When Students Become Teachers: The Journey of Spreading Free Programming Knowledge

Vu Gia Bao – a student at Amsterdam High School, Hanoi has turned his passion for programming into an opportunity to share free knowledge with hundreds of students across the country, through the KAV Open Classroom project.

Passionate about programming and eager to share my knowledge.

In March 2025, while searching for a meaningful extracurricular activity, Gia Bao stumbled upon the KAV (Khan Academy Vietnam) Open Classroom project. With three years of experience volunteering at the Steam For Vietnam educational organization, she recognized this as an opportunity to both develop herself and contribute to spreading technological knowledge.

Gia Bảo hopes to spread free programming classes to more students nationwide.

"I want to prove that programming isn't difficult, that it has many practical applications in life. More importantly, I want to create an open classroom where students can interact, learn from each other, and develop a love for computer science ," Bao shared.

That spirit is also clearly felt by parents and students. Nguyen Chung, a parent of Duy Anh and Duy Van, who are in grades 2 and 3 in Nghe An, shared: “Children in rural areas have fewer opportunities to access these classes. We are grateful to the KAV team for providing our children with a free learning platform that suits our economic conditions and fulfills our children's desire to learn. We are also grateful for the persistent and dedicated efforts of the teachers in imparting knowledge.”

Overcoming pressure to grow

Gia Bảo's first class took place from March to May 2025, lasting 9 sessions. The number of students participating was unexpectedly high, with some sessions reaching over 500. Without teaching assistants and coinciding with final exams, the pressure made her want to give up many times. But with the encouragement of the KAV team, the support of parents, and especially the students' eagerness to learn, Gia Bảo gradually overcame the challenges. She learned how to manage the class, improved her teaching skills, communication, and coordinated online classes more easily.

Minh Hieu, a 5th-grade student from Tuyen Quang, shared after the course: “I have grasped the basic knowledge of Python to continue self-learning on Khan Academy. Children in rural areas have fewer opportunities to participate in classes like this, and I hope KAV will promote it more widely so that more children can learn.” Such feedback has become a motivation for Gia Bao to continue participating.

A teaching and learning session with Gia Bảo at the KAV Open Classroom and the students.

These skills have given me the confidence to participate in the international Code in Place program organized by Stanford University (USA), as well as to directly teach children at the SOS Children's Village in Viet Tri, Phu Tho in July 2025. In the second programming class (starting in August 2025), Gia Bao will also have the opportunity to work with an experienced university lecturer, resulting in a more consistent class quality and many students completing their final assignments very impressively.

From KAV open classes to larger projects

Looking back on this short but enriching journey, Gia Bảo considers it a solid foundation for pursuing free yet high-quality educational projects aimed at disadvantaged students – those with limited access to paid education. For him, the KAV open classroom is not just a place to teach, but also the beginning of a long journey: bringing technology closer to all students and building an open, effective, and sustainable learning community.

“My experience at KAV has given me a solid foundation to pursue community education projects. I believe that if there were more open classes like this, many students across the country would see a new path for their future,” Gia Bao shared.

Gia Bảo participated in the international Code in Place program organized by Stanford University (USA).

Gia Bảo's story demonstrates the power of sharing knowledge. A 12th-grade student, driven by passion and responsibility, has been able to create positive change for hundreds of students across the country, especially in remote areas. This story also shows the immense potential when students are not only learners but also disseminators of knowledge. From an online class, the desire to share has transformed into a journey of sowing the seeds of knowledge, contributing to building a generation of confident, creative young people ready to learn throughout their lives.

KAV Open Classes are a completely online and free online learning model organized by Khan Academy Vietnam, supported by a team of volunteers including teachers, students, and working professionals. The class content is diverse, ranging from Math, English, Programming, and SAT test preparation to life skills such as AI and Internet safety, meeting the varied learning needs of students nationwide. More than just a bridge between learners and teachers, KAV Open Classes contribute to fostering an open and equitable learning society in the digital age.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/khi-hoc-sinh-tro-thanh-nguoi-thay-hanh-trinh-lan-toa-tri-thuc-lap-trinh-mien-phi-327866.html