Despite the state of emergency and the halted educational processes, the technology centers managed by Enterprise Incubator Foundation continue their activities online.

Let’s find out how Gyumri Technology Center, Vanadzor Technology Center, Armenian-Indian Center for Excellence in ICT (AITC) and Innovative Solutions and Technologies Center (ISTC) are running the educational process while dealing with the current lockdown.

Gyumri Technology Center

These days GTC offers a number of training courses in order to ensure the continuity of learning: Web Programming and English for teenagers; Graphic Design; Python programming offered by Yandex School, and the Basics of Programming for Russian speaking community.

The learning process is managed in a way that both students and instructors have the ability to spend their time efficiently: the teachers send students both theoretical materials, such as digital course books and video tutorials, and practical assignments.

How Tech Hubs of Armenia Are Dealing with COVID-19

The students have a fixed time for learning the theoretical part, accomplishing the technical tasks and sending them back to the teachers. Then they check up the homework tasks and send them back to the students. In addition to that, the teachers are keeping in touch with the students both via e-mail and social channels in case of any questions connected with the learning materials.

The center’s representatives informed us that online tutoring is planned to start the next week.

Vanadzor Technology Center

The online courses offered by the center are designed both for teens and adults. Currently, the web programming course is offered online for the adult group. In addition, the center has already announced the upcoming JavaScript and Android courses. Two more courses will be announced soon.

Several courses designed for teens are currently running remotely. One example is the Technological School which hosts around 50 schoolchildren. The School is designed for children aged 10 and above. The center has already started the fourth phase of the Technological School. The classes are being held with the help of the Zoom platform.

Pupils up to 13 years old study Scratch, Kodu, Clickteam Fusion 2.5, Math, Logic, Teamwork and Technical English.

The courses on Python, Web programming (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), C++, 3D modeling (SolidWorks), AutoCAD, teamwork and technical English are offered for pupils of 13 and above.

Innovative Solutions and Technologies Center (ISTC)

The ISTC / Zil Academy announced a new course called “Jump to Programming”, a 3-week long fundamental course for starting a path into the world of programming. Meanwhile, the center converted into an online learning model for all of its ongoing classes, such as Python Programming, Machine Learning, Security Engineering and Testing Automation.

Online learning is done through Zoom, and intensive communication through Slack, including knowledge sharing, resource sharing and discussions on the tasks and homework. Currently, the center is switching to an online conferencing platform developed on ISTC servers for keeping the students’ data on its own servers.

The only disadvantage of online learning that ISTC’s instructors and the students mention is the lack of physical presence and communication.

Armenian-Indian Center for Excellence in ICT

Paying importance to the current situation, the AITC offers courses on JavaScript, Node.js + Angular, LINUX Essentials, Web for Teens, Web Design, 3DsMax, all online with the help of  ZOOM platform. In addition, the center has announced the QA / Software Testing Fundamentals course, which will be held online.

The center will soon announce free introductory courses in the areas of “R Programming” and “Python” in a hope to support everyone and create favorable conditions for self-education.

AITC’s management highlights that participating in the first online courses, as well as communicating with lecturers and students in Slack, make managing the educational process easier. Thanks to the simplicity of the ZOOM, students are able to carry out all the tasks and it is very comfortable for everyone to work and learn at home.