WorldView Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Modern Problems of History Teaching

On November 12, the Pedagogical University hosted the 2nd International Conference titled “Modern Problems of History Teaching,” which welcomed 12 speakers and over 50 participant teachers and students. The conference addressed key issues in history education, including:

• • Key stages in the formation, development, and refinement of history teaching methodologies
  • The use of maps in history instruction
  • Methodological approaches to the analysis of historical sources
  • Innovations in teaching practices

Speakers from Armenia, the Russian Federation, and Germany contributed to the event. Arevik Avetisyan, the manager of the WorldView innovative educational program at the Visual Armenia Development Foundation, presented on “Introducing Innovations in Public Schools: A Case Study of the WorldView Educational Platform – Challenges and Opportunities.”

During her presentation, she outlined the roadmap developed and successfully implemented by the Foundation to introduce innovations in schools. She highlighted three key components of school education: pedagogical potential, educational environment, and content/resources, analyzing them as both challenges and opportunities.

Avetisyan contextualized her discussion by noting that since 2021, a competency-based curriculum has been implemented in the Armenian education system. While this implementation has been challenging, it creates fertile ground for innovation and for organizations working to develop new approaches. Although the new curriculum is competency-based, it currently lacks adequate support systems, such as teaching programs and development platforms. In this light, what may initially appear as a challenge can become an opportunity. For example, the WorldView educational platform has been tailored to align with the new state curriculum, emphasizing key competencies.

Foundation mentor teachers Naira Yerkanyan and Ani Hovhannisyan also spoke on “Digital Education and Artificial Intelligence in History Teaching.” They emphasized that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. However, they cautioned that the technological divide could widen between tech-rich and tech-poor environments. Their report also highlighted AI’s potential to significantly facilitate research work, such as reading and deciphering dead languages and historical inscriptions.

The conference provided a platform for exchanging ideas on contemporary challenges in education stemming from technological advancements. Discussions included how to effectively organize teacher training, create a competency-based content environment for educators, and ensure the proper integration and application of AI and other innovative technologies. Participants underscored the need to focus on current challenges and develop practical solutions based on proven examples, setting the stage for the next conference’s discussions.