Eighteen TVET teachers from eight colleges spent the week from 3-7 August, 2020 to familiarise themselves with online learning management systems (LMS) and to experiment different ways to deliver the green module “Environmental protection, energy and resource efficiency” online and in blended formats. With the support of experts from the Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, participants learnt how to use Google Classroom and Moodle to organise and manage teaching and learning materials and activities. Various content structures as well as creative ways to interact between trainers and learners were developed, reflecting the wide range of teaching experiences from the participants. Additional IT applications including Openshot, Wix and Kahoot were also introduced to help teachers enhance learners’ experience. Throughout the training, participants were coached on student-centered teaching methodology in blended and online learning environments.

With the approval from the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), the basic module on “Environmental protection, energy and resource efficiency” has been introduced to over 30 TVET institutes nationwide since 2019. Developed by teachers from the Vocational College of Machinery and Irrigation (VCMI) with support from German experts, the module is aimed at providing TVET trainees with cross-occupational green skills needed to meet the country’s requirements for sustainable development. With a strong focus on hands-on, experiential learning, the module comprises 36 hours of training that can be taught in full or integrated in various subjects. A full package of user-friendly teaching and learning materials are ready for both teachers and learners to explore and enjoy. Amid the outbreak of Covid-19 since earlier 2020, adapting the green module to online and blended learning formats became a pressing demand to ensure its continued piloting and adoption by TVET institutes.

“The training was a perfect opportunity for us to build skills for online teaching and learning, and to exchange experiences with peer TVET teachers. What we learnt today is helpful for us not only in the context of Covid-19, but well beyond”, said Mr Nguyen Minh Trung, from the Long An Vocational College.

This activity is implemented by the Vietnamese-German “Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam”. The programme is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) together with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).