Published 3 scientific papers in prestigious international journals in 2024 alone. The teacher, born in 1992, impresses not only with his classroom teaching but also with his active participation in scientific research and guiding students in competitions. From 2020 to 2024, Mr. Le Trong Duc has published 6 scientific works, including 2 in domestic journals and 4 in prestigious international journals (SCIE, Scopus, etc.). In 2024 alone, the young teacher had 3 papers published in prestigious journals listed in the SCIE and ESCI databases. His research is in the initial stages of testing to aid in the design and development of diabetes treatment drugs. His main research direction is the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds with inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (an enzyme that hydrolyzes starch into glucose). If blood glucose levels are too high and cannot enter the cells, it leads to diabetes. Inhibiting this enzyme is one of the mechanisms controlling blood sugar levels, and Professor Duc's research aims to develop a drug to treat diabetes.

Mr. Le Trong Duc, a teacher at Hau Nghia High School, Long An province. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Pursuing scientific research has also positively impacted his teaching process. “The more I research, the better I understand the nature of the problems, which in turn supports my teaching in a more profound and intuitive way. I can also teach my students the skills of a scientific researcher, such as patience and logic,” Mr. Duc said. He personally participated in the provincial-level “Startup Ideas” competition, winning first prize with his project “producing environmentally friendly hand soap from starfruit leaves.” This project was selected by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and included in the 2019 Golden Book of Vietnamese Innovation. He also guided his students in a project to produce hand sanitizer from the antibacterial properties of the leaves and fruits of the *Dendrobium nobile* plant. The project was implemented, producing over 2,000 liters of antibacterial hand sanitizer (achieving a 99.99% germ-killing rate), used in two Covid-19 prevention campaigns (in schools, district offices, and field hospitals). In addition, Mr. Duc guided his students in three projects that won second prize at the provincial level and one project that won second prize at the national level in the annual science and technology competition for high school students. According to Mr. Duc, scientific research not only helps discover new things but also allows students to maximize their potential. “When doing scientific research, I see the students mature significantly, not only in knowledge but also in their thinking and problem-solving abilities. That's what motivates me to love this work even more,” Mr. Duc said. Many effective teaching initiatives and solutions: In teaching, Mr. Duc has many highly effective solutions and initiatives. Most notably, the initiative recognized by the Provincial People's Committee in 2024 focuses on developing students' self-learning abilities in Chemistry through the "flipped classroom" model. Mr. Duc explains that the "flipped classroom" is a learning model aimed at helping students become more proactive in acquiring knowledge. Instead of teaching in the traditional way, he requires students to study the lesson beforehand through materials and videos . In class, instead of lecturing on theory, he dedicates more time to allowing students to present their understanding; answer their questions; engage in group discussions, practice, and receive guidance on solving exercises. "Through this learning method, I find that it not only helps students acquire knowledge proactively but also develops teamwork and problem-solving skills. When students are given the opportunity to do things themselves and practice, they will certainly remember things longer than if they simply follow what the teacher says," Mr. Duc said.

Students are encouraged by Mr. Duc to engage in hands-on, creative experiences. In the photo, students design a mini fire extinguisher that releases CO2 gas to put out a fire in a Chemistry class. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

The teacher frequently assigns students projects, making learning more natural and easier. For example, when teaching about combustion reactions, he lets them make their own mini fire extinguishers. “Students are asked to find plastic bottles or readily available objects to make a model of a fire extinguisher. Then, I guide them to add chemicals (e.g., baking soda and vinegar) to create CO2 gas and extinguish the fire. I also ask students to present their fire extinguisher design to understand how the gas escapes after the reaction…,” Mr. Duc shared. According to Mr. Duc, by engaging in hands-on activities, the students can offer more constructive feedback to the teacher. “Students may not follow my instructions and create CO2 using a different reaction, yet still be able to extinguish the fire. When they practice repeatedly and have a basis for argumentation, even if their proposed solution differs from the instructions, I still acknowledge it. What makes me happy is that many student groups have come up with different solutions, not overly dependent on the teacher's instructions,” Mr. Duc said. With his competence and professional reputation, he is also a member of the committee that sets and grades the provincial-level excellent student competition every year. From 2020 to the present, along with teachers in the school's Chemistry department, Mr. Duc has participated in tutoring 21 students who have won provincial-level excellent student awards. With his tireless efforts, Mr. Duc was honored as an “Outstanding Young Teacher” at the provincial and national levels in 2020; received a Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Education and Training for outstanding achievements in student education in 2020; and was recognized as an Outstanding Teacher in 2024.

Vietnamnet.vn

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