Director of FPT Schools System: "The application of AI in education needs to move quickly."

According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, Vice Rector of FPT University, the world is moving very quickly in the AI ​​race. The biggest mistake is not in applying it incorrectly, but in not acting. The application of AI in education needs to move quickly.

This viewpoint was emphasized by Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, Vice Rector ofFPT University and Director of the FPT High School System (FPT Group), at the seminar "Vision and Future Orientation for Education in the AI ​​Era" held on the morning of March 20th in Ho Chi Minh City.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong presented a paper titled "Model for Implementing AI in Schools at FPT's University and High School System".

No longer a foreign concept, AI is now present in every aspect of life, especially education . As one of the pioneering educational systems in innovation, FPT has been proactive, starting to strongly implement AI applications in teaching and learning two years ago.

With a curriculum built on UNESCO's AI competency framework for students, combined with leading technology partners such as MIT and UBTECH, FPT has developed a systematic and synchronized roadmap to integrate AI into the curriculum, innovate teaching methods, and popularize it within the education community.

System-wide AI integration

FPT High School students are introduced to AI early on through experiential and supplementary learning programs. To date, nearly 15,000 FPT Schools students are learning AI starting from grade 1. "China has planned to popularize AI in all schools with about 8 lessons per year at the primary level. At FPT Schools, from the 2024-2025 school year, we have incorporated AI into 10 lessons per year for primary school, 18 lessons per year for middle school, and potentially up to 35 lessons for high school," Mr. Phong said.

Many products, such as videos , graphics, and even animations, were created by students with the support of AI. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 have learned programming, integrating AI with robotics, and solving practical problems. They are encouraged to think before doing anything, to consider how AI can help. In addition, they are also learning in-depth about ethics and responsibility in the application of AI.

"Today's AI is to us what computer science and computers were 20-25 years ago. Just like people used to say, 'If you don't know something, Google it,' the community now needs a new mindset: AI-first," Mr. Phong said.

FPT Schools students learn AI starting from elementary school.

In traditional education, "personalization" was a distant dream. But AI has helped make that achievable. FPT leaders aim for each FPT Schools student to have a personal AI assistant, accompanying them on their learning journey, from reminding them of assignments and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, to providing suitable study strategies.

AI will not replace, but will elevate, teachers.

One of society's biggest concerns about AI entering the classroom is its potential to replace the role of teachers. However, according to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Phong, the opposite is true. AI can change tools, change how we teach and learn, but it cannot replace humans. “We don’t see AI as a threat. We see it as an opportunity for teachers to fulfill their role as guides, stimulating critical thinking and inspiring students to learn.”

Over 1,800 teachers in the FPT Schools system have received comprehensive training in AI. Many teachers have proactively applied AI tools to develop learning materials and lessons, creating enthusiasm for learning among students. To effectively control the application of AI in learning, the system stipulates different levels of AI usage. Teachers are responsible for checking and discussing to ensure students understand the lesson and do not become overly dependent on AI.

FPT Schools is also experimenting with building a flipped classroom model, where students independently explore content with the support of AI, while teachers play the role of guiding and providing feedback.

Spreading AI to the community

Not only is FPT a pioneer in educational innovation strategies, but it also focuses on social responsibility by organizing a series of free AI training programs for education administrators through the "Industry 4.0 Workshops" series, and training programs for teachers.

The "Principal 4.0" workshop attracted over 1,000 principals in Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces.

In 2024, FPT Schools signed a cooperation agreement with MIT to implement the Day of AI Vietnam program, creating an open and accessible platform to disseminate free AI resources and learning materials. "In the near future, we aim to support online and in-person training for approximately 100,000 primary and secondary school teachers nationwide on the application of AI," Mr. Phong said.

Human resources in all fields need to be equipped with technological capabilities, especially AI, to adapt to the new context. Concluding his presentation, Mr. Phong stated that whatever the world implements, Vietnam should adopt it, adjusting as needed. Failure to act today will mean missing a golden opportunity to build a future for the younger generation.

FPT