The Austin Val Verde Estate and Foundation...
Olga Agapova, Executive Producer and Designer
P.O. Box 5519
Santa Barbara, CA 93150-5519
(805) 969-9852
Cell (805) 886-2571
Fax (805) 969-9852
olga_avvf@yahoo.com
olga@austinvalverdefoundation.com
Dr. Olga Agapova's show presentations are unique, content-rich and imbued with the newest learning facilitation techniques. Not only does the material attract and excite audiences, it reaches and stays in their long-term memories. In contrast, for example, anchor people on the evening news give huge amounts of information very fast and switch subjects every 10-15 seconds. Viewers place the information in their short-term memories. When a new subject is received, the previous information is lost.
Dr. Agapova's mastery of the newest principles of active learning and understanding of the results of the most recent brain research studies related to education combined with her ability to present these principles and findings using state of the art technology makes the future of informal but highly effective educational programs at the Austin Val Verde Foundation very exciting. Viewer participation and exchange across broad cross sections of the community further enrich the forum's educational potential.
Some possible program topics in the near future include exploring the usefulness and perils of: genetically engineered food, hormone replacement, computer monitors, mobile phones, airport security checkpoints, alternative auto fuel, and many others.
Dr. Agapova's development of the unique, award winning, National Science Foundation-funded Chemquest and ChemDiscovery curriculum programs proves her mettle in turning ideas into useable products. With a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, M.S. in Chemical Technology for Electronics, and Ph.D. in General and Inorganic Chemistry with a minor in Education from the Moscow Lomonosov University of Fine Chemical Technology (comparable to Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and years of teaching chemistry at all levels, Dr. Agapova knew current chemistry teaching methods and envisioned shifting the way chemistry students learn by involving students in design and creation.
In her curriculum, students learn chemistry by creating molecules, crystals, and bigger things. This immerses them in studying background, data and instruments of design. She was told that her idea would take 15 years and 1,000 people to develop and produce, but the National Science Foundation believed in her and she won a $1 million grant. With Alexey Ukarov and 6 other people working around the clock, Dr. Agapova and her team finished the project in 7 years and won several awards for it. She is confident that the Austin Val Verde Foundation's programs will also break new educational ground.
"All of Austin Val Verde is our studio. This place is incredible and has everything. Each idea can be developed here," Dr. Agapova energetically explains. "The architectural and natural features here give us great advantages. They not only relax people but provide many small landscapes that can be used to informally teach chemistry, physics, botany, design or art." For example, a corner of the gardens might be used as the laboratory in which to study the theory of light. besides being pleasant, the setting improves learning. Cues triggered by "location memory," help students remember not just words, as in the classroom, but whole ideas. When they want to use a part of light theory, they think of the scene at Austin Val Verde where they learned the theory and-click! They remember more than they otherwise would.
"Discussion is also important," says Dr. Agapova. "We will provide opportunities for students to learn in collaboration with teachers, other students, or leaders in the particular field. I have discovered that collaborative learning encourages all individuals in class, develops skills, and better prepares them to be involved in the future."
Dr. Agapova served as Research Professor and educational digital library developer at the Institute for Computational Earth System Science (2001-2003), Co-director and instructional materials developer of the ChemQuest project, University of Northern Colorado (1995-2001); Director of Educational Research Projects, Department of Science, Higher Education, and Technical Policy of the Russian Federation (1990-95), and as Associate Professor, Moscow Lomonosov University of Fine Chemical Technology (1985-90)
Dr. Agapova is the author of three books and two CD ROMs that form the ChemDiscovery: Quest for Knowledge interactive learning environment. She has authored numerous articles and book chapters (~100) in the areas of educational research and development, information technologies for education, metal-organic coordination compounds, thermo indicators, and liquid crystals.
Dr. Agapova's Technical Expertise includes designing and developing: On-line courses and websites, XML/DTD schema's and input forms for different types of knowledge and information. Input information in XML databases. Extensive experience with XML Spy and XML/DTD Schema's, Macromedia DreamWeaver, Front Page, Corel Draw, C-MAP, Knowledge Builder, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Explorer, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Outlook Express. Simple Java applet and script development, XML coding. Educational/Technical coordination among educators and software engineers.
Dr. Agapova gave Approximately 230 professional presentations at various professional conferences and meetings from 1985-2004. Nearly 50 of these presentations have been made during her work in the US. Dr. Agapova is a member of both the Russian Chemical Society and the American Chemical Society.
