Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Chris Sheen, an expert teacher trainer from Oxford University Press with over 25 years of experience in the field of English Language Teaching, for an enlightening session on “Improving Student Engagement: Inquiry-based Learning (IBL) with Oxford Discover Futures”. At VUS, the IBL approach has become a cornerstone in our classrooms, emphasizing student engagement, teamwork, and critical thinking to ensure that students remain at the heart of every lesson.
The workshop was tailored to connect with VUS teachers of varying experience levels, offering either a valuable revision or fresh insights, depending on each attendee’s background. He emphasized the importance of understanding the methodology behind the Oxford Discover Futures coursebooks – the coursebooks designed by Oxford University Press that VUS is using. By participating in the workshop, teachers had the chance to learn more about IBL and Global Skills methodology. They gained skills for immediate application, and also long-term benefits for their teaching practice.
Chris was delighted by the active participation and enthusiasm from our teachers, noting that their dedication to continuous professional development is evident.
“The teachers, always eager to learn, filled the room with 'educator dialogues' and laughter, creating a vibrant atmosphere. By investing a small amount of their time consistently to attend workshops, VUS teachers show their appreciation and commitment toward life-long learning and professional development to make their teaching life a little easier and their students' learning a little deeper.”
The session ended on a high note as several teachers approached Chris to express their appreciation for his delivery and the practical ideas shared during the workshop. Their feedback was a testament to the value they found in the content, which will undoubtedly enhance their teaching strategies moving forward.
One of the attendees, Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hanh, a teacher from the To Ky 2 Campus, found the workshop to be outstanding.
Sheen's engaging presentation style, along with a wealth of useful information, really delivered a profound session about IBL and how we can apply it in the context of VUS. For example, I really liked his presentation about the warm-up activity, where the teacher can give some fun facts to students through the True & False activity. Other than helping students learn something new, this activity also follows the general principle of IBL, which is taking students as the center, by drawing students’ attention and promoting inclusivity.
“The workshop was very compact, which means it was time-saving, yet still able to deliver all the needed information perfectly. What I liked best about the session was the part about Global Skills, as it proved to be very practical in a real classroom setting. I could already imagine how I would apply them to my classes just by hearing about them. I already learned about IBL before but I sometimes forgot and chose another approach for my classes. That’s why the workshop was more like a reminder about how to make the students the center of the lessons.”
This workshop is yet another step in our ongoing journey to enhance the quality of education at VUS. With the knowledge and techniques shared, teachers will continue to enhance their teaching methods, creating more engaging and effective learning experiences for their students.
