Researchers develop game to help teachers in rural Vietnam embrace artificial intelligence in the classroom

Tuesday 29 October 2024

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Coventry University is using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) to equip teachers in rural Vietnam with the skills and knowledge to integrate such tools into their teaching practices.

Vietnam's educational landscape is evolving with the introduction of digital tools and flexible learning, but rural areas face challenges with limited technology and training.

To bridge the gap in access and resources between urban and rural schools, Dr Petros Lameras from the university’s Research Centre for Postdigital Cultures, has launched GameAid, focusing on enhancing educators' understanding and application of GenAI in the classroom through a serious game.

The project, a collaborative effort with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Vietnam and funded through the British Council under the International Science Partnerships Fund, will support Vietnamese educators by designing, prototyping and evaluating a serious game that illustrates how GenAI applications and tools can be integrated into teaching in playful and engaging ways.

Urban areas in Vietnam tend to have better access to technology and educational resources compared to rural regions. This disparity extends to digital skills and teacher quality, with urban teachers often having higher qualifications and more professional development opportunities than their rural counterparts.

GameAid aims to address these challenges by helping educators create and utilise AI-generated educational materials; facilitate interactive and personalised learning experiences; provide tools for AI-driven assessments with real-time feedback and evaluation; and offer AI-enhanced feedback mechanisms to improve student learning outcomes.

The game will also address the ethical implications of AI, promoting diversity and inclusivity in education, and working to reduce the digital gender divide by ensuring equal opportunities for educators, with a particular focus on empowering women and other under-represented groups.

This project is crucial in introducing innovative ways to develop teachers’ competencies in Vietnam. By utilising a serious game to teach GenAI, we are not just enhancing skills but fundamentally changing how educators engage with technology in the classroom. GameAid is a step forward in ensuring that Vietnam’s education system is equipped to meet the demands of the future.

Dr Petros Lameras, Project Lead

The GameAid project equips teachers with simple guidelines and tools to integrate generative AI into lesson development, fostering innovation in education. It focuses on reducing the educational gap between urban and rural areas in Vietnam, promoting equal access to new learning opportunities.

Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, Co-Lead, HUST

Find out more about GameAid.

Find out more about the Centre for Postdigital Cultures.

This work was supported by a Research Collaborations grant, ID 1203440280, under the International Science Partnerships Fund. The grant is funded by the UK Department for Science Innovation and Technology in partnership with the British Council. For further information, please visit here.