From December 2015 to June 2016, VVOB worked with teachers, schools leaders of multi-ethnic schools in Vo Nhai (Thai Nguyen) and Nam Giang (Quang Nam). By observing children’s well-being and involvement, they could identify barriers to their learning and act upon it, to increase children’s learning and participation. A year later, they explain how their way of teaching and managing a school have changed.
VVOB: What concrete changes did you see in your teaching/managing and in the learning of children after the Action Research?
Zo Ram Thi Nguyet, teacher in the preschool Chaval-Zuoich, Nam Giang, Quang Nam
First of all, this was quite a big challenge for me to join this research because it was a bigger workload for the teachers because of all the paperwork requested by the research. So, at the beginning I felt a bit tired because it was adding to all the work I already had with teaching the children.
The first thing that I saw that I changed is the way of using material: I used more ‘common materials’ that was around us, like leaves, stones,… And these materials attract the involvement of children, much more than before. Besides the involvement, the well-being of the children was also very high. I was very happy and I knew that the way I changed my teaching had created very positive changes among children. One more thing is that in the class, the teacher doesn’t need to work as much as before, because many of the activities are done by the children…
Pham Thi Le Hoa, vice principal at preschool Tabhing-Tà Poo, Nam Giang, Quang Nam
This project had an impact on the whole educational system: on the parents, the teachers, the children and the management (school leader). The most remarkable change happened in the school management. The school manager changed their way of managing, of thinking and of directing the teachers. Before taking part to this research, the school manager was just focusing on the results of what children were doing. But after they joined the action research, they are now paying attention to the progress and focus on the teaching.
Another noticeable change happened on the children. Thanks to the research, teachers practiced their skills for making the children involved in the activities, and not just pay attention on the results but also on how the children enjoy and actively get involved in the activities. Activities are now centered on the children.
VVOB: If you had to summarize your experience in taking part to the Action Research, how would you explain it in one or two sentences?
Zo Ram Thi Nguyet (Teacher)
Firstly, the quality of children’s learning has improved a lot. Secondly, children love me so much, more than before! Lastly, I love them even more and I love my work even more
Before, there was not enough toys and materials in the class for the children to take part to the activities… Only 2 or 3 children were playing, and the others were just watching. But since we are now using all the material that is around us, every child has the opportunity to play and to take part in all activities.
Pham Thi Le Hoa (Vice principal)
The most important change that was made thanks to the project is that before, the connection between the parents and the teachers was not close and the parents didn’t realise the importance of preschool. They thought that preschool was just a place for the children to be looked after. But now, they realised that is it a place for their children to learn.
