can endlessly list program advantages, from effectively managing time and embracing mistakes to interacting appropriately with senior colleagues and employing various methods to make the lesson engaging to all students.

“I recently conducted an open lesson for the seventh grade. Even their class teacher was amazed at how even the so-called weaker students actively participated in the lesson. This is thanks to WorldView and especially the methods learned through the Mentorship Program. They are interactive, and whether the student wants to or not, they participate in the class. In this case, I applied the “Five E’s” method. First, you can show a picture or a short video related to the topic to promote curiosity, then divide the students into groups and assign them to explore the topic. They discuss it, present their findings, and learn from each other. So while the teacher introduces the content, the students do most of the work themselves.”

Tosunyan has learned many new teaching methods, and if even one technique is applied in each lesson, significant results will follow. As part of the Mentorship Program, she has also conducted two workshops for teachers from her and neighboring schools, showcasing the opportunities and tools of the WorldView educational platform. Although it is not mandatory, she plans to conduct a third workshop for Diaspora teachers.

“When your work is valued by professionals, you constantly want to achieve more. I want WorldView to gain greater recognition. I am trying to engage teachers from my native Javakheti through the third workshop. Since they do not cover Armenian history, they can utilize this digital platform, enroll students, and conduct effective lessons.”

Teacher Tosunyan hopes that WorldView will also be used in universities and colleges. She predicts that in the future, all subjects will be included in the platform.