Unified textbooks: No stereotypical teaching and learning

GD&TĐ - When there is only one set of textbooks left, the challenge is how to make teachers not teach according to a "rigid model", but still be creative, proactive, and flexible in line with the goal of developing learners' capacity and qualities of the 2018 General Education Program.

Empower teachers to be autonomous and creative

Ms. Phan Thi Van Huong - teacher of Hung Dung Secondary School (Truong Vinh Ward, Nghe An ) said that if the same set of textbooks is used, it will not cause difficulties for teachers in teaching. Because using one or more sets of textbooks is not a measure of teaching innovation, but depends on the creativity and autonomy of teachers in organizing teaching.

It is important that teachers study the materials, focusing on the knowledge and skills that students need to achieve. Thus, the curriculum framework, knowledge and skill standards, and output standards are the law, while textbooks are only the main materials for organizing teaching and learning.

Ms. Le Thi Xuan Dao - Literature teacher, Tay Son Secondary School (Hoa Cuong Ward, Da Nang City) shared: "The foundation of teaching and learning is still closely following the requirements of the 2018 General Education Program. When mastering this requirement, teachers can completely flexibly design appropriate learning activities, ensuring the program's objectives. It can be said that textbooks are only a supporting tool, while the spirit of educational innovation - developing learners' capacity and qualities is still maintained."

According to Ms. Dao, when there is a common set of textbooks, the use of external materials in testing and assessing students' abilities becomes more convenient. After 4 years of implementing the new program with three different sets of books, teachers have had the opportunity to access, accumulate and compare many rich sources of materials, thereby easily choosing appropriate materials, ensuring accuracy and diversity in teaching.

In fact, searching for and exploiting external materials has become a familiar skill for teachers during the recent innovation process. “The most important thing is that teachers clearly understand and adhere to the principles of teaching in the direction of developing students’ abilities and qualities. Teachers can still flexibly choose and adjust materials and methods to suit their students,” Ms. Dao affirmed.

Mr. Vu Van Tung - Dinh Nup Primary and Secondary School (Po To Commune, Gia Lai Province) believes that the biggest challenge is not in the "books", but in the way of "teaching". With many years of experience in teaching, Mr. Tung realizes that when there is only one set of textbooks, teachers must be more proactive and flexible.

The way of organizing teaching cannot be based on the order in the book but can change the activities, connect with practical situations, integrate interdisciplinary to make it easier for students to understand and more interested. Teaching methods also need to be renewed by combining group discussions, project-based learning, experience, station-based learning, and dramatizing lesson content.

During class, students are encouraged to participate in content creation, ask questions, and present their learning products in their own way. According to Mr. Tung, teachers should take advantage of digital technology, open learning materials, online resources, and supporting software to make lessons lively, updated, and close to life. After each lesson, self-assessment and professional exchange with colleagues will help teachers continuously adjust and innovate.

From another perspective, Ms. Van Huong believes that the way of setting questions and organizing assessment tests of the 2018 General Education Program is open, posing problems and requiring learners to apply knowledge to come up with solutions. Therefore, if implementing a set of textbooks, teachers need to base on the requirements of the program to determine appropriate teaching methods, not only in Literature but also in other subjects.

“In the teaching process, if teachers are capable and creative, they can refer to other documents and textbooks. Regardless of which textbooks are used, I hope the education sector will continue to promote innovations in current testing and assessment methods so that teachers and students can feel secure in teaching and learning,” Ms. Van Huong shared.

Teachers and students of To Vinh Dien Secondary School (O Cho Dua, Hanoi) during a Literature class. Photo: Dinh Tue

Textbooks are teaching materials.

After 5 years of implementing the 2018 General Education Program and replacing textbooks, Ms. Pham Thi Huong - Principal of Town 2 Primary School (Van An Commune, Nghe An) commented that if teachers have high qualifications, using many sets of books and reference materials for teaching is a wonderful thing.

However, from many years of experience in teaching and management, the reality is that the qualifications of primary school teachers in particular and in the commune in general are not uniform. Primary school teachers who are highly autonomous, flexible, and boldly creative in their teaching are not many.

Therefore, to improve teaching effectiveness when implementing a unified set of common textbooks, Ms. Pham Thi Huong wants to have orientation in each lesson, in addition to the requirement to meet the regulations in the curriculum framework. Thus, competent teachers will still proactively promote their abilities and strengths, improving the effectiveness of teaching.

