With 29 teams of VEX IQ robots from within and outside the province, representatives from all 11 cities and districts in Lang Son province, 23 teams of KCbot robots from primary school students, and 22 booths displaying STEM products from secondary schools, the Van Quan District STEM Day for the 2023 - 2024 academic year has left experts astonished, instilling deep confidence in the development and innovation of STEM education in the highlands, an area known for its difficulties.
Only in Van Quan is it special like this!
The Van Quan district stadium experienced an extraordinary and bustling day. At the center was a traditional shuttlecock throwing area, accompanied by an introduction and demonstration of traditional highland games. Surrounding this were booths displaying STEM products from secondary schools. Each school had its own booth, showcasing at least 10 STEM products from various fields, with each of the 5 main STEM subjects represented by 2 products. The displayed products included creative youth creations, scientific projects that had participated in district and provincial competitions in previous years. Notably, each displayed product was accompanied by a design drawing; introduced dishes were accompanied by their cooking processes. Additionally, there were areas for KCbot robot competitions and practical STEM product creation based on the organizers’ exams.
Inside the specially designated competition hall, the lively competition among the 29 teams of VEX IQ robots from Lang Son and 8 other provinces and cities nationwide took place, including 3 teams that will participate in the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship in the United States. The audience surrounded the competition area both inside and out. The match results were updated using computer software and displayed on screens following technical standards similar to the 2024 National VEX Robotics Championship and international competitions…
“A STEM Day with many new features and far surpassing those in big cities.” This was the observation of Ms. Dang Thi Thu Ha, a Technology teacher at Hanoi – Amsterdam High School, after participating in the Van Quan District STEM Day for the 2023 – 2024 academic year held on April 6th – 7th; Ms. Ha provided a series of evidence to support her observation: not only interdisciplinary but also interprovincial; full of STEM+ activities, both modern and deeply rooted in local culture; featuring the participation of many Vietnamese STEM education “stars”; international standard technology applied for controlling and scoring in multi-level robotics competitions.
Ms. Ha also noticed the collective solidarity and hospitality of all forces, from schools, families, education departments, functional forces, to the people, contributing to creating an enthusiastic learning environment, a creative and sincere atmosphere of learning and teaching. And notably, “witnessing the maturity and innovation of a highland STEM education ecosystem (also of Vietnam)”.
“Exactly 70 years ago, my father wrote a letter to my mother saying that if he won the Dien Bien Phu battle, he would come back to marry her. And exactly 70 years ago, on August 6th, 1954, my parents held their wedding in Lang Son town, right next to the Ky Cung river… In the Tet of 1980, my whole family celebrated Tet in Lang Son town.” “Boasting” about the special and long-standing connection with Lang Son like this, Vice Chairman of the School Council – FPT University Hoang Nam Tien also shared that he was astonished from one surprise to another when attending the 2024 Van Quan District STEM Day. “I affirm that even the robot competitions in Hanoi city are not as well-organized and grand as here. Even in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, when organizing robot competitions, not all districts/counties participate. Only in Van Quan, in Lang Son, is it special like this!”
