July 29, 2024
SIEM REAP – Siem Reap province’s Wat Bo Primary School has launched a co-educational initiative with Malaysia, utilising artificial intelligence (AI) technology to promote cultural exchanges between the children of the two ASEAN countries.
“The project encourages students to share cultural experiences through presentations such as essays, photos, posters and videos, making the cultural showcase more engaging and modern,” said On Kunrath, principal of the school.
AI technology plays a major role in the project, with tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, VN, CapCut, Renderforest and Canva being used to assist students in creating and presenting their cultural findings.
Throughout each of the project’s stages, students develop various new skills. They have created 70-word text summaries using AI, edited group photos for a Facebook group with CapCut, and produced one-minute video summaries using the same tool.
Kunrath explained that they research key points about individuals from Malaysia using Google, ChatGPT, and Gemini, documenting their findings in Microsoft 365 Note.
“Our students met with principals, vice-principals, class teachers, assistant teachers, and team members from both countries via Zoom for discussions, wrote resumes in Microsoft 365 Note, and posted personal photos,” he told The Post.
The exchanges take place all across ASEAN, although this year’s focus is on Cambodia and Malaysia.
Wat Bo primary School has two modern computer labs, which it uses to support its technology programmes. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/THE PHNOM PENH POST
It focuses on ten topics, each selected to encourage groups of schools from both nations to explore various aspects of one another’s cultures and create presentations on what they have learned.
These topics include traditional food, games, handicrafts, clothes, music and dance, classical musical instruments, children’s traditional songs, folk tales, words of daily culture and historic sites.
Kunrath noted that Wat Bo Primary School is recognised for its advanced educational standards. If offers a regular curriculum, in addition to the cultural project. Students’ participation in the project causes minimal disruption, as most project activities occur outside regular class hours.
The school supports its technology curriculum with two computer labs. The first lab, equipped with 40 computers and 30 iPads, serves younger students who learn typing, Microsoft Word, Excel, painting and ThinkkThinkk.
The second lab, with 38 computers and 33 iPads, is used by older students for project-based research in various subjects, as well as interactive games like Kahoot, Quizziz and Mentimer. These facilities are also available for additional research by teachers and students.
To further support the cultural exchange project, the school provides meeting rooms and the assistance of IT teachers and aides.
Students take part in an online conference call with their contemporaries from Malaysia. PHOTO: SUPPLIED/THE PHNOM PENH POST
“The current administration is continuing to develop the school into a model institution. We aim to ensure that our students are on par with their peers locally and regionally, particularly in English proficiency and technology skills,” said Kunrath.
In 2023 the school made headlines as 40 of its teachers completed a cutting-edge information technology training course provided by South Korean educators.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, focused on integrating AI into the curriculum, enhancing teaching methods and keeping pace with global digital advancements.
The training is part of a broader effort to promote IT use in education, ensuring that both teachers and students are well-equipped to navigate the evolving technological landscape.
Under the leadership of previous principal Peng Kimchhen, the school successfully combined traditional values with modern educational practices, earning it recognition as a model school.
The school has implemented comprehensive standards that emphasise student performance, teaching effectiveness and community engagement.