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A sermon competition titled "Children in a Changing World: Artificial Intelligence and Children" has been held at Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) at the initiative of the Chair of Pedagogy. The traditional event dedicated to the International Day for Protection of Children was held for the 12th time.
As Head of the Chair of Pedagogy Aida Topuzyan said the day is marked at ASPU by organizing a competition of sermons by students and videos about childhood.
Professor Topuzyan said that children are opening a new era in education in this rapidly changing world: this is a new world with its own requirements, benefits, harms and disadvantages, challenges, and concerns.
In that context, she considered the work of people in charge of education, particularly that of teacher trainers, to be particularly difficult. Aida Topuzyan stressed that numerous questions have arisen. What qualities should a modern teacher have? Who should have the right to work in schools? How to use artificial intelligence to make it a tool for development, rather than a demeaning force?
“At the same time, we must also understand that the emergence of artificial intelligence is a great leap forward in human history: we are witnessing a transition to a new type of humanity,” the professor said and voiced hope that the sermon contest would give answers to some questions.
"Children should learn to ask questions to a computer, at the same time looking for answers in life. They should recognize artificial intelligence, but never forget about heart intelligence. Don't let my childhood be filled with only metal and algorithms. I want to play with soil, hold my mother's hand, and deserve my teacher’s smile. Let artificial intelligence help me learn, but you are the one who must teach me how to live. Artificial intelligence can help me learn, but you are the one who must teach me how to live,” says an excerpt from the sermon of Asya Osipyan, a student of the Faculty of Educational Psychology and Sociology, the winner of this year's competition.
Content relevance, presence of pedagogical concepts, emotionality, ability to attract the audience… Guided by these criteria, the committee selected the winners.
Anna Davtyan, a second-year student of the Faculty of Philology who came second in the competition, is convinced that nowadays a teacher should be a silent like a lamp, lighting children’s path without pushing or directing them strictly, be by their side as a friend, a trusted person, and an adult who is not afraid to know children’s pain and joy.
“Let us not allow our children to get lost in the chaos of this changing world. Let us be a support/pillar, rather than a wall, a guide, rather than a critic, a source of strength, rather than an embodiment of fear for them. Let's often tell children that we love and believe in them," said Hayk Hambardzumyan, a student of the Faculty of Art Education, who came 3rd in the competition.
The jury also announced the winners in the following categories: the "Audience Sympathy,” "Most Moving Sermon," "Best Creative Solution," and "Best Pedagogical Emphasis."
The sermons highlighted the need to fill childhood years with games, to be guided by the heart in the current era of artificial intelligence, and by a new pedagogy that does not ignore technology, but includes it, cultivating love and sound thinking in a rapidly changing world with the heart and soul.
Naira Safaryan, ASPU Vice-Rector for Education who also chaired the jury, said she usually participates in the competition with love. As a long-time teacher, she advised future educators to love children, involve them in finding solutions to important issues related to them, and not to forget the well-known principle in physics - reciprocity.
"Our country needs good teachers. If we don't have strong schools, we won't have anything," Naira Safaryan said and advised the participants to seriously consider a career as teachers and think about the important mission of strengthening schools.
