Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University (AYBU) School of Foreign Languages successfully completed the Virtual Educator Project (VEP), an innovative educational initiative implemented in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State Regional English Language Office (RELO) Türkiye.
Conducted between 6 April and 26 June 2026, the eight-week programme explored how artificial intelligence can enhance English language learning while fostering AI literacy, digital well-being, reflective learning, and learner confidence.
Through the curriculum, The Digital Self & Speaking Journey, students alternated between peer-to-peer discussions and AI-supported conversations with VIBE (Virtual Interactive Buddy for Excellence). Rather than replacing human interaction, VIBE served as a supportive conversational partner, enabling learners to practise speaking in a psychologically safe environment before engaging in authentic communication with their classmates.
The project attracted interest from more than 100 students, with 89 participants enrolling in the programme. Forty-five students successfully completed all academic and research requirements and earned certificates endorsed by the U.S. Department of State.
A distinctive feature of the programme was its innovative capstone assessment. Instead of a traditional presentation or examination, participants transformed eight weeks of reflections into AI-supported graphic novels using VIBE and NotebookLM. These multimodal portfolios documented students' development in English speaking, AI literacy, digital well-being, confidence, and learner agency while showcasing their personal learning journeys through visual storytelling.
The project was coordinated by Gamze Güven Yalçın, Coordinator of the Learning Advisory Program at the AYBU Learning and Teaching Center (LTC), while Bryan Meyer served as the Virtual Educator responsible for designing and facilitating the weekly learning experience. The programme was further supported by a dedicated team of helper instructors Dr Damla Bülbüloğlu, Demet Sertdemir Kabakçı, Zeynep Olgun Pamuk and Müslüme Demir Roman Brenes and peer teaching assistants, Ali Hadi Aydıner, İlayda Çimen, Mücahit Muratoğlu and Zekeriya Mercan, who contributed to creating an engaging and collaborative learning environment.
Evidence gathered through surveys, reflection journals, classroom observations, and student portfolios indicates that the programme contributed to increased speaking confidence, improved AI literacy, healthier digital habits, and more intentional technology use. Importantly, the findings also reaffirm that artificial intelligence is most effective when it complements rather than replaces meaningful human interaction.
By integrating language education, reflective practice, responsible AI use, and digital storytelling, the Virtual Educator Project represents an important milestone in AYBU's commitment to innovative, human-centred approaches to language education and educational technology.
Student Capstone Project Gallery
