Educational innovation meets lifelong learning needs

Bringing technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to class every hour

Exactly six years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly spread globally, all fields were affected and Vietnamese education was no exception. From crowded classes, teachers and students across the country have to immediately switch to online learning - a seemingly strange and challenging thing. At that time, it was difficult for anyone to imagine that first graders could open their own computers, connect to online classes and interact confidently and proficiently. However, reality shows that both teachers and students have made efforts to adapt, turning internet communication lines and small screens into the door to knowledge during the most difficult period.

When the pandemic receded, the school drum sound rang again, students across the country bustled back to class in person. But the transition did not stop there. The technologies that were once solutions to the situation have now continued to be maintained and developed more strongly, present in every lecture, every learning activity, from urban to disadvantaged rural areas.

From interactive screens, digital lectures to rich electronic learning materials, technology has become a companion, effective support for both teachers and students. It is this special turning point that has created a solid foundation for the process of educational innovation, opening a more modern, more flexible and important direction - contributing to the formation of lifelong learning capacity for each student in the new era.

At Doan Ket Primary School (Long Bien Ward, Hanoi), technology is not only applied in all teaching activities in class but is also used in student education. For example, teachers in the school have created a model of "a nursery for a thousand good deeds". In that nursery, every time they do a good job and are recognized, they will receive a tree, with a QR code attached on it. Just scan the code to know the student information, achievements, and good deeds are praised by students. This approach helps educate children to be aware of planting trees and protecting the environment, while creating an environment for students to compete to strive and do many good things. Thereby, training ethics and lifestyle for children" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Lieu, Principal of Doan Ket Primary School, shared.

This approach not only creates excitement but also forms a habit of self-training - an element of lifelong learning ability.

If in urban areas, teachers have many conditions in terms of facilities and technical infrastructure to bring AI and technology into classroom hours and activities, then in mountainous areas with difficulties, to have such lessons is the effort and overcoming difficulties many times more of the teachers.

The class of Ms. Hoang Huong Lan - a teacher at Tri Le Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Lang Son) is a typical example.

Since 2022, when ChatGPT was first introduced to the world - still quite new in Vietnam - she has proactively researched and bought accounts from abroad for testing.

After researching and experiencing, Ms. Hoang Huong Lan boldly applied this tool to her "Search for information on the Internet" lesson. This first class not only made students excited but also opened up a new direction for her in educational innovation.

With the desire to master technology, every lesson she teaches is considered to choose the right software, aiming to create excitement for students, so that students can both study and play, and absorb knowledge in the most natural way.

For a lesson, I usually need 7 or up to 8 support tools, from image design, video creation to creating interactive games Ms. Lan Huong shared.

Thanks to the application of technology and artificial intelligence, each lesson of Ms. Lan Huong always brings a new feeling, inspiring interest for students. But few people know that she had to make a lot of effort. The biggest difficulty she encountered was facilities, networks were sometimes still unstable, students were still hesitant... However, she still persevered in her innovation journey, firmly believing that "only when teachers continue to learn, students can go further".

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Hieu Hoc - Head of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Education, Hanoi University of Science and Technology - said that artificial intelligence (AI) is currently being widely applied, creating many positive values in all fields, including education and training.

Teachers can use AI to support the development of ideas; plan highly interactive teaching; look up published materials in less popular languages; create rich teaching content, design beautiful presentations... learners also have tools to support more convenient and easier learning Mr. Hoc said.

Although it brings many positive values, experts emphasize that the use of AI incorrectly and for the wrong purpose can cause users to go from being proactive to being passive and dependent. Because after all, AI or any supporting tool is a machine, requiring human inspection to ensure the accuracy of output products.

mastering AI to create a future of lifelong learning

The Ministry of Education and Training is soliciting comments on the draft Guidelines for piloting the content of artificial intelligence (AI) education in general education. This is a move that shows the determination of the whole industry in helping students develop their ability to receive, expand knowledge and be creative in the digital world.

The content framework is designed corresponding to two levels of education: Basic education (including primary and secondary school) and vocational education ( high school). The content framework is designed throughout but clearly differentiated according to the psychology of each age group. The Ministry plans a roadmap to ensure feasibility and effectiveness through the following stages: Research on theoretical and practical basis; drafting a framework for AI education content; seeking expert opinions; training teachers, piloting... and by June 2026, summarizing and evaluating the pilot results, perfecting the AI content framework to propose widespread implementation in the following school years.

Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister Nguyen Kim Son affirmed that to adapt and effectively utilize the capabilities of AI, teachers and educational managers must have appropriate AI capabilities to adapt to the development of AI and preserve the core values of education such as honesty, promoting creative thinking and self-study ability of learners.

Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training is directing educational institutions to increase training organization, raise awareness, understanding and capacity to apply AI to lead and master AI applications in educational institutions. The Ministry is directing the development of an AI education program to be able to apply from primary school students to equip learners with awareness, understanding and AI capacity to understand AI, know the scope and limits of AI and gradually apply AI with control and responsibility in educational activities.

In addition, the education sector is focusing on perfecting institutions and regulations on AI transformation and application in education, promulgating and perfecting regulations and instructions, including textbooks on AI use in educational institutions, codes of conduct when using AI and regulations on data security, use, and privacy. This is an important legal corridor to ensure the responsible, safe application of AI and the preservation of ethical and humanistic values in education.

In addition, the draft Circular on the digital capacity framework for teachers, including AI capacity, is also being urgently completed and issued, as a basis for guiding the training and assessment of AI capacity for the teaching staff.

When teachers are fully equipped with skills, recognized and become a pioneer in innovation, the trust and position of teachers in the eyes of society will be affirmed and firmly consolidated said the minister.

Promoting STEM education, enhancing experiential activities

Along with digital transformation, AI application, innovation of teaching methods, and enhancement of STEM education are also orientations that schools have implemented over the years.

STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) is understood as an interdisciplinary educational method, integrating STEM knowledge to solve practical problems, develop the capacity and qualities of learners, and link theory with practice. This orientation is in line with the goals of the 2018 General Education Program.

At Tri Le Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, each hour of class for students is not only theoretical, white powder, blackboard but also accompanied by many practical and experiential activities.

For example, with Natural Science, each subject is built with at least 2 STEM topics/school year, and extracurricular activities are organized regularly. Students are given the opportunity to come up with ideas, prepare easily found and easy-to-find tools and materials in their daily lives to carry out experimental activities related to the fields: Physics and dynamics; Chemistry and materials science; engineering and technology (STEM Robotics); hoc thuat and auditory waves; optical and aerodynamic applications.

Teachers also regularly participate in training sessions, courses... Thanks to that, the teaching quality of students in the school has been significantly improved Ms. Hoang Thi Luong, Principal of Tri Le Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Lang Son province), assessed and affirmed that STEM education has been implemented by the school for many years, but in the past 2 years, there has been much more depth.

Previously, teachers and students mainly studied theory, but now, through STEM activities, they have known how to apply theory to practice, and have had the first steps in researching science and technology.

From the perspective of the State management agency, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Huy Hoang - Deputy Director of the Department of Education, Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department - affirmed that applying STEM to high schools will help students nurture their passion for science, improve their academic achievements and form innovative capacity - qualities that are suitable for the requirements of sustainable development.

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