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IATP News for November 2005
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Jaloliddin Amirov and Lori
Fredericks field participants’
questions from the IREX office in
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan Celebrates International Education Week Online
On November 14 and 18, IATP access sites throughout Tajikistan hosted
online discussions related to International Education Week, a joint initiative
of the US Department of State and US Department of Education that celebrates
foreign exchange programs and international cooperation in education.
Jaloliddin Amirov, Chief Specialist on High School Administration at the
Ministry of Education of Tajikistan and Lori Fredericks, English Language
Fellow from the US Embassy, led an online discussion on “Quality
Education: Problems and Solutions in Educational System of Tajikistan”
on November 18. They were joined by more than 20 participants, including
students, teachers, journalists, and NGO representatives at six IATP access
sites across Tajikistan. Amirov spoke about the current activities and
plans of the Ministry of Education in addressing problems and improving
conditions in the educational system in the country, while Fredericks
talked about quality education and aspects of educational system in the
United States. Then the guest speakers answered a variety of questions
about the educational policies in Tajikistan and the United States. A
few days earlier, on November 14, the IATP access sites in Dushanbe, Garm,
Khujand, Kulyab, and Panjikent hosted an online chat entitled “Study
Abroad Opportunities: Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad”
with Akbar Nazriev, Coordinator of Scholarships and Debate Programs at
the Open Society Institute Tajikistan, and Noor Umarov (Muskie 95). Nazriev
made a presentation about available scholarships for high school, undergraduate,
and graduate studies as well as short-term professional qualification
courses in the United States and European countries. Umarov shared his
own experience about the advantages of studying abroad, such as high quality
education, new teaching approaches, and modern facilities, but also noted
some drawbacks such as high costs and language difficulties.
The first Tajik language
website about the Muslim
holy
month of Ramadan is now
available online
Students Publish First Tajik-Language Websites about Ramadan
and Hajj Pilgrimage in Kurgan-Tube, Tajikistan
On October 31, Rustam Bayramov and Ravshan Ergashev, students
at the Nosiri Khusrav University, published the first Tajik-language websites
about the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan and Muslim Pilgrimage
Hajj after completing a Web design course held at the IATP access
site in Kurgan-Tube, Tajikistan, from October 24 to 28. Bayramov and Ergashev,
both active IATP users and members of Kurgan-Tube Alumni Advisory Council,
participated in a seminar dedicated to Ramadan entitled “Islam on
the Internet,” conducted by Otabek Sultonov (UGRAD 96) on October
20. During the seminar they searched the Internet for information on Islam
and found online resources mostly in the Russian and English languages.
They were disappointed with the lack of online resources on the topic
in Tajik, and decided to create a new resource. The students used books
and magazines from libraries and searched the Internet to prepare a comprehensive
summary. IATP Access Site Administrator Ibodullo Olimov taught them to
create websites with user-friendly layouts, add links and optimize photos
and fill the website with content. The websites contain complete information
about a wide range of issues related to Ramadan and Hajj, including history,
fasting requirements and benefits, pilgrimage aspects and rules, prayers,
giving to charity and other pillars of Muslim faith. While developing
the website, the authors also learned more about the topic themselves.
Bayramov remarked, “I'm happy that we were able to publish such
websites. I am sure they will be helpful to the growing number of Tajik
Internet users to have such information online in their native language.”
The new Web resources bring the total number of websites hosted by IATP
in Tajikistan to 430, representing about 30% of the total Web content
hosted in the country.
