Developing Educators' Competencies in Utilising Generative AI in Teaching and Learning through a Serious Game in Vietnam (GameAid)

Project team

Petros Lameras (PI)

Sylvester Arnab (Co-PI)

Mark Lewis (Researcher)

Alex Masters (Researcher)

Funder

British Council

Collaborators

Coventry (lead)

Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, HUST (Co-I)
Dr Hoang Thi Bich Thuy, HUST Senior Researcher
Steve Trinh, HUST, Senior Games Designer

Total value

£94,718.04

Duration

1/08/24 → 31/07/26

Project overview

GameAid aims to support educators in Vietnam to develop awareness, experience, and understanding of Generative AI (GenAI) in Education through designing, prototyping, and evaluating a serious game. Embracing teaching and learning with the use of GenAI tools, such as large language models (LLMs) exemplified by ChatGPT, presents an overwhelming decision for educators in Vietnam, impacting their digital literacy and ability to personalise students learning experiences.

Vietnam’s educational landscape is evolving with policies promoting educational technology, including online assessments, and digital resources, facilitating flexible learning. However, challenges persist, including educators' lack of digital skills and their inability to design quality learning resources. The 2020 survey on digital transformation in Vietnam revealed that only 40% of teachers feel confident integrating technology into teaching, and just 25% reported adequate training on digital tools. Vietnam ranks 74th out of 133 countries in the Global Talent Competitive Index, highlighting the urgent need for digital literacy development, especially through purposeful media like serious games.

However, the gap between urban and rural education remains a worrying challenge, which affects the learning and development opportunities of students in remote areas. The disparity in educational access opportunities between children in cities and rural areas is one of the major challenges that is garnering special attention. Students in cities are more likely to have access to modern education, such as online learning and instructional software. Meanwhile, youngsters in remote locations sometimes struggle to access modern education due to a lack of facilities, technology, and internet connectivity. According to the Ministry of Education and Training's 2020 report, the rate of educational institutions meeting national standards in urban areas is 85%, while in rural areas it is only 45%; the rate of students having computers to use for studying in city areas is 60%, whereas in remote areas it is only 20% in another survey conducted by Center for Education Research and Social Development in 2021; which indicates a distinct gap between those two areas and advanced learning options, causing limitations for social development in both the regions and the whole country, especially in the particular context.

As in the 2020 report by the Ministry, 92% of high school teachers have university degrees or higher in urban areas, compared to 78% in rural ones. The numbers show that in urban areas, teachers reach higher and earlier standards than in remote areas. The reason for this is because urban teachers have easier access to professional training classes than rural teachers do. Thus, the quality of teachers in cities is frequently higher than in rural areas. Since then, pupils in metropolitan regions have had better conditions and access to qualified teachers than students in rural areas. This disparity not only results in unequal access to knowledge, but it also adds to an unfavourable learning environment, necessitating actions to bridge the gap.

Recognising the vital link between educators’ digital skills and teaching quality, GameAid prioritises educators’ experiences of using GenAI for enhancing instruction. It incorporates the OpenAI API in a serious game for demonstrating how teaching and learning can utilise GenAI. The serious game will incorporate relevant content ranging from GAI applications and tools and implications for teaching and learning (e.g. ethics, diversity, and inclusivity) to designing digital content, learning activities, assessment, and feedback. Moreover, through GameAid, educators will be supported via a GenAI competency model and a centralised online hub for enhancing their GenAI understanding, fostering meaningful, accessible, and inclusive digital resources for leveraging teaching and learning with the use of GenAI.

Project objectives

O1: Conduct needs analysis to inform the development of GenAI-based educational experiences through a serious game. An iterative design method will be employed utilising literature reviews and focus groups for mapping user needs to the serious game requirements, and specifications.

O2: Develop a serious game prototype to provide hands-on experience and interactive learning opportunities for educators to explore GenAI concepts and applications.

O3: Evaluate the impact of the serious game on educators’ awareness, understanding and confidence in leveraging GenAI tools and applications effectively in their practice.

O4: Develop a GenAI competency model for educators in Vietnam to enhance awareness of required skills and facilitate the integration of GenAI in their practice.

O5: Establish an online GenAI hub for teaching staff in Vietnam providing access to the serious game and the GenAI competency model as means to offer interactive resources and guidance on GenAI integration in education.

Impact statement

The anticipated outcomes of our proposed activities are set to significantly enhance the economic development and welfare of Hoa Binh province, a region characterized by its mountainous terrain and remote areas, which notably ranks among the lowest in terms of GDP within Vietnam. By addressing and aiming to mitigate the educational disparities between urban centers and rural locales, our project lays a foundation for long-term equitable growth. Specifically, the project will:

Reduce Educational Inequality: Focusing on Hoa Binh province as the pilot location, the initiative aims to bridge the gap in educational quality and access between urban and rural settings. Reducing this disparity is crucial for leveling the playing field, enabling students from remote areas to compete more effectively in the national and global economies, thus contributing to the province's economic upliftment.
Encourage Local Schools and Teachers to Adopt GenAI: Promoting the adaptation of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) among local schools and teachers, the project seeks to enhance the quality of lessons and teaching methodologies. Integrating GenAI into educational practices can lead to more personalized and effective learning experiences for students, equipping them with the digital literacy and skills necessary for the 21st-century workforce. This, in turn, can boost the employability of the local population and attract investments and opportunities to the region.
Raise Policymaker Awareness of Emerging Technologies: Elevating the understanding and awareness of emerging technologies, such as GenAI, among policymakers is another critical objective. By demonstrating the potential of such technologies to transform education quality, the project can influence policy decisions and resource allocation, leading to the adoption of more innovative, technology-driven approaches in the education sector. This strategic shift not only enhances the quality of education but also positions the province as a forward-thinking, tech-savvy region capable of leveraging technology for economic and social advancement.

Outputs

A serious game prototype
A Generative AI competency model for teachers
An evauation report outlining project findings
Teacher workshops for playtesting the game
Final event showcasing project outcomes