Circular No. 21/2017/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the application of information technology in online training activities for teachers, staff, and educational managers via the Internet.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ONLINE TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS, STAFF, AND EDUCATION MANAGEMENT STAFF THROUGH THE INTERNET

On the basis of The Education Law on June 14, 2005; The Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Education Law on November 25, 2009;

On the basis of Article 1. Amending and supplementing Level 1 Codes of agencies and organizations prescribed in Decision No. 20/2020/QĐ-TTg dated July 22, 2020 of the Prime Minister on electronic identification codes for agencies and organizations to facilitate data connection and sharing with ministries, sectors, and localities

Decree No. The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular regulating the suspension of the effect of training qualification standards for teachers stipulated in certain Circulars issued by the Minister of Education and Training.

Decree No. Decree No. 64/2007/NĐ-CP dated April 10, 2007 of the Government on the application of information technology in the activities of state agencies;

Decree No. Decree No. 72/2013/NĐ-CP dated July 15, 2013 of the Government on management, provision, and use of Internet services and information on networks;

At the request of the Director of the Department of Information Technology,

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular to regulate the application of information technology in online training and workshops for teachers, staff, and education management staff.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular regulates the application of information technology in online training and workshops for teachers, staff, and education management staff (hereinafter referred to as online training), including conditions for applying information technology and organizing online training activities.

2. This Circular applies to online training activities of preschool education institutions, general education institutions, continuing education centers, district education and training departments, provincial education and training departments, units, programs, and projects under the Ministry of Education and Training, and related organizations and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Application of information technology in online training activities means the use of information technology devices, software, digital learning materials, and telecommunications networks (mainly the Internet) to support training activities, aiming to innovate the content, methods, and forms of organization of training, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of teacher, staff, and education management staff training.

2. Digital learning resources (or electronic learning resources) are a collection of electronic media serving teaching and learning, including: Electronic textbooks, electronic schoolbooks, electronic reference materials, electronic assessment tests, presentations, data tables, audio files, images, videos, electronic lectures, educational software, simulation experiments, and other digitized learning resources.

3. Online Learning Management System (LMS - Learning Management System) is a software system that allows the organization, management, and implementation of online training activities from enrollment to completion of the online course; it enables the main organizing unit of the online training class to monitor and manage the learning process of participants; creates an online teaching and learning environment; facilitates interaction between instructors and learners in assigning tasks, providing assistance, and answering questions; allows learners to track their progress, participate in online learning content, connect with instructors and other learners for discussion.

4. Online Learning Content Management System (LCMS - Learning Content Management System) is a software system managing a repository of online learning content, allowing the storage and distribution of learning content to learners. The LCMS integrates with the LMS to deliver learning content to learners and authoring tools to create learning content.

5. Main organizing unit of the online training class is the unit authorized by competent authorities to be responsible for organizing the training class (hereinafter referred to as the main organizing unit for training).

Article 3. General principles for applying information technology in online training

1. Online training organizations must ensure that they comply with the approved plan and cover all required content.

2. Practicality, economy, quality, and effectiveness must be ensured. Learners should easily access the online learning management system, able to participate in learning anytime, anywhere during the training period.

3. The information system for organizing online training includes hardware, software, databases, learning materials, and internet infrastructure serving online training activities, which must comply with relevant laws on the application of information technology in state agencies and regulations on ensuring information security and safety.

Chapter II
CONDITIONS FOR APPLYING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ORGANIZING ONLINE TRAINING

Article 4. Conditions for applying information technology in organizing online training

To organize online training, the main unit must ensure the following requirements:

1. Having an online learning management system meeting the requirements set out in Article 5 of this Circular.

2. Having an information technology infrastructure capable of implementing online training activities, meeting the requirements set out in Article 6 of this Circular.

3. Having complete learning materials meeting the requirements set out in Article 7 of this Circular.

4. Having a team of staff organizing online training meeting the requirements set out in Article 8 of this Circular.

Article 5. Online Learning Management System

1. The online learning management system includes the following functions:

a) Managing courses, allowing the organization to store and distribute learning content to learners;

b) Allowing learners to access registered learning content online and enabling them to self-study, self-assess, and track their learning progress and results;

c) Enabling the main training organization to manage learners' points, learning progress, results, and teaching activities on the online platform;

d) Providing forums for exchange and other support tools so that learners can communicate with teachers or class organizers about issues related to online learning;

đ) Managing other information requirements of the main training organization.

2. The main training organization may integrate the learning management system with the content management system in a manner appropriate to the implementation content.

3. The online learning management system must comply with current regulations on managing, providing, and using information online and requirements for ensuring online information security and safety.

4. The main training organization may choose to invest in new systems or lease services for the online learning management system based on ensuring investment efficiency and the provisions of Clause 1 and Clause 3 of this Article.

