Sharing smart learning experiences for Nghe An students
(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of February 27, the Provincial Association for Promoting Education in collaboration with the HOCMAI Education System organized the Smart Learning Workshop at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. This is a series of non-profit programs organized by HOCMAI since December 2018, with the main speaker being Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, who has many years of experience in research.
 |
| Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam has many years of experience in researching new learning methods. Photo: My Ha |
Each student has his or her own strengths.
Smart Learning Workshop is a program exclusively for middle and high school students nationwide.gFor about 2 hours, speaker Nguyen Thanh Nam shared with students smart learning methods that have been successfully applied in many countries with developed education systems such as: note-taking skills, memorization techniques using smart flashcards, career counseling, personalizing learning for each student... to help students improve their learning ability.
Previously, sharing the idea of building the workshop program, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam said: For many years, I have been pursuing research and cherishing the intention of bringing advanced learning methods in the world closer to Vietnamese students. However, the idea of building the Smart Learning workshop program really sprouted from the time I was invited to be a consultant on learning methods for the reality TV show "How to study well?" broadcast weekly on the National Education Television channel VTV7, Vietnam Television.
 |
| Most of the workshop was spent sharing about smart learning methods. Photo: My Ha |
He also expects: After each workshop, we hope that everyone will know these methods, 10% can apply them immediately and a few of the 10% can become the core in applying them smoothly to create a spreading effect around.
At the beginning of the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam discussed the structure of intelligence and considered it the foundation for human development: Intelligence is very diverse, there are people who may not be good at math, physics, or chemistry but have foreign intelligence, the ability to connect and organize events. But these people develop very well because every business needs someone to organize movements.
Besides, there are people with musical intelligence, body-kinesthetic intelligence (athletes, gymnasts, surgeons)... Each person has their own characteristics, their own strengths and it is important to know how to develop their own abilities.
Based on the individual intelligence structure of each person, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam affirmed: each person has a different way of learning, some learn quickly, some learn slowly, different in concentration. This person can absorb difficult programs, a huge amount of knowledge easily. But another person can learn as much as he wants but it is difficult to be effective. And, if it is too much, trying will not work.
To study well, you must have a smart learning method.
At the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam also shared about effective learning methods, which is smart learning. With this form, students must review intelligently using thinking methods and spacing techniques.
It is common for students to answer questions posed by teachers. But that is passive. Instead of answering, students should automatically ask questions about the problems in the lesson. This may be more difficult, but if you study without asking questions, your brain is not working. Besides, those who are able to ask questions will probably be able to answer them themselves.
 |
| Students of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted interacted with Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam at the seminar. Photo: My Ha |
With many years of experience and standing on the podium, teacher Nguyen Thanh Nam also affirmed that in studying, note-taking is very important. He also gave two examples, including a female student's notes which were quite careful and complete, and a male student's notes which were not beautiful but quite clear, the notes were used in many different ink colors. From this evidence, he also said that:
Currently, only a few students can do this. Most of them have the habit of just taking notes on the board and what the teacher dictates. This leads to passive knowledge absorption, unable to understand clearly, deeply and systematically the entire lecture content.
 |
| Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam shares scientific note-taking methods with students. Photo: My Ha |
According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, the most important thing in taking notes is not the amount of knowledge memorized, but the systematic nature of the knowledge. The way the content is organized in the notebook reflects the system of knowledge in the mind.
Therefore, dividing the notebook correctly and copying the content tightly and clearly will help absorb knowledge more easily and effectively. Through research and study, Dr. Nam has also brought to students a new method of taking notes by using large notebooks of about A4 size, each page is divided into 3 columns. The largest column occupies 2/3 of the width and is used to write the lecture content, the small column occupies 1/3 of the width and is used to write summary knowledge and the notebook margin will be used as another small column to write extended knowledge, write more lectures from teachers...
To overcome the situation of "learning first and forgetting later", Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam also took the time to share about somenew knowledge memorization tool. Including memory cards for subject content and reviewing old knowledge using the spacing method, a method that is being widely and effectively applied in the world.
 |
| According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, before choosing a school, students must consider many relationships, look for opportunities and predict risks to make the right choice. Photo: My Ha |
Accordingly, with just pieces of cardboard cut into different sizes (depending on the amount of knowledge to be memorized) and a string or a metal ring to string together, students can summarize the knowledge of each subject every day, on average needing to refresh 4 or 5 cards each day. These sets of flashcards can be stored in each student's bag, convenient for reviewing knowledge at any time they need and stimulating the brain's memory.
Although this workshop took place in a short time, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam also took the time to share with students his experience in choosing a major and career based on relationships.
Don’t be afraid and put aside your complexes to establish relationships, think about traditional factors, understand objective conditions (circumstances, trends, risks) before choosing a career. Don’t chase after famous schools, but choose a school that trains in a good field: Don’t rush in because of the school’s name or you’ll end up “breaking your head”.
 |
| HOCMAI Center presented gifts and 10 scholarships to students of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted. Photo: My Ha |
Along with Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, in January and February 2019, the Smart Learning Workshop was also held at many other schools in Nghe An province such as Cua Lo 1 High School, Cua Lo 2 High School, Ha Huy Tap High School, Le Viet Thuat High School, Huynh Thuc Khang High School, Nguyen Duy Trinh High School (Nghi Loc). Previously, the program was also successfully implemented at more than 13 high schools in the provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, Hai Duong, attracting the enthusiastic participation of thousands of students and teachers.
In the coming time, the unit in charge of organizing this activity will also research and test a number of new learning method topics that are highly applicable in a more in-depth and practical way.
