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HIGH POINT — They could have been students, the way they jumped at the chance to use the latest iPod touch and free programs such as Animoto to create video presentations.

But the six visitors from the Republic of Georgia are teachers and administrators who stopped in Guilford County to learn how local educators use technology in the classroom.

“We saw here so many interesting things,” said Zakaria Giunashvili, a math and communications technology group leader for the National Curriculum and Assessment Centre in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Every year, people from across the globe visit the United States as part of the State Department-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program.

Dozens of them learn about government, business and the judicial system in Triad cities, thanks to volunteers with the Piedmont Triad Council for International Visitors.

“These people will go home and become leaders in their country,” said Executive Director Beth Robertson.

The Piedmont Triad program, which has about 30 volunteers, brings about a dozen groups to the area each year. Visits last from three days to a week. Guilford often is one of three to four stops across the country.

Next month, visitors representing Afghanistan, Finland, Jamaica, Slovakia, Liberia and China will learn about volunteerism here.

Hopefully, the program increases the participants’ goodwill toward the United States, Robertson said. And, as it has in the past, it might forge relationships that span continents. Over the years, she has seen a lot of exchange with arts groups sharing work for their galleries.

The Georgian visitors already have made connections.

“I will see you on the Facebook,” English teacher Nina Bitskinashvili called to one of the High Point University students who had helped explain the school’s technology program for educators Tuesday.

While there, the visitors learned about free programs such as Animoto, which creates videos. It is simple to use for teachers and students, Assistant Professor Jane Bowser said.

These are the programs being taught to the next generation of teachers. And the technology changes constantly, Bowser said.

Student Alysha Christian, 22, promised to send Bitskinashvili some of the projects she created, including an e-story that incorporates video, text and sketches and an electronic poster using Glogster. Electronic posters allow the creator to build layers of information so users can click on links to get to video, educational games and other material.

Christian integrated such technology when she could as a student teacher at nearby Oak View Elementary.

“No matter where you teach, you have to teach children to be successful in a global environment,” Christian said. “I think technology connects everyone.”

The visitors also saw a virtual school with online courses at Page High School and integrated technology at the American Hebrew Academy.

The private school gives laptops to each of its 150 students, who come from all over the world to attend the Jewish boarding school in Greensboro.

They often give tours to groups from both the U.S. and abroad. It provides an opportunity to both share and learn.

“We’re proud of the school, obviously,” said David Mandel, the dean of information technology and chief information officer. “We think we also have something to tell people, to show people about how technology can be better integrated into the learning experience.”

Giunashvili got some good ideas to take home.

“You can use very simple tools to make very interesting and engaging things” for students, he said.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com