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Reversed Roles: Pre-Service Student becomes a Mentor for In-Service Teachers
IREX pre-service teacher trainers trained their students to foster enthusiasm for learning and analytical thinking in students. Naira Nikoghosyan, a fourth year student at the Armenian State Pedagogical University, learned how to conduct lessons that incorporate critical thinking and interactive teaching methods through her professor Siramarg Vardumyan, who is a PSE teacher trainer corps member. Ms. Nikoghosyan had her student teaching practice in a primary school where in-service teachers were still using teacher-centered methodology with a lot of rote memorization.
Being trained in a student-centered environment, Ms. Nikoghosyan conducted several lessons using these methods. The in-service teachers were at first cautious, but then realized that the interactive environment and the group work improved the students’ learning. They requested Ms. Nikoghosyan to help them develop similar lesson plans using multiple intelligence and cooperative learning methodology. Together they also developed interdisciplinary curriculum and conducted lessons that integrated materials from history, geography, language arts, arts, and science. This approach challenged the students to learn, and challenged the teachers to work collaboratively.
Upon graduation from the university, Ms. Nikoghosyan was invited to teach in the same school where she had her student teaching practice. She is currently providing trainings to in-service teachers in other schools.
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