Teachers with lower qualifications will be more confident in teaching and will not be afraid of being misdirected. In addition, regarding the content of the unified textbooks, for primary school level, it is necessary to overcome the shortcomings in the use of materials, ensuring friendliness, ease of understanding, ease of remembering, and humanity.

Mr. Duong Van Son - Principal of Kim Lien High School (Kim Lien Commune, Nghe An) said that he has many years of direct teaching experience, is currently an administrator and a parent with a child in high school.

Standing in the role of “insider”, Mr. Duong Van Son said that there should be a common set of textbooks to create unity and uniformity in teaching in schools. On the teachers’ side, there will be standard documents without having to compare and contrast knowledge between sets of books to build lessons for students.

At the same time, from this unified document, teachers proactively update new knowledge, supplement from the Internet and other sources to enrich the lesson content. On the students' side, it is also convenient and secure when participating in important exams such as the entrance exam for grade 10, high school graduation exam with common questions across the province or the whole country.

The principal of Kim Lien High School believes that the most important thing is to be "standard" in the testing and assessment of capacity. If the testing and assessment aim to promote the capacity of learners, teachers must also be proactive, creative, and flexible in applying the documents to have appropriate teaching methods and content.

Tay Son Secondary School trained in using INNOSMART interactive screens in teaching and applying information technology. Photo: PV

Training teachers' teaching organization capacity

Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Hong - Principal of Chuong Duong Secondary School (Hong Ha, Hanoi) said that when schools use the same set of textbooks, the important thing is not "what we have in common", but what we do differently so that students can still learn with enthusiasm and develop their true abilities.

Textbooks are standard documents, but if teaching only stops at conveying the content in the book, the lesson will become dry and passive. To avoid stereotypes, teachers must read the program in depth, understand clearly the competency goals that need to be formed, and from there proactively choose the content, examples, materials and approaches appropriate for their students.

Changing the order of activities, making connections to real life, organizing projects, applying technology or incorporating local elements are all ways to make lessons lively, natural and have their own identity.

Town 2 Primary School (Van An Commune, Nghe An) sets high requirements for teachers in self-study and self-improvement such as: Self-study of English, application of information technology, digital transformation in teaching. Currently, teachers of the school can flexibly apply AI in teaching such as: Designing teaching activities, organizing games to promote creativity, self-study of knowledge for students...

Tra Nam Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Tra Linh Commune, Da Nang City) focuses on training teachers in classroom organization skills. Mr. Vo Dang Chin - Principal of the school said: "In order for teaching to be effective, teachers need to proactively choose methods and materials suitable to the characteristics of students in each region.

For example, when teaching about the natural environment, teachers in Ho Chi Minh City can use examples from ecological zones, parks, zoos or green cities; while in mountainous areas, teachers should use materials from the local natural conditions so that students can easily visualize and access the lesson.

Mr. Chin pointed out that in reality, despite training, many teachers are still confused when implementing new subjects such as Experiential Activities, not clearly envisioning "what they will teach, and how to teach to effectively convey the content to students".

In practice, observation and testing show that the application of information technology in teaching in many places is still limited to projection instead of writing on the board, and has not created real interaction between teachers and students. Therefore, teachers need to be trained in substance, have a clear evaluation mechanism and motivation for professional development.

Mr. Duong Van Son suggested that, along with using a unified set of textbooks, for high school level, there should also be only one exam chaired by the Ministry of Education and Training to get graduation scores and admission to universities.

It is a fact that in addition to the high school graduation exam, there are many separate exams for universities. While the structure of the exam, the scope of knowledge, and the answers of the separate exams are not compiled and chaired by the Ministry of Education and Training. "Bringing them together" helps students not have to follow too many separate exams for universities, causing pressure in studying and wasting money.

Mr. Le Hoai Quan - Principal of To Vinh Dien Secondary School (O Cho Dua, Hanoi): "The nature of modern teaching is to develop the capacity of learners. Therefore, teachers must clearly understand the capacity of students to organize personalized educational activities, suitable for each student."

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/sach-giao-khoa-thong-nhat-khong-day-hoc-rap-khuon-post754338.html