Hands-on learning through local products

In today’s fast-paced modern life, where education extends far beyond textbooks, many schools in Dong Nai are bringing students closer to reality through experiential learning at traditional production facilities.

Students experience making "cha" (Vietnamese pork rolls) at the COHAFOOD general handicraft business household in Trang Dai ward. Photo: To Tam

From ancient pottery villages to clean food facilities that meet OCOP standards, each trip is not only a journey of discovery but also a profound lesson in life skills, the value of labor, and love for one's homeland.

Interesting experiences from reality

Every weekend morning, the Bien Hoa pottery village becomes even more vibrant with students' laughter. Here, young hands, for the first time, touch clay and try their hand at a job that seems simple but requires patience and dexterity. From inanimate clay blocks, under the guidance of artisans, the children begin to mold, shape, and create products, gradually feeling the "soul" of pottery-making.

It is from these initial experiences that a natural lesson is formed. If previously pottery products were just familiar household items, now, after directly participating in the production process, the children fully understand the value of manual labor.

Not stopping at mere visits, hands-on experiential models in Bien Hoa pottery village are also organized systematically, creating a close link between schools and production facilities. Students not only hear about the history of the craft village but also directly practice, thereby forming a deeper connection with traditional cultural values.

Tran Chau Minh Nhat, a student at Vo Nguyen Giap Secondary School in Trang Bom commune, shared: Before this experience, I thought making pottery was easy. However, once I started doing it, I realized how difficult and painstaking the craft is. Through this, I have come to greatly admire the potters who painstakingly create exquisite works of art.

Students' experiential journeys are now expanding beyond pottery to other fields, including clean food production. At COHAFOOD, a general handicraft business household in Trang Dai ward, students directly participate in the traditional "cha" making process, a product certified with 3-star OCOP.

Students of Vo Nguyen Giap Secondary School (Trang Bom commune) experience pottery making at Bien Hoa pottery village.

Unlike just observing, here students are guided through each specific step: from selecting ingredients to kneading meat to wrapping "cha" with banana leaves. Each step brings a new experience, helping them better understand how to create a clean, safe product.

Ho Ngoc Thien Ngan, a student at Nguyen Thai Hoc Primary School in Trang Dai ward, could not hide her excitement when she made a familiar dish with her own hands for the first time. Her joy came not only from "learning through play" on the weekend but also from the interesting feeling of enjoying the product she made herself.

Evidently, when experiential activities are organized with a clear direction, they are no longer merely extracurricular activities but have become an important part of comprehensive education. Through this, students not only acquire knowledge but also develop life skills, learn to appreciate the value of labor, and gain a better understanding of local products.

Seeking sustainable values

If the initial experiences bring excitement and discovery, more profoundly, these models also aim to cultivate sustainable values in young people's awareness of labor's value. Because when young people understand the origin, the production process, and the artisans' efforts, they will appreciate what they have more.

For artisans and producers, opening their doors to students is not only an opportunity to showcase their products but also a way to preserve and spread traditional values. The link between schools and local production facilities also creates a closed-loop value chain. On one hand, students gain hands-on experience; on the other, OCOP products, clean products, and traditional products are also promoted naturally and effectively.

Le Huu Mai, Director of Truong Thanh Pottery One Member Company Limited (in Bien Hoa ward), said: He has spent many years collecting, restoring ancient pottery lines, and gathering artisans to maintain the craft.

What he cares about most is not profit, but helping the younger generation understand and love pottery. Therefore, linking with schools is seen by him as a long-term direction, helping ensure that the traditional craft is not lost and also has the opportunity to grow in the future.

The school will continue to maintain and expand practical, experiential activities for students in the near future. In my opinion, this is an effective educational method that helps students not only acquire knowledge but also develop life skills while understanding and appreciating local traditional values. Through these trips, students will grow to love their homeland more, share with confidence, and become more aware of the need to preserve and spread cultural beauty to the community.

NGUYEN THI HOAI SEN, teacher at Vo Nguyen Giap Secondary School

In the food sector, Tran Thi Ha, owner of COHAFOOD, a general handicraft business specializing in household goods, shares the same view, remaining steadfast in pursuing a production method that uses no additives. In a diverse market, this choice may be more challenging, but it is crucial for preserving traditional flavors and safeguarding consumer health.

Allowing students to have hands-on experience at the facility not only helps them understand the clean food production process but also helps shape proper consumption habits. Once they have seen it with their own eyes and directly taken part, they will have a basis for distinguishing and choosing safe products in their daily lives.

From the school's perspective, experiential activities are also seen as an effective educational method. Nguyen Thi Hoai Sen, a teacher at Vo Nguyen Giap Secondary School, believes that bringing students to craft villages not only helps them understand local culture but also nurtures their love for their homeland.

After each trip, what remains is not just joy but also a change in perception. They become more confident in sharing what they have experienced and, at the same time, more conscious of preserving and promoting traditional values.

From these specific stories, it is clear that education through experiences in traditional production facilities and local craft villages is opening a positive, meaningful path. It is precisely these "hands-on experiences" that help students gain a deeper understanding, retain lessons longer, and develop a clearer sense of life. And perhaps that is also what education today aims for: not only to impart knowledge but also to nurture the soul, shape character, and awaken love for the sustainable values of the homeland and the country.

By To Tam-Translated by Mai Nga, Minho