With the desire to help primary school pupils develop their qualities and talents through fun activities in the teaching process, as well as raise awareness of their parents, the Da Nang Department of Education and Training has coordinated the VVOB, a Belgian Flemish organization which focuses on Education for Development, to organize a festival of learning through play at primary school across the city.

Teachers, parents and pupils of the Lien Chieu District-based Hong Quang Primary School together joining a festival of learning through play. Photo: T.V

Many meaningful activities

Mrs. Le Anh Dao, the Headmistress of the Lien Chieu District-based Hong Quang Primary School, remarked the festival of learning through play was for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd graders.

She explained that teaching through play refers to the way in which teachers use play as a pedagogical tool within their school setting, more commonly known as ‘play-based learning’. Teachers using a teaching-through-play approach use integrated pedagogical practices, promoting student agency and inquiry but remaining active in their guidance and support as the students direct their learning during play. Learning through play is a way of thinking that teachers, as well as parents, can apply to pupils. It is not a step-by-step plan to follow, but rather a continuous and iterative learning journey.

Present at the play-based learning festival at the Hong Quang Primary School, Mrs. Le Thi Thuy Linh, a parent of a pupil, said that she was impressed with the school’s meaningful activities.

“In the past, like other parents, I did not understand how our pupils learn through play. Joining the festival helped me more understand about the importance of the festival and what I can do to accompany my children” she added.

At the Be Van Dan Primary School based in Thanh Khe District, the play-based learning festival has featured many exciting activities. In particular, parents and their children have together experienced a variety of games of planting trees, painting, tearing and pasting, doing physical activities, etc. These have facilitated participants to comprehensively promote their cognitive, emotional, creative, physical and mental health development.

Improve the quality of education

Sharing about the method of learning through play, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Trang, a teacher from the Hong Quang Primary School, said “We are constantly trying to improve traditional teaching methods. The purpose of the festival is to provide participants with practical access to positive emotions, experience and apply the synthesis of knowledge and skills into practice. Most pupils are very excited, even enthralled and learn wherever they are.”

A representative of the Hai Chau District-based Le Dinh Chinh Primary School said that the General Education Programme (GET) 2018 focuses on innovating educational methods through play, as well as strongly shifting the educational process from mainly equipping theory knowledge to comprehensive development for learners.

The festival provides the opportunity for pupils to not only have fun after stressful studying hours, but also have real experience from knowledge they have learned in books.

It is hoped that such a meaningful playground will be organised regularly, thereby significantly contributing to promoting the development of pupils' capacity and quality, and improving the quality of education, the Le Dinh Chinh Primary School representative added.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Hien, a representative from VVOB, the festival is part of the iPLAY (Learning through Play in primary education) project.

Under the project, VVOB in Viet Nam has launched the ‘Have fun, study well’ campaign at three primary schools in Da Nang, aiming to encourage parents and teachers to integrate skill lessons through fun activities to help children develop comprehensively in cognitive, physical, emotional, social and creative skills.

Reporting by HUYNH TUONG VY - Translating by M.DUNG