Published in Nouvelles d’Arménie Magasine (April 2009)
The most beautiful gift AGBU could ever make to Armenian Diaspora: a new learning institute; one that will carry on its lifelong dedication to education with an entirely innovative approach. Yervant Zorian had the priviledge to initiate the Armenian Virtual College in 2004 under the umbrella of AGBU Silicon Valley.
A new Armenian classroom has emerged and will finally be available to any Armenian, anywhere, anytime.
Flora Hakobyan: What is Armenian Virtual College?
Yervant Zorian: The Armenian Virtual College (AVC) is AGBU’s newest learning institute – one that will carry on its lifelong dedication to education with an entirely innovative approach. The AVC aims to provide Armenians throughout the world the opportunity to receive a full-fledged Armenian education, regardless of their age, country of residence, or knowledge level. With the latest advances in the world of virtual education, it will create a virtual learning community that can foster both the cultural education and social connections, otherwise out of the reach of most students across the Diaspora and the homeland.
FH: What motivates you to set up this project?
YZ: We have raised our family first in Princeton, New Jersey and then in Silicon Valley, California, without having an option to use a regular Armenian day school. We had to be creative in finding ways to provide Armenian education and maintain the Armenian identity for our own family. Many Armenian communities around the world had the same challenge. The global internet network and online learning were the natural solution to address this challenge. I had the priviledge to initiate the Armenian Virtual College in 2004 under the umbrella of AGBU Silicon Valley. This became a response to the need for an education program that better addresses the current demands of the Armenian nation in the Diaspora and the homeland, and appeals to present day youth.
Living in Silicon Valley, at the heart of the technology world, and understanding the technology development potential in Armenia due to my daily work helped me shape the project, such that we tapped into the existing online learning technology and developed the Armenian contents largely in Armenia with the collaobration of scientists and engineers at the Yerevan State Univeristy’s Information Technology Center for Education and Research.
FH: What is the language instruction? What are kinds of courses are available?
YZ: The AVC is currently comprised of three departments – Language, History, and Culture – which will each offer 4 courses at varying skill levels. In order to truly accomplish the institute’s aim to widen the reach of Armenian education worldwide, all courses have been made available in six languages: Armenian (Eastern & Western), English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
FH: Who can enroll?
YZ: While this virtual institute targets Armenians high school and university students who do not have access to face-to-face Armenian educational programs, the AVC will also supplement the education of those who attend traditional Armenian learning institutions, such as day schools and Saturday schools. The distance learning program will not only reach a wider base of Diaspora students worldwide, but also provide state-of-the-art multimedia resources to students and instructors in traditional Armenian educational systems. While the AVC intends to address students’ needs, but it does not force age limits. During my interactions with different Armenian communities, I noticed wide enthusiasm also among the adults, who would like to expand their knowledge about Armenian language, history and culture. While the students intend to take a course for credit, most of the adults expressed interest in enrolling as observers, thus avoiding the preparation for exams.
FH: How are caurses taught ?
YZ: Through the use of multimedia technology, the virtual college will allow students to learn new material at their own pace, but also to confer with tutors and classmates face-to-face during office hours. In addition to weekly lectures, students will have access to multimedia study tools, games, assignments, course calendars, syllabi, quizzes, drop boxes, and gradebooks. Moreover, discussion forums and live chat options will provide students with the opportunity to better connect with their classmates and to forge friendships with Armenians from across the globe. The multimedia courses are authored by renowned topic experts from Armenia, reinforced by international pedagogic experts in online learning. The learners are supported by virtual teachers, who provide distance guidance, drive discussion forums, respond to student inquiries, and grade assignments, projects, midterms and finals.
FH: Is credit available for AVC courses ?
YZ: AVC learners can choose to earn credits for each course that they complete, ultimately leading to a diploma from the AGBU Armenian Virtual College by completing 12 courses, or a minor in a subject domain by completing 4 courses from a single department. Moreover, students may transfer credits from AVC courses to various universities, high schools and learning institutes across the world. Currently, the AVC is actively pursuing accreditation with recognized educational institutions in the Republic of Armenia, North America and Europe. Such accreditation may help students transfer credits from AVC to their corresponding university programs or obtain credit as Advanced Placements courses in their corresponding high schools programs.
FH: How do you fund this project?
YZ: The AGBU Central Board embrassed this project and generously agreed to provide the necessary funding to develop the courseware and learning management system of the Armenian Virtual College, with the AGBU expanded its lifelong commitment to Armenian education. While the registration fees from the learners enrolling in AVC courses will bring additional income through. But this will be a sybollic amount.
FH: How to register?
YZ: Using the REGISTRATION page at the AVC web site (www.avc-agbu.org), you can easily complete an application form. After which, you will shortly receive an email from the AVC detailing further instructions and enabling your log-in. This will allow you to see certain sample courses and to give you the option to enroll in a select set of courses offerred during that semester.
FH: When it will be officilay launched ?
YZ: The first set of regular courses will be officially opened in June 2009. These will include multi-lingual options and interaction with virtual teachers and students. In January 2009, the AVC has launched its pilot period. A good number of dedicated individuals from all around the world enrolled and provided very useful feedback. The AVC is prepared to surmount the educational barriers which have plagued the Armenian Diaspora for decades. A new Armenian classroom has emerged and will finally be available to any Armenian, anywhere, anytime.