KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Armenian State Pedagogical University organized the shift to distance (online) learning very quickly, almost without obstacles. This is the result of many years of work as each and every student of the University is taught to use Google Classroom (an online learning platform) once he/she enters ASPU.

In an online conversation with old.aspu.am, Shahane Grigoryan, a first-year MA student at ASPU, said one of the advantages of online learning is that you use your time effectively, which, she says, is the imperative of time.

Students agree that the key advantage of distance learning is that one does not fall behind in the learning process. “The learning process has not suffered [amid coronavirus pandemic]. It’s true nothing can replace live communication but we don’t miss our classes thanks to online learning,” says Gohar Kolozyan, a third-year student of the Faculty of Primary Education.

Tatevik Sayadyan, a fist-year student of the Faculty of Special and Inclusive Education, says the learning process is going on smoothly: both in the classroom and on online platforms, they discuss lessons, take midterm exams, and listen to lectures. The only disadvantage is the quality and interruptions during the connection.

Talking about the problems and fears, students expressed concerns over the organization of internships and the lack of literature databases. In addition, it is a bit more difficult to organize distance education in the Faculties of Art Education and Culture due to the peculiarities of those professions.

We need to study thoroughly the tools developed for each subject, because each subject requires a different approach, especially when the learning process is organized remotely,” says Mariam Harutyunyan, a third-year student of the Faculty of Culture. She agrees with her coursemates that this is an interesting experience to understand whether distance learning fully justifies itself, and what advantages and disadvantages it has.

It should be noted many of the students have come up with suggestions of their own. Zvart Ambroyan, a first-year MA student of the Faculty of Philology, thinks that this experience can create wide opportunities, especially for masters. “Most of them work. The platform makes it possible to combine study and work more smoothly,” she says. Now students can join the course from the workplace at the same time doing their job without the fear of being late for classes.

Many students suggest using the platform more frequently with students taking distance learning programmes in order to keep in touch with them and increase the effectiveness of the learning process.

Chairman of the ASPU Student Council Paruyr Galstyan adds that students are able to communicate with their supervisors through the Google Meet app, discuss issues related to their course papers, graduate theses and master's theses.

In the given situation, the cooperation between the University, students and lecturers helped facilitate the continuity of education for students through remote learning. Students even say jokingly that ‘there are more people in the classroom now.’