Article 6. Information Technology Infrastructure

1. The information technology infrastructure for online training, including server systems and internet connectivity infrastructure, must have sufficient capacity to serve users, bandwidth for transmission, and meet user access needs without causing network congestion due to overload.

2. The main training organization may choose to invest in new infrastructure or lease services based on ensuring information security and safety, investment efficiency, and the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 7. Digital Learning Materials

1. Digital learning materials must be organized for review by the leading unit in accordance with regulations before organizing online training classes.

2. Digital learning materials must comply with legal provisions on intellectual property rights and copyright.

Article 8. Team of Staff Implementing Online Training

1. Lecturers participating in online training (hereinafter referred to as instructors) shall, in addition to meeting the professional requirements as instructors of the training class, be proficient in online teaching skills; have the ability to guide, answer questions, manage learners through online training methods; and skillfully use the functions of organizing classes in the online learning management system and information technology tools as required.

2. Technical staff managing the information system for organizing online training are technical support personnel responsible for operating and controlling the information technology system; understand the online training organization information system; are guided and transferred technology to manage, operate, and support the online training organization information system to ensure stable operation.

3. Staff building digital learning materials are those who cooperate with instructors to organize the design and construction of digital learning materials for online training; understand the design process and production process of learning materials; skillfully use relevant information technology tools.

4. Study advisors assist instructors in organizing online training classes; guide learners on how to use information technology applications and participate in other activities of the online training class; understand online training activities, and grasp the content and organizational form of the online training class.

5. Based on the content and plan of online training, the leading unit proactively organizes the team of staff implementing online training to meet the requirements of the training course according to the approved plan.

Chapter III
ORGANIZATION OF ONLINE TRAINING

Article 9. Preparation Work Before Online Training

Prior to organizing an online training class, the leading unit of the training must prepare the following contents:

1. Develop a plan for organizing online training. In addition to the requirements of a regular training organization plan, the online training organization plan must clearly state: The form and time of organizing online training; the information system serving online training; guidance on how learners can participate in the activities of the online training class. For regular monitoring activities and final assessment of the training class, it is necessary to clearly specify the requirements and forms of organization, whether they are conducted online or concentrated.

2. Prepare all materials and electronic learning materials and upload them to the online learning management system.

3. Create and open an online training class on the online learning management system so that learners can use it; update the list of learners and accounts for the training class.

4. Send notifications and guide learners to participate in the activities of the online training class.

5. Carry out other contents as prescribed.

Article 10. Implementation of Online Training Activities

The leading unit of the training organizes and guides the implementation of online training activities with the following contents:

1. Guide learners to log into the learning management system and self-study online in accordance with the approved regulations and plan.

2. Instructors and study advisors implement training content according to the plan; monitor, evaluate, and assist learners throughout the training process through the online learning management system and other online communication tools (email, online meetings, social media, and other communication channels) to ensure that learners grasp the content and keep up with the progress of the training class activities.

3. Technical staff managing the information system for organizing online training directly operate and control the application of information technology systems to ensure technical conditions serving the activities of the training class as planned.

4. Depending on the nature of the online training class, the leading unit of the training may combine the implementation of online conference tools (web conferencing, video conferencing) to effectively organize teaching and learning activities.

5. Conduct assessments using appropriate multiple-choice or essay formats (if applicable).

6. Combine organizing concentrated training in a blended learning format (if necessary).

7. Announce training results, issue certificates or completion certificates (if applicable) in accordance with regulations.

8. After the completion of the online training class, all lectures and related electronic learning materials are made available on the online learning management system page for learners to access and study for at least six months.

9. Conduct satisfaction surveys of instructors and learners regarding the organization of training, training content, and information technology systems serving online training to serve as a basis for adjusting and improving the quality of online training.

10. Encourage the organization of training classes in a blended format combining online and concentrated methods to reduce concentrated training activities, enhance the effectiveness of training, save time, and costs.

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTATION

1. Shall be responsible for ensuring the conditions for applying information technology and the effectiveness of the application of information technology in accordance with the provisions of this Circular when organizing online training, and shall be responsible for the quality of the training course in accordance with the regulations.

2. Organize online training courses in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

3. During the process of organizing and implementing online training, if there are difficulties or obstacles, they must promptly report and submit proposals to the Ministry of Education and Training (through the Information Technology Department).

1. Direct the work of online training at schools and subordinate units in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

2. Report on the work of online training to the Ministry of Education and Training (through the Information Technology Department).

Chapter V
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 13. This Circular takes effect from October 23, 2017.

Article 14. The Director of the Office, the Director of the Information Technology Department, the Heads of related units under the Ministry of Education and Training; the Directors of provincial education and training departments and the Heads of subordinate units that implement online training activities are responsible for enforcing this Circular./.