DEVELOPING A BUDDHIST SMART CLASSROOM TO ENHANCE WISDOM AND MORALITY THROUGH RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES

Abstract

This research article aimed to: 1) develop a Buddhist Smart Classroom for teaching Buddhist studies to enhance wisdom and morality through religious principles; 2) promote the use of the Buddhist Smart Classroom in teaching Buddhist studies to enhance wisdom and morality through religious principles; and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of using the Buddhist Smart Classroom in teaching Buddhist studies to enhance wisdom and morality through religious principles. Data were collected through interviews with 17 key informants, focus group discussions with 9 experts, and a workshop with 9 participants. The target group consisted of 200 students. Data were analyzed using content analysis to identify essential insights regarding the Buddhist Smart Classroom.

The research findings revealed that: 1) The development of the intelligent Buddhism classroom: The classroom applied Smart Classroom principles with the goal of creating positive learning experiences and improving students' learning efficiency. It utilized database systems and interactive virtual technology. The processes consisted of five steps: (1) information presentation design; (2) media management; (3) data accessibility; (4) enhancement of learning experiences; and (5) learning activities based on the Five Precepts and the Suvannasama Jataka lessons. 2) The promotion of the Buddhist Smart Classroom usage: The use of interactive learning, online platforms, and multimedia systems fostered creative thinking and enhance learning through the Five Precepts and the Suvannasama Jataka. These approaches enabled learners to engage and interact fully with the content, access learning materials anytime and anywhere, and learn through videos and animations. Consequently, learners developed emotional awareness, analytical thinking skills, and the ability to apply this knowledge effectively to their daily lives. 3) The evaluation of the Buddhist Smart Classroom: Data were uploaded to a cloud-based system and transferred via the internet to a server for storage, enabling rapid downloading and assessment. The evaluation involved 200 students, was based on four indicators: 1) students' ability to understand the lessons and operate the system; 2) students’ ability to connect prior knowledge and experiences with new learning; 3) students' motivation and inspiration to learn; and 4) students’ ability to develop their own understanding, gain new experiences, and apply the knowledge to their daily lives.