Eskova shares her impressions of
living with a
US family with the
seminar participants in Ust-
Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
KAZAKHSTAN
Alumni Share Exchange Program Tips with Local Peers in Ust-Kamenogorsk,
Kazakhstan
On November 15, two alumni of US government-sponsored programs, Aizhan
Kurmangalieva (UGRAD 05) and Natliya Eskova (FLEX 05), led a two-hour
seminar on US government-sponsored exchange programs and their US experience
for 25 college students at the Independent Internet Center in Ust-Kamenogorsk,
Kazakhstan. The seminar, entitled “America: Far and Close or How
to Become Program Finalist” coincided with International Education
Week. The students had requested a seminar from the alumni because they
applied to the UGRAD program for the 2006-2007 academic year and wanted
to learn all they could about what awaits them. Eskova spent an academic
year studying in a US high school and living with a host family in California
and Kurmangalieva studied at the University of Wisconsin. Kurmangalieva
and Eskova created a multimedia presentation for the students about the
application process, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, adjusting
to life in the US, living with a host family, coping with culture shock,
making friends, and student life in the US. All of the students had taken
IATP’s basic courses on computer and Internet use in preparation
for filling in the online application and to prepare for computer use
in the US. The alumni’s experience-sharing seminar greatly assisted
local high school students in preparing for the UGRAD exchange program.
Omarbaeva draws a chart with
election results
at the Independent
Internet Center in Semipalatinsk,
Kazakhstan
Heads of Polling Stations Prepare for Presidential Elections
at the IATP Access Site in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan
On November 3, IATP staff completed a workshop on the use of
spreadsheets for 18 heads of district polling stations at the Independent
Internet Center in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, to prepare for the presidential
elections scheduled for December 4. The Semipalatinsk Central Election
Committee (CEC) requested the workshop to train the employees of 18 polling
stations located in the Beskaragay and Borodulihin districts and in the
town of Kurchatova. To provide the results of the presidential elections
to the general public, the main CEC office in Kazakhstan requests final
composite election reports from its district polling stations, which include
lists of registered voters in the district, voting ballots received from
the CEC, voters who participated in the election using paper ballots and
the e-voting system, and valid and invalid voting ballots. All of this
data is compiled in spreadsheets, so knowledge of their use is essential
to poll workers. The trainer introduced the participants to the capabilities
of spreadsheets, explaining how to create tables, work with formulas,
build and edit charts, edit statistical data, and print in required formats.
By the end of the seminar, the CEC employees had created their first draft
of the final composite report using sample data as a fill-in for the real
data they will input after the election, and printed it out in the required
format. Participant Gulmira Omarbaeva remarked, “I believe even
the experienced CEC employees obtained new skills necessary to compile
reports, which requires high accuracy in a deadline-driven work environment.”
Through this activity and a variety of others in a series of educational
and informational events throughout the country, IATP prepares citizens
to take an active part in building democracy in Kazakhstan by hosting
seminars that give them the skills and knowledge to participate in upcoming
Kazakhstan’s presidential elections, and by giving them access to
the latest election-related news on online media outlets.
Andriy Ahapov moderates
the online discussion
on
the Bologna process
UKRAINE
Eurasian Educators Discuss Higher Education in IATP Online Chat
On November 17, Andriy Ahapov (UGRAD 03) moderated an international online
chat on the Bologna process from the IATP access site in Sevastopol, Ukraine,
in honor of International Education Week. Over 40 students, teachers,
professors, and other interested people gathered in the IATP access sites
throughout Ukraine and six other countries of Eurasia to discuss the Bologna
process implementation in their countries. The Bologna Process is an attempt
of the European Ministers responsible for higher education to bring some
order to the large variety of degrees and to make European higher education
more compatible and comparable across the board. Ahapov started the online
discussion with a presentation of the results of a public opinion poll
about the attitude of Ukrainian students and teachers to the Bologna reforms.
Maria Kostsova, member of Tretiy Shliakh (the Third Way), a Sevastopol
nonprofit youth organization that conducted the poll, informed the participants
that a majority of respondents showed a positive attitude to implementation
of the Bologna reforms in Ukraine. Then the participants discussed the
advantages and disadvantages of the reforms in higher education. Gulnaz
Azerbaycan from Sumgait, Azerbaijan, remarked, “We think that if
there is a common system of education throughout Europe, then all students
will easily get an opportunity to continue their education in the universities
of other European countries.” Other participants argued that changes
in the systems of education could lead to the destruction of existing
educational systems and to the loss of quality education. Then the participants
shared their ideas and experience on establishing students’ councils
and other bodies of student self-government. Viktoria Molyuska from Vinnytsia,
Ukraine, stated, “Student councils are very important in the contemporary
world, since students must be involved in the life of not only their university,
but also of their community, city, and country.” As a result of
the online discussion, the participants from Ukraine decided to create
a new All-Ukrainian Center of Student Government to coordinate activities
of students’ councils in different universities of Ukraine and encourage
more students to contribute to them. The center is also intended to be
a court of arbitration in conflicts between students and teachers. The
network of IATP access sites throughout Eurasia supports implementing
new educational practices and helping establish cooperation between educators
from different countries of the region.
