Welcome to the New Academic Year 2024 – 2025 with the Professional Development Training Week

As we approach the academic year 2024 – 2025, PennSchool continues to affirm its mission of improving educational excellence through the Professional Development Training Week for our teaching staff.

Taking place 1 week before the new academic year officially begins, the Professional Development Training Week not only helped teachers enhance their knowledge and teaching skills but also updated them on innovations in teaching methods and developed the ability to better understand and support students effectively.

The Professional Development (PD) Training Week commenced with the Orientation for the Academic Year 2024-2025, providing an opportunity for the BOPs to inform teachers about the academic year’s theme, goals, and plans for implementing academic programs, events, and competitions. These are important orientations that help teachers develop lesson content for the upcoming year.

Workshops on “Managing Children’s Behaviors,” presented by Ms. Nguyen Thuy Uyen Phuong – the Founder and CEO of Faros Education & Consulting, and on “Behavior Management for Students,” presented by the Psychology Specialist, have provided teachers with an understanding of their crucial role in balancing students’ emotions, since then building a happy and united PennSchool community.

The recent PD Training Week was not only an opportunity for teachers to improve their proficiency in applying technology, but also a chance to reinforce the responsibility of using technology, particularly AI, for the right purposes. With the theme “Artificial Intelligence & Academic Integrity”, all teachers of the International American Program engaged in discussions and shared their perspectives on the ethical implications of using Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in the educational context. AI brings significant opportunities in education, from personalizing learning to assisting teachers in assessment and classroom management. By participating in Google’s online course on “Generative AI for Educators,” teachers were able to explore in depth how to leverage AI to create more innovative and effective learning experiences.

Besides, the seminar on “Digital Transformation in Education” was presented by Dr. Tran Duc Thuan, a Senior Lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, who is also a Speaker for the Department of Education on digital transformation in education and a Specialist of the Minister of Education on digital citizenship. Dr. Tuan provided an overview of the key concepts and newest technologies and how they are shaping modern education. He emphasized the importance of aligning with the Digital Competence Framework of UNESCO in schools across Vietnam, a goal that PennSchool is actively pursuing.

The PD Training also offered teachers opportunities to exchange ideas, share experiences, and gain renewed motivation and inspiration for their continued dedication to education at PennSchool in the new academic year. The knowledge and skills acquired during this PD week will serve as a solid foundation, helping PennSchool to continue its growth and excel in its educational mission.