Dr Vu Hoang Phu and his son

Seeing his two kids play games with enthusiasm, Phu believed that game could be a key to attract attention from students.

Phu is in charge of online classes that teaching technology using games at UNK.

He agrees that it is necessary to restrict violent games and children should not be allowed to spend too much time on games. But games can also help students practice thinking skills. 

At Phu’s classes, students answer questions in online games instead of reading lesson plans, doing exercises and writing essays. They can also check their achievements to know who has the highest scores, like rankings in games.

Pedagogical students can become more familiar with utilizing games in education which will be useful in their future jobs.

“Technology is present everywhere and it should be integrated into teaching to help students study and practice better,” he said, adding that future teachers need to be trained in a way so that they can use technology in teaching.

Phu, after researching the use of technology in general education in 14 countries, realized that schools can spend money to buy technology, but don’t have money to hire experts to support teachers in the long term. 

Phu said he hopes he’ll get the chance to cooperate with schools in Vietnam to utilize the online game-based teaching method. 

He has given advice on a program that helps students prepare for English exams in high school finals.

Phu worked as a teacher at the Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted in Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa province. With a Fulbright scholarship, he went to the US to obtain a master’s degree and doctorate. Among the job choices offered to him, Phu chose the position in the US.

Devoting himself to teaching for many years in both Vietnam and the US, Phu believes that teachers need to inspire students with enthusiasm and help them become independent and critical thinkers.

At present, the teaching method applied at schools in Vietnam are believed to be problematic. Vietnamese students receive knowledge from teachers in a passive way, i.e., teachers provide information, while students write the information down on their books. Meanwhile,  the curricula are described as ‘too academic’.

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