Technologies for 21st Century Skills TVET International Conference in Armenia Alexis Ramos Director of Leadership Development Teach For Armenia

Teach For Armenia: Who are we? Teach For Armenia recruits, trains, and places “Fellows” to teach in Armenia’s most underserved schools and disadvantaged communities for a minimum of 2 years in order to foster ambassadors for educational equity in Armenia and, in so doing, transform the Armenia’s future. Fellows participate in our Leadership Development Program, a rigorous 2-years of training, coaching and coursework designed to prepare Fellows to be transformational teachers. They also work to inspire the local community, leading by example and directing grassroots development projects.

Inequity… According to the World Bank Group, 90% of firms find that the key obstacle to hiring in Armenia is a lack of appropriate skills. These firms site equity in education and vocational education as the third biggest obstacle to hiring in Armenia World Bank Group (2015) https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/22487/Skills0gaps0an0l0skills0development.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y According to the world bank group, 90% of firms consider skills to be the key obstacle to hiring. What this means is our education systems and our vocational educational education structures need to prepare our job seekers for the job market of today and tomorrow. More telling, these employers ranked equity in education and vocational education as the third obstacle to hiring in countries like Armenia

By Ending Educational Inequity… Educational Equity Lead Self Lead Students Work with Communities Contribute to a better Armenia By placing teachers in the most underserved communities and the country, and training them to be

Teach For Armenia’s Model 103 Fellows 85 Communities Teacher Training So, we have 102 Fellows in 85 communities and it is our job to train these teachers to make significant academic gains in their classrooms without seeing them face to face. So how do we do it?

Leadership Development Team: What do we do? We train a cohort of over 100 Fellows across Armenia & Artsakh, in 85 communities, to be transformational teachers & leaders, helping to develop strong communities. Coach Fellows as Teachers and Leaders Connect Fellows with resources they need Deliver Trainings and Workshops Lesson Observations Interventions for those who need support Provide lesson feedback, strategies & techniques Track Fellow data and growth Track academic progress Each LDM manages & coaches between 20-23 Fellows

Trending in Education Technology Online Learning Platforms Virtual/Augmented Reality Cloud Computing In many ways, we harness technology and mobile learning to hone our Fellows’ pedagogical skills from afar. We use tools like Google Classroom, distance learning through video conferencing, Work based learning model in which teachers are learning and working at the same time.

Teach For Armenia’s Model Technology enabled learning & Mobile Learning Virtual Classroom Observations Instructional Videos/Modeling Video Conference Learning Virtual Coaching Online Learning Platform In many ways, we harness technology and mobile learning to hone our Fellows’ pedagogical skills from afar. We use tools like Google Classroom, distance learning through video conferencing,

Teach For Armenia’s Model Technology enabled learning & Mobile Learning is successful with: The right tracking The right skills The right technology The right mindsets What we have found is that the question isn’t really what’s hot and what’s not. Indeed, even the most basic technologies can make a huge impact in training people for their careers. Rather the question becomes, is everything else in place to make that possible. What we have found is that, from the most basic to the most complex, technology enabled learning is only possible with the right tracking systems, the right skills, the right technology and the right mindsets. Without any of these elements in place, even the most innovative and impactful technologies are rendered useless.

We ensure that we have tracking systems in place to track academic progress, teacher growth and pedagogical mastery. Tracking

2. We develop 21st Century skills in our Fellows; training them in the tools that we use in our LDP at our 5-week Summer Institute, so they enter the field knowing how to use the technologies and systems Skills

Tech 3. We provide Fellows with the technology they need to be successful in our program (mobile internet, mobile phones)

“Technology is just a tool  “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.” - Bill Gates Mindset 4. We continuously foster a mindset of continuous learning and growth and the immense value of online learning in our contexts

Why It Works 45% Average Academic Growth in TFA Classrooms from 2016-2018

Teaching & Technology Teach students Computer Science Connected students with the company A to B, a car sharing startup, and leveraged video conferencing to teach students Web Design and how to start their own online business Students then created their own websites Many of Mariam’s students had never even seen a computer before. Ashot wanted to become a programmer- after working with our teacher he entirely changed his mind and went to a 2 year training program to become a programmer. If it wasn’t for Mariam and the 21st Century mindset she had and shared with her students, her kids wouldn’t even know that such programs existed, nor would they be at all interested in applying. Mariam also held computer literacy classes for the school staff and the parents. Demonstrating how she worked to transform the communities.

Community Development: Sweet as Honey Blagadarnoye/Meghvahovit, Armenia & Vaghazin,Artsakh Locals taught students how to make honey Students made and packaged the product They harnessed online platforms to sell their honey to the public Entrepreneurism, community development, job creation In many ways, we harness technology and mobile learning to hone our Fellows’ pedagogical skills from afar. We use tools like Google Classroom, distance learning through video conferencing,

Challenges for Armenia Unreliable & inequitable access to electricity, technology, and internet connectivity Inequitable access to training for using those tools Requires forward-looking programs Framework for TVET must allow for the introduction of IT enabled learning A mindset for digital learning

A Holistic Approach Tech Skills Mindset Tracking Systems It begins in our schools and continues into our Vocational Education Programs. The technology is great, and when everything else is in place, it has the potential to change the economic landscape the country. So let’s get our virtual reality, mobile learning, cloud computing and distance learning in our vocational education programs, but let’s also begin earlier and prepare the groundwork for our future to have the knowledge, skills and mindsets to succeed in those programs.

Conclusions If we are going to prepare our youth for the jobs of tomorrow, and if TVET is going to become a viable and desirable route for job seekers, then a comprehensive approach is necessary. We at Teach For Armenia believe that it starts with our children. We foster the knowledge, skills and mindsets that make young minds ripe for what Tech & TVET have to offer. By teaching digital literacy in the classroom, working towards equitable access to technology, and developing the right mindsets, technology can make a real difference for the future prospects of our children, our communities and our country.