In Quy Chau distrct, in Vietnam's north central coastal province of Nghệ An, teacher Luong Thi Huong approaches each school day with the belief that education should be fun for her students. All of Huong’s students are from ethnic minority backgrounds which often means that barriers such as language can lock her learners out of equitable and enjoyable education. However, with the right tools and mindset, anything is possible. “Belief is the most valuable thing you have ... belief will bring you to the heights you have always dreamed of, attests Huong.
Since 2018, Vietnam has introduced a competence-based curriculum, shifting a focus away from rote learning and embracing child-centred learning and child-friendly learning environments instead. Of course, old habits die hard. Teacher Luong Thi Huong has been teaching grade 4 students for several years in a row at the Chau Hoi 1 primary school. She has always been passionate about teaching, but she also knows that it can be challenging to helpstudents learn effectively, especially in a complexity subject like geography. In the past, Teacher Huong reliedying on traditional teaching methods, such as lecturing and giving students take away worksheets. However, she found that these methods were not always effective in helping students learn deeply and understanding new knowledge. and wanted to embrace new methods to ensure her learners could not only. She only has one wish,and that is, how to make sure students both fully acquire knowledge and get but also feel excited and happy.
During the past school year, teacher Huong and her fellow teachers in Quy Chau district were trained on a new pedagogy approach called "Learning through Play". This approach directs teachers on how to use play-based activities to help students learn. Play-based activities are engaging and enjoyable for students, and they can also be highly effective in helping students learn. Teacher Huong was eager to learn and explore the Learning through Play approach. She attended all the training sessions and carefully studied the materials. She also talked to other teachers who were using Learning through Play in their classrooms. Teacher Huong began to experiment with different Learning through Play activities in her geography lessons, and quickly found out that her students were more engaged and motivated when they were learning through play. Since then, the class activities have become more lively, students are more actively engaging in learning. This is the kind of learning environment teacher Huong was looking to create for her students.
In one lesson, teacher Huong instructed her students about the Central Highlands of Vietnam. She divided the class into groups of four and gave each group a large piece of paper. After giving instructions, she asked the students to create a mind map of the Central Highlands. The students worked together to create mind maps that included information about the Central Highlands' geographical location, climate, demographics, and economy. They also included drawings and illustrations to make their mind maps more visually appealing.
In addition to mind mapping, teacher Huong also tried other Learning through Play activities together with her students, such as role-playing games, simulations, and puzzles- all effective and engaging exercises to help her students learn geography. Her new methodologies have not only developed but also strengthened learners' critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. By observing her students actively engaging in the learning process, she thought to herself “That is it! This is precisely how I can ensure my students fully acquire knowledge and get excited while learning.” The Learning through Play approach has been a game-changer in her teaching style and has helped her make a positive impact on her students' educational journey.
Download our Learning through Play materials and create a more playful and engaging learning environment for your students.
