Russian Academics Explore Innovative Teaching and Learning Technology in the U.S.

In mid-April, American Councils for International Education hosted faculty and administrators from Moscow’s National University of Science and Technology (MISIS) in Washington, D.C. for the first stage of a two-week professional development program that explored effective uses of technology in higher education.

On the delegation’s agenda, American Councils set up meetings at institutions such as the U.S. Department of Education, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the University of Maryland, and The George Washington University.

At the U.S. Department of Education, the group discussed a wide range of topics and was introduced to key trends in technology, such as cloud computing and open educational resources. Participants were also briefed on the United States’ approach to integrating technology into education and the resulting implications to K-16 education. These discussions continued at NOVA, where participants learned about the central role that community colleges are playing today in the U.S. higher education system.

During the visit to the University of Maryland, MISIS leaders toured classrooms, learning centers, and computer labs equipped with modern technological tools. The Washington visit concluded with a lively roundtable discussion at George Washington University.

Inspired by his visit to these institutions, Roman Khudobin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at MISIS, said that public access to academic coursework is a new concept for Russia. “Open educational resources would allow us to make education more affordable and increase opportunities for independent study,” he said.

MISIS faculty and administrators plan to use much of what they learned during their U.S. trip to help position MISIS as the premier university of science and technology in the Russian Federation. Plans include updating and expanding electronic course offerings and integrating e-portfolios across the curriculum. MISIS also intends to assess the overall accessibility of academic materials.

The Washington, DC, program was followed by a weeklong comprehensive look at the use of educational technologies at the University of Iowa.

For more information on MISIS and the professional development program, contact Terrence Graham at Graham@americancouncils.org.