1. Research on the use of the project method at the primary education level on the example of public schools in the Kakheti region.

 

Scientific leader of the project: Assoc. Professor Shorena Dzamukashvili.

Funding organization: Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University.

Project implementation period: 2023-2024

Areas of academic personnel involved in the research: educational sciences, pedagogy.

The purpose of the study is to investigate how project based learning is carried out at the primary education level, to identify the factors hindering this process, to find solutions, to identify the best practices and to develop a methodological framework, using the example of the Kakheti region.

Based on the results of the research, a framework/concept for the effective implementation of the project-based learning will be formed, a description of the work on the projects will be made, problems will be identified/classified, solutions will be determined and recommendations will be developed; A methodical guide to best practices in project-based learning will be created. The results of the research will be reflected in the teaching methodology modules of the teacher training educational programs. The practical information obtained as a result of the research will enrich the educational programs and ensure the effectiveness of the training of future teachers. The research report and relevant issues arising in the research process will be presented in the form of reports at international scientific conferences and will be published in international refereed scientific journals. A publication will be published, where the conducted research and its results will be described.

 

 

1.    STEM concept for the development of teacher training educational university programs

The grant project „STEM concept for the development of teacher training educational university programs“ presented by Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University was financed within the framework of the Competitive Innovation Fund (CIF) grant competition established by the program "Innovation, Inclusion and Quality Project - Georgia I2Q ​​(IBRD)" approved by the first paragraph of the Order No. 338 of the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia dated March 09, 2020.

    Project manager: Assoc. Professor Natela Bagatrishvili

    Project partners:

·        LEPL Akaki Tsereteli State University;

·        Copernicus Scientific Center (Poland, Warsaw);

·        STEAMit, a manufacturer of educational electronic and mechanical constructors based on STEM and STEAM approaches.

               The project will be implemented within 15 months.

Within the scope of the project:

·        ESTA laboratory at the Faculty of Educational Sciences of TeSaU will be equipped with basic resources for chemistry, physics, biology, geography, mathematics and engineering-robotics.

·        University STEM courses and a methodological guide for current and future teachers will be developed.

·        20 pilot schools will be selected, where STEM laboratories will be established and equipped, teachers will be trained by Georgian and Polish trainers.      

 

The project "Innovation, Inclusion and Quality Project - Georgia I2Q ​​(IBRD)" is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia; The project is financed by the World Bank.

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  Assoc. Professor, Tamar Mikeladze

Revision of the skills of foreign/second-language teachers in

an AI-enhanced classroom environment.

 

Project Name: Georgian Researchers Mobility Program

Field of Science / Scientific Direction: Education, Education Sciences,

Code: Georgia's Researchers' Mobility Program, 2023 (57655523)

Funder: European Union

Country: The Netherlands, Radbaud University, Radbaud Teacher Academy (Research Institute)

Period: 4.09.23-30.11.23

Name of the research project: Revision of the skills of foreign/second-language teachers in an AI-enhanced classroom environment.

 

The aim of the study was to revise the role and skills of foreign/second-language teachers in enhanced AI learning at the secondary education level. The purpose of the study was:

o Describe the role of foreign/second-language teachers in an AI-enhanced class

o Study the skills required for foreign/second language teachers in an AI-enhanced class

o Propose changes for Foreign/Second Language Teacher Training Program

 

During the period of research mobility, the researcher worked on several scientific papers. The first three papers are the basis of the study:

1) Exploring the competence frameworks of artificial intelligence for educators: a critical review - co-authors of this paper are Professor Paulien Meijer and Associate. Roald Verhoeff. European Journal of Education (Wiley, Impact factor: 2.609, SCOPUS, EBSCO, ProQuest). The paper underwent revision and is published  10.1111/ejed.12663

2) The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Foreign Language Teaching at the School Level: A Review of Systematic Literature – Co-author Prof. Paulien Meijer. The thesis of the paper was submitted to a conference organized by the European Education Research Association (EERA) (ECER - European Conference on Educational Research- 2024), which will be held on August 27-29, 2024 in Cyprus, and is scheduled to be published in a highly rated journal.

3)  Foreign Language Teachers' Skills in AI Enhanced Classes (while using AI chat Bots): Literature Review - The thesis of the paper was presented on March 1-3, at Zayed University, Dubai, 6th International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching (ALLT-2024). The theme of the conference was "Techlingua: Transformative Artificial Intelligence in Applied Linguistics and Language Learning."  

 

4) A strategy document was prepared to increase student engagement in focus groups "Strategies for improving student recruitment in research at the Radbaud Teacher Academy." The document was handed over to the research team of the Radbaud Teachers Academy.