The website of Balakliya School No.
4 was recently
posted online due to
an IATP training
Rural Schools Establish Online Presence in Kharkiv, Ukraine
On November 5, IATP staff conducted a mobile training on Web design basics
for 18 computer science teachers from 10 rural schools in the Balakliya
district of the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The IATP access site in Kharkiv
sponsored the training, which was held at Balakliya School No. 4 at the
request of the Balakliya District Department of Education. The trainer
covered the main concepts of Web design, including a common programming
language, website structure, and visual website editors. Participants
learned how to use tables in websites and how to post resources to a server.
They also heard recommendations on scanning and editing graphics and demonstrated
the IATP Hosting Content Management
System used to facilitate Web development for users without knowledge
of programming languages. As a result of the training, teachers created
seven new official websites for their schools and posted them to the IATP
server. The websites of other three schools are under development. Among
the new websites was the official website of Balakliya
School No. 4. The website contains information on the history of the
school, which was founded in 1928, and the achievements of teachers and
students. IATP’s training activities encouraged educators to use
information technology and contributed to their professional development.
The new websites increased the number of websites hosted on the IATP server
in Ukraine to 2,474.
Merab Labadze (front) answers
questions, while
Ketevan Vatiashvili
(UGRAD 05) moderates the chat
GEORGIA
Residents Discuss High School Computerization Project Online
On November 10, the IATP access sites in Gori, Poti, Batumi, Zugdidi,
Kutaisi, Khashuri, and Rustavi, Georgia, hosted 24 participants including
high school teachers, students, and the general public for an online discussion
on the Deer Leap high school computerization program, initiated and sponsored
by the Ministry of Education and Sciences of Georgia (MES). Moderated
by Ketevan Vatiashvili (UGRAD 05), the main goal of the discussion was
to address related questions to Merab Labadze, Deer Leap program manager,
and to increase residents’ awareness of the program. The Deer Leap
project aims to distribute information technology among Georgian high
schools, facilitating the modernization of the educational system of the
country. In the course of the online chat, the participants posted questions
about equipment distribution and high school selection procedures, terms
and conditions of the project, and the types of software to be installed
on the computers. Labadze emphasized that the Ministry is more interested
in distributing the equipment to the various regions, rather than in the
capital city, Tbilisi, where most of the schools already have computers.
Since March 2005, 200 Georgian high schools have been awarded 1200 computers
by MES. Thanks to the online discussion, participants were able to coordinate
efforts to improve program implementation in the regions, and MES had
the opportunity to bring information about the project to a wider audience.
Screenshot of the website of
Alternative Georgia
www.altgeorgia.ge forum
IATP Helps Nonprofit Organization Increase Awareness of Drug
Problems
On November 2, the first Georgian online forum dedicated to drug
abuse problems was posted to the website of Alternative Georgia, a nonprofit
organization, after being designed by IATP staff at the Alumni Resource
Center in Tbilisi. Alternative
Georgia is an organization that works on drug related issues such
as reducing the number of new addicts through outreach campaigns and aiding
in the recovery of existing addicts. The forum was created at the request
of Alternative Georgia Director Dr. David Otiashvili (Humphrey 04). Forums
such as the one on this website are new, efficient, and convenient ways
to share knowledge. Web forum visitors will discuss the current drug abuse
situation in Georgia, violations of the rights of addicts, and how to
reduce the damage wrought by drugs. IATP staff members have long assisted
Alternative Georgia’s online work. After Alternative Georgia Program
Manager Ia Pxovelishvili and Public Relations Manager Irma Kirtadze completed
a December 2004 IATP Web design training, they were able to create the
their organization’s website. The overall impact of IATP’s
relationship with Alternative Georgia on the community was succinctly
stated by Alternative Georgia Director Otiashvili noted, “IATP has
greatly contributed to the work of our nonprofit organization. IATP is
thereby playing a role in raising consciousness about drug problems in
Georgia.”
