Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, a teacher at Tam Da Secondary School in Vietnam’s Bac Ninh province, is among
the 60 teachers participating in the “Boeing Technology Enhanced Learning” project in Vietnam between
2021 and 2025. Since taking part in the project, she has adapted her approach to teaching, utilizing her
new knowledge to improve on previous methods. Tam Da Secondary School is located in the rural Yen
Phong district, within Phan Dong village, part of the Tam Da commune on the south bank of the Cau River.
Ms. Huong began her teaching career in 2004; marking over 19 years as a teacher. Initially, she wanted to pursue her interest in nature, hoping to study agriculture at university. However, her parents advised her to pursue a career in teaching, which led to her decision to study pedagogy. During the first few years of teaching, Ms. Huong received praise from her colleagues for her teaching ability. In particular, she recalls how impressed one teacher in the town of Thuan Thanh was that a newly graduated teacher could provide such an interesting lesson plan.
Ms. Huong was later introduced to Dr. Tran Khanh Ngoc’s class in Hanoi. After four courses with Dr. Ngoc, Ms. Huong dramatically changed her teaching mindset. This was apparent to both her colleagues and students, who thoroughly enjoy Ms. Huong’s new teaching style. Previously, Ms. Huong participated in the Provincial Teaching Contest for Teachers, achieving the highest score in the province. All these factors fueled her ongoing drive to refine her skills and discover new teaching techniques, recognizing the positive impact she had on herself and others.
Ms. Huong was prompted to learn more about STEM education when Yen Phong District assigned her to
conduct a STEM lesson at the beginning of 2021. She taught the lesson “Growing aquatic betel plants”
according to established technical STEM techniques, even attracting teachers from neighboring schools
to learn from the experience. The lessons at that time were primarily taught online due to limited
resources. Despite this, Ms. Huong conducted an exemplary STEM class, following the 5-step process for technical STEM teaching. As a result of this experience, she is now familiar with the best practices for
teaching STEM education, and can share this knowledge to benefit her colleagues.
After participating in the School Teachers’ Training sessions under the project, Ms. Huong realized that
STEM education is not as difficult as she first thought. The project has helped her better understand the
STEM process, enabling her to apply scientific STEM techniques in the classroom. In addition, support
from the Bac Ninh Department of Education and Training, as well as the facilitation of the School Board,
have greatly helped in improving access to STEM Education through training sessions. Since implementing STEM education in her classrooms, Ms. Huong has become more aware of applying interdisciplinary knowledge. She also hopes to inspire her students and guide them to success as they pursue their chosen careers.
Ms. Huong has participated in multiple events designed to enhance technical teaching techniques
throughout the Boeing TEL Vietnam project, including the School Teachers Training session, STEM
Innovation Camp, and mentoring sessions. During the two-day training that took place at the end of
August, she found the Master Teachers to be very knowledgeable and easy to understand, highlighting
the importance of strong communication skills. In particular, she is most grateful to Ms. Do Thi Quynh
Mai, who was in charge of the Chemistry group. Ms. Mai took the time to give detailed instructions that
helped Ms. Huong and her colleagues complete a comprehensive STEM plan. Additionally, Ms. Huong was impressed with the STEM Innovation Camp, in which teachers and students alike expressed their gratitude for the well-thought-out session.
Ms. Huong is thankful for the knowledge and experiences gained through Kenan and the Boeing TEL
Vietnam project, without which she wouldn’t have discovered the tools to become proficient in STEM
education.
