Students of Ho Chi Minh City's specialized school spread STEM passion to distant provinces

On October 25, a special class opened thanks to the connection of the House of Wisdom, with the 'lecturers' being students from Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (HCMC) and the learners being 8th graders from Nghe An province.

Scene of the opening ceremony at Nghe An bridgehead on October 25

Photo: Pham Duc Tuan

Free distance learning course in math and chemistry for 8th graders at Thanh Tien Secondary School, Tam Dong Commune (Nghe An Province). The chemistry class started on October 25 after a long preparation period and overcoming consecutive storms that hit the Central region, causing prolonged power outages.

Classroom after the storm

The first course attracted 66 students to participate, with a team of volunteer "lecturers" who were students of The Promethean Flame group from schools in Ho Chi Minh City such as Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City National University High School for the Gifted...

The chemistry teacher is Nguyen Thanh Trung, a chemistry major in grade 11 at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (HCMC).

The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Truong Nguyen Thanh, Deputy Director of the Institute of Lifelong Learning; Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Founder of the House of Wisdom and the Charity Bookshelf; Mr. Tran Thanh Hoai, Deputy Director of the Charity Bookshelf Program.

Online chemistry tutoring class

Photo: Nguyen Anh Tuan

On the side of Thanh Tien Secondary School, there were Mr. Pham Duc Tuan, Principal; Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet, teacher of class 8A and students.

Speaking to Thanh Nien Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said that Professor Truong Nguyen Thanh, founder of the Edtopia classroom management software system, has supported this software for the program. The House of Wisdom has organized training sessions for members of the Promethean Flame group before the program started.

"For a long time, the House of Wisdom has been organizing distance learning classes, but mainly focusing on teaching English. This is the first time STEM subjects, specifically math and chemistry, have been taught remotely, and I think the potential for development is very good," said Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan. Mr. Tuan added that Principal Pham Duc Tuan welcomed the program and immediately implemented it for students at the school.

After the opening ceremony had to be postponed due to a storm causing power outages and damage to facilities, yesterday (October 25), the first class was started in the auditorium of Thanh Tien Secondary School.

Online meeting of the House of Wisdom, The Promethean Flame core group and Thanh Tien Secondary School (Nghe An)

photo: Tu Yen

According to Mr. Pham Duc Tuan, the first lessons will be held during the afternoon and evening hours at school so that teachers can sit with students to get them into order. This demonstrates the school's serious attitude towards the education of students, and at the same time helps the principal and professional teachers give comments and feedback on the lesson plans and teaching skills of The Promethean Flame group. After this time, students will study at home.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said this is the first time that the House of Wisdom has cooperated with high school students in Ho Chi Minh City. Previously, the House of Wisdom regularly connected with university students from other countries to organize distance learning classes for students across the country. He hopes to continue expanding classes like STEM in the future.

The Promethean Flame is a group founded by two students from a specialized school in Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo: tpf

Students group up to the Promethean fire

According to The Promethean Flame group, the name of the distance learning course in Nghe An is The Promethean Ignite Program (TPIP). TPIP is also an abbreviation for Thrive - Persevere - Inspire - Progress.

Sharing with Thanh Nien Newspaper, Nguyen Duc Anh, a grade 11 student at the Gifted High School, Ho Chi Minh City National University, co-founder and co-leader of The Promethean Flame group, said that the group's name was inspired by Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to humanity and is considered a symbol of enlightenment, progress and unlimited sharing.

A meeting between The Promethean Flame group at a shelter in Ho Chi Minh City

Photo: tpf

The idea of ​​​​creating the group came from Duc Anh after many times of thinking about conversations, trips to share with people in special circumstances, or journeys to help disadvantaged children that he saw online. "From that thought, the group was formed, like a small fire nurtured by himself and later with like-minded friends", according to Duc Anh. And that is the reason why all the content of the group has the image of an extremely lovely fire and is called "fire sister" by followers of the page.

The project officially launched on June 1 and includes posting specialized articles on Facebook on specific topics, teaching online through cooperation with the House of Wisdom, and organizing fundraising events to serve charitable purposes for children in special circumstances.

Illustration page for a topic on The Promethean Flame group's Facebook page

Photo: tpf

Topics for Facebook posts are discussed and finalized once a month. The group chooses educational and entertaining topics that are appropriate for the time of year, such as the Learning Methods series posted during the back-to-school season to help students get a good start to the new school year. Typically, viewers respond positively to the group’s posts and thank them for the useful information the project provides.

Regarding the connection between the House of Wisdom and The Promethean Flame, Nguyen Hao Nhien, a student at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, co-founder and co-leader of The Promethean Flame, said that for many years he has been a volunteer at the Humanity Bookcase, an organization that works with the House of Wisdom. After founding The Promethean Flame with Duc Anh, he connected the group with the House of Wisdom's activities and organized STEM courses for students in remote provinces.

The faces of the core group The Promethean Flame

photo: Tu Yen

Nguyen Minh Tuan Anh, a student of grade 11 physics at the Gifted High School, Ho Chi Minh City National University and Head of the Promethean Flame's professional department, said that the teaching plan in the coming time is to popularize basic knowledge of math and chemistry 8 (first semester), as well as review for students. The class will be a supplement to the students' school curriculum, and the group will guide students to correct their homework in more detail because the time to study at school is limited.

Nguyen Thanh Trung, who taught the first class on the afternoon of October 25, said he was completely confident when standing in front of the class. "What I wanted when participating in the project was to see the success of the project, but above all, the progress and efforts of the students and myself to reap the sweet fruit."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoc-sinh-truong-chuyen-tphcm-truyen-lua-stem-den-tinh-xa-185251026085955751.htm