Future teachers “illiterate” in new educational thought

VietNamNet Bridge – While education experts urge to carry out an education
reform and learn modern educational thoughts, pedagogical school students still
do not know about education technology.

Three mathematics faculty’s students of a pedagogical university, when asked
about the speech of Professor Ho Ngoc Dai, one of the most famous names in
Vietnam’s education, said: “We do not know and we have not read any books of
Professor Ho Ngoc Dai. We only read the textbook on psychology and education”.

The students said that after learning the subjects, they can remember the names
of the professors who are the authors of the textbook, and some Russian names.
Meanwhile, the textbook does not mention any other educational thought or
pedagogical psychological research work.

Therefore, the name “Ho Ngoc Dai” remains unfamiliar even to pedagogical
students. And John Dewey and J. J. Rousseau are also considered “unfamiliar
concepts.”

“In fact, the subjects in psychology and education are not our major subjects,
therefore, we are not really interested in them,” they explained.

The concepts of “teaching method” or “pedagogical skills” are understood by the
students as the way to teach mathematics. One of the three students said they
sometimes heard the stories about pedagogical cases, and that it would be easier
to teach students if having good pedagogical skills. However, they believe that
later, at their works, they would be able to better understand students and have
better teaching method when they have more opportunities to communicate with
students.

Moreover, the textbooks only show general knowledge, not the details about the
teaching methods or the psychology.

Phuong Loan, a second year postgraduate in literature, could explain clearly why
she does not know the famous names.

“I learn with the textbooks, and I read the textbooks the lecturers tell me to
read. I only learn what is necessary that helps me pass the exams. I myself only
much take care about my major,” Loan said.

VietNamNet’s reporters heard the same answers from some 20 other students of
pedagogical schools. Finally, the reporters have been advised to talk with the
students majoring in educational psychology, education studies or educational
administration, because these students may better know about educational
thought.

Le Van, a fourth year student of the education administration, said that she
learned about the education technology of Professor Ho Ngoc Dai. However, she
proves not to have deep knowledge about his ideas. Van also said that she was
introduced about John Dewey, but admitted that she did not read his famous book
in the Vietnamese version.

Hong Tham, a postgraduate student in pedagogical psychology, said that she read
Dai’s books when she was at the university education level. However, she now
does not read the books any more.

Le Thu, a student majoring in education studies, said she read many books of Dai
and learned about the well known ideas. Thu expressed her worry about the
knowledge students receive at schools. The knowledge is believed to be sourced
from the former Soviet Union. Meanwhile, many major thoughts recognized by
modern educators are from the west. However, the western thoughts are only
mentioned in summary at some lessons.

Thu believes that this is one of the main reasons that make pedagogical school
students “illiterate” in the ideas of the big educators, while students in
psychology and education studies can learn about them, but do not go into
details.

“If questions about the educators are raised at the exams, I am sure that
students will know about them. However, the knowledge is not considered as
important, therefore, students don’t care about that.”

Nha Uyen
 

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