TURKMENISTAN
Eurasian Alumni Discuss Status of Russian Language in Post-Soviet
Era
On November 16, more than 45 alumni of various US government-sponsored
exchange programs from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine gathered at IATP access
sites for an online discussion on “The Status of the Russian Language
in the Post-Soviet Era.” The main goal of the chat was to discuss
the role of the Russian language in post Soviet countries since independence
and share their ideas about the ultimate fate of the Russian language
in their respective nations. To begin the online discussion, each country
posted brief presentations focused on the level of use of the Russian
language in schools, government agencies, media, and overall in communities.
During a question and answer session, each participant had the opportunity
to ask follow-up questions about the status of Russian in other countries.
Chat moderator Botur Qossimov (UGRAD 02) asked, “Do you agree that
gradually, with the increasing role of English around the world, including
in the post-Soviet countries, Russian will be replaced by English as the
language of communication between our nations?” Irina from Ukraine
replied, “I think English may replace Russian. And I am not afraid
of this fact- it means we will communicate more freely with representatives
of the United Kingdom and the United States and many other countries.”
However, Vladimir from Ukraine added, “It will be a disaster if
Russian loses its position… If we lose something unique that joins
us [former USSR countries], like language, we will be left without an
ultimate tool for unity.” The online chat enabled alumni from each
county to ask questions and share their opinions, thoughts and ideas about
the future of the Russian language in the countries of former Soviet Union.
Tranum explains how to find and
contact business
partners on the
Internet
Peace Corps Conducts Internet and Small Business Development
Seminar in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
On November 2, Peace Corps Volunteer Sam Tranum conducted a seminar entitled,
“Internet Education and Small Business Development” at the
IATP access site in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, for ten IATP users and owners
of small businesses. The aim of the seminar was to introduce participants
to business opportunities offered by the Internet and give them ways to
contact potential business partners in other countries. Tranum explained
how to do this by using different websites, such as popular online Internet
markets. By the end of the seminar, one participant, Arslan Berdiev, utilized
his new skills to find a trading consultant who offered to help him sell
traditional Turkmen purses online. Berdiev remarked, “I have heard
many things about doing business around the world by using the Internet,
but I never knew how to do such business. After attending the seminar,
I know how to use Internet for this purpose.” This training was
the second in the last month devoted to business opportunities on the
Internet; through these trainings IATP users learn how to conduct business
over the Internet and enhance their knowledge of modern information technology.
Edik Ehtibaryan guides the students
through the
IATP DL portal
ARMENIA
Students Explore Distance Learning in Spitak, Armenia
On November 2, IATP staff conducted a seminar on distance learning (DL)
for six Spitak Agricultural College students at the IATP access site in
Spitak, Armenia. As many students cannot afford universities in Armenia
and educational opportunities are few in rural areas of Armenia like Spitak,
DL is seen as a new resource for poorer, rural populations. The participants
explored different types of DL, such as online courses, courses that give
a degree, and courses in vocational training. The trainer stressed that
DL courses have the same objectives as traditional courses, but the DL
format allows the use of various innovative educational technologies,
thus creating a different kind of relationship between the teacher and
the student. He also emphasized that a student in a DL course should possess
strong motivation, self-organization, and a high level of background knowledge
in order successfully to complete these kinds of courses. The participants
explored Web resources where they found more information about DL courses
and their benefits. In particular, they visited the University
of California - Berkley website, which provides online higher education
courses, and the Academy
Connection Training Resource, which provides training courses mainly
in the field of information technology. As a result of the seminar, interested
participants signed up online for an Information Technologies Essentials
training course at the Academy Connection website. By hosting this seminar,
IATP contributed to the promotion of DL among students from Spitak and
encouraged them to use IATP access sites to participate in online DL courses.
