A Study of The Bangkok Elementary School Teacher’s Training under the Thai School of Excellence Project

Abstract

Training is one way to develop teacher’s career. Teachers can bring knowledge and skill from the training applying in their work. Therefore, in this research, we studied the implementation of the Bangkok primary school teachers’ training under the Thai School of Excellence project based on the child-centered education concept, identified implementational challenges, and synthesized success of this training using a mix-methods methodology.

Of the following fours aspects-namely teachers, students, curriculum and teaching environment, we found that knowledge of this training was implemented regularly in general, and with the highest intensity on students and with less intensity on teachers, teaching environment and curriculum in this order. Specifically, the implementation on students focused on emboldening their participation, developing their confidence and logical thinking, and strengthening their morals and ethical values. Regarding implementational challenges, we found that curriculum was the most taxing, especially in terms of organizing activities for engaging students’ group-learning, and for teaching students’ life skills and for developing students’ investigative and analytical thinking skills. In terms of success, we found that the training allowed teachers to recognize both the influences of students’ diversities on their developments and characteristics of a good teacher, which in turn enhanced teachers’ positive attitudes towards themselves, their students and colleagues and led to teachers creating a better environment conducive to learning.