Classrooms of thousands of students
Recently, the Department of Education and Training (DET) of Dien Bien coordinated with the STEAM for Vietnam organization to implement a project called "Train the trainers 2025:populating AI for teachers in Dien Bien province".
This is considered a specific, strategic activity to improve the capacity of the teaching staff in the digital age.
The project aims to train about 17,000 education managers and teachers at all levels to understand AI and related technologies, how artificial intelligence (Gen AI) can support and improve teaching with AI tools (Chat GPT, Copilot...).
Accordingly, since the end of March 2025, key officials of the provincial education and training sector have participated in the direct training course "applying new generation artificial intelligence". After that, management staff, experts from the Department of Education and Training, departments of education and training, and educational institutions continued to participate in the 2-session training course.
In particular, the training course for teachers of kindergartens, general schools and lecturers of the Pedagogical College, organized in 4 sessions, on Sundays (from April 6-27) has created impressive numbers.
At the online class held on April 6, Dr. Tran Viet Hung - founder of AI for Vietnam, who teaches how to apply GenAI to teachers in Dien Bien, also expressed surprise.
More than 14,000 teachers across Dien Bien province participate in the Train the Trainers program to learn how to apply GenAI to teaching activities to improve the quality of education. By expanding the entire system like this, Dien Bien will certainly be the first locality in the world to do so - Dr. Tran Viet Hung wrote on his personal Facebook page.
Mr. Hung also added more about the attraction of online classes: Its unbelievable. Online class with nearly 9,000 viewers livestreaming on YouTube at the same time...; nearly 40,000 views and more than 23,000 viewing hours".
In particular, this project aims to make Dien Bien one of the pioneering localities in the country in popularizing knowledge and skills in applying AI to teachers on a province-wide scale.
Improving teaching methods
From the perspective of the person directly teaching, teacher Nguyen Thi Thao - Be Van Dan Primary School, Dien Bien Phu City - said: "When applying new technology, students are interested in learning and their learning outcomes are also better... In addition, students can also do their homework on many softwares very effectively".
However, in addition to the obvious benefits, applying AI also poses challenges if not used properly. The overuse of AI can lead to over-reliance between teachers and students.
Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh Nhan - Principal of Be Van Dan Primary School, Dien Bien Phu City - said that due to the application of smart technology, attractive vivid images and sounds will make students entertain and lose focus on studying.
Ms. Nhan is also concerned that finding answers very quickly will reduce students' thinking ability as well as their ability to solve problems themselves. Therefore, AI should be used as a support tool, not a substitute for proactive learning.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Ms. Hoang Tuyet Ban - Director of the Department of Education and Training of Dien Bien province said that the popularization of AI application aims to equip knowledge and skills to apply artificial intelligence (GenAI) to staff and teachers to improve teaching methods and increase interaction with students.
In addition, the project will help improve the province's educational ranking, especially in the field of technology application. Strengthen digital transformation capacity in teaching and education management in the future.
"These are just the first steps towards AI technology, and a specific application in management and teaching requires a specific roadmap. Education is a special industry, so AI only plays a supporting role, while teachers always have to play a central role in orienting, conveying emotions and interacting directly with learners" - Ms. Hoang Tuyet Ban said.