Karen Arzumanyan demonstrates
online resources
to participants at
the IATP access site in Kapan,
Armenia
NGO Leaders in Kapan, Armenia, Discover Web Resources on Legal
Issues
On November 9, Anna Minasyan (FLEX 01) and IATP staff conducted a workshop
on online legal resources for representatives of local nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) at the IATP access site in Kapan, Armenia. The participants
had been finding it difficult to navigate the legal complexities of the
NGO world in Armenia and asked IATP for help. During the first part of
the workshop, the IATP trainer taught the participants Internet search
skills and guided them through the website of the Constitutional
Court of the Republic of Armenia, showing them legislation related
to human rights and international agreements. Participants also visited
the official website of the National
Assembly, which has a wealth of information on the parliament’s
activities, as well as an electronic library of legislation that participants
could use as a resource for their upcoming activities. Then, Minasyan
led the participants through the FindLaw database, used by legal professionals in the United States. Participant
Mariya Simonyan commented, “Online resources on immigration and
statistics are very useful and relevant to the project in which I am presently
involved.” The event helped NGO representatives acquire Internet
skills and discover rich online resources on a wide variety of legal issues
that will help them make their work more effective.
Oksana Sadovska
demonstrates IRBIS to
school librarians
MOLDOVA
College Students Learn Presentation Techniques in Chisinau, Molodva
From November 14 to 17, IATP staff conducted a seminar on creating interactive
presentations for six students of the Department of Foreign Languages
of Chisinau State University at the IATP Training Laboratory in Chisinau,
Moldova. The trainer explained the difference between the different file
formats, the use of samples of slides and images, and the principles of
animation of slides’ elements. She also demonstrated tools for slide
design and slide shows, explained how to use video and audio effects in
presentations, and introduced the audience to samples of images and animation.
The participants explored the presentations of business plans, reports,
and various products and services. Following the trainer’s recommendations,
the attendees created their own presentations dedicated to English grammar.
The students will use these presentations in January 2006 during their
internships at local schools. The participants believe that their new
skills will help make presenting their research papers more vivid and
powerful and their lessons more interesting and effective. Currently,
over 60 Moldovans benefit from IATP training courses every month.
AZERBAIJAN
Ramin Denyarov demonstrates how
to fill out the
CEU online application
at the IATP access site in Guba,
Azerbaijan
Students Learn About Educational Systems and Study Abroad in
Guba, Azerbaijan
On November 7, the IATP access site in Guba, Azerbaijan hosted a seminar
on different educational systems and study abroad opportunities for nine
students at Azerbaijan Pedagogical University. At the request of the students,
IATP staff gave an introduction to the educational systems in the United
States and several European countries, and discussed their differences
with the educational system in Azerbaijan. Such differences include the
credit system, grading scale, elective courses, and computerized classes
and libraries. Then the trainer directed the participants to several websites
on topics such as Global Study and Education Portal, encouraging them to continue independently learning
more about educational systems. Ramin Denyarov, a post-graduate student
at Azerbaijan State Economic University, filled out an online application
for the Central
European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary. Denyarov noted, "It
is not easy to study abroad if you’re not well informed about the
educational system in that country.” The event helped raise students’
knowledge about different educational systems and promoted opportunities
for Azerbaijanis to study abroad.
Staff of CLS participate in the online
chat from
the IATP access site in
Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
Librarians Across Azerbaijan Discuss Modernization of Library
Services Online
On November 11, more than 15 people, including librarians and staff of
the Central Library System (CLS), gathered at four IATP access sites and
four Regional Library Internet Centers (RLIC) across Azerbaijan for an
online discussion about how to improve service in libraries. Moderated
by Sumgayit IATP Access Site Administrator Sona Omarova, the online discussion
gave participants the opportunity to share their experiences in handling
different aspects of library work, including renewing and reserving books,
registering new patrons, handling payments for lost books, replacing lost
library cards, and processing books received from government sources.
Tamilla Mamedova from the Sumgayit CLS asked her colleagues about their
access to computers and the Internet, to which Ramile Huseynova, chief
librarian from Ali-Bayramli CLS, replied, “We have only two computers
and thus, mostly use IATP access site services for Internet and relevant
IT courses to improve our work.“ Shahla Khudiyeva, Library Development
Program Coordinator at the US-Azerbaijan Education Center told participants
about the US Embassy’s efforts in providing libraries in 16 regions
with modern fiction, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and various textbooks.
Khudiyeva also invited participants to trainings to be held soon by the
Education Center on how to use the IRBIS program. This computer program
is commonly used by libraries, however, few librarians can use it to its
fullest capacity. The online discussion helped library specialists from
all over the country easily and efficiently communicate their experiences
and opinions with each other to promote improvement of library services.
Participants listen to Satarova’s
suggestions
on searching for
alternative sources of funding at
the IATP access
site in Nookat,
Kyrgyzstan
KYRGYZSTAN
Scholars and Experts in Rural Nookat, Kyrgyzstan, Discuss Computers
in Education
On November 18, 19 concerned citizens, including local college faculty,
educational experts, and high school principals, came together for a discussion
on "Computer Literacy: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" at the
IATP access site in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan. The discussion was part of a series
of events in Kyrgyzstan dedicated to International Education Week. Saadat
Satarova (CC 01), the head of the District Board of Education in Nookat,
initiated and conducted a discussion that focused on the using information
technology in teaching methods, government efforts to introduce information
technology in educational systems, and the hardships educators face while
using information technology, including the absence of equipment, lack
of Internet access, and insufficient funding. Satarova shared her extensive
professional experience and knowledge with local faculty, who face the
challenge of transforming the remnants of a post-Soviet education system
into a reputable system that will meet international standards. Satarova
remarked, “The high school principal or university president should
be learning how to look for alternative funding sources by making list
of potential donors and sponsors to apply to various grant programs.”
Muhayo Karimova, a teacher of Information Sciences, commented on the school’s
curriculum, “Students basically obtain theoretical knowledge when
practical experience is necessary... Access to computers and the Internet
will increase students’ chances of getting deeper and broader knowledge
to compete with their urban peers.” As a result of the discussion,
Satarova suggested uniting efforts to compose a list of potential donors,
grant programs, and other educational opportunities along with recommendations
on introducing a technology component into curriculums using IATP access
site’s resources and services. The seminar provided participants
with an opportunity to develop and exchange strategies and recommendations
on resolving issues related to introducing innovational teaching methods
and components into local schools and universities. The IATP access site
in Nookat serves the local community by providing a platform for information
access, educational growth, and exchange of ideas and experience to promote
human rights and civil society.
Tashalieva shows the hot keys on
the keyboard
at the IATP access
site in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan
Student Introduces Peers to Computers in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan
On November 4, Salamat Tashalieva completed a week-long computer basics
course for seven peers from Uchbhay High School at the IATP access site
in Nookat, Kyrgyzstan. In June 2004, Tashalieva attended a computer basics
workshop at the IATP access site after she learned about the free courses
from her cousin. Since completing the course, she has been increasing
her computer literacy while simultaneously helping IATP Administrator
Aida Ajibekova in registering new visitors and organizing events. During
the course, she taught her fellow students how to edit text documents,
save images, copy and paste objects, manage files and folders, create
tables, and use hot keys, which are keyboard-based shortcuts to common
commands. The seminar helped the students acquire text, image, and printing
navigation skills and prepared them for further education and training.
Tashalieva’s classmates now can look for information for their term
and research papers, edit texts and image, and generate informational
materials such as flyers and leaflets for their school’s extracurricular
activities. Tashalieva remarked, “I am really proud that I can train
my peers who are really interested in learning about computers and the
Internet. I will be sharing new skills with them as soon as I learn them
myself.”
IATP Celebrates International Education Week
-
In the past six months, IATP has provided access to approximately 5,200 educators and has trained more than 1,500;
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Over 26,000 students have used IATP resources in the last six months and IATP has trained 6,000 students;
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IATP offers many specialized trainings for teachers, such as Internet Basics for Special Education Teachers, Computer and Internet basics for Business Professors, and Advanced Web Design for Music Teachers.