A Training Course for Development of Master Teachers in Organizing Mathematics Activities to Develop Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills for Junior High School Students

Abstract

          This research is a research and development. The objectives were to 1) study the teaching management conditions, needs for the training, and the model of the master teacher development course in organizing activities to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills for junior high school students. 2) design and develop this course. 3) organize the training course.  4) evaluate the use of this course and organize the knowledge sharing seminar. The samples used were Educational Service Area Office directors, educational supervisors, school directors, school deputy directors, head of mathematics department, math teachers and junior high school students at schools in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani, and Mathematical learning management experts. The research tools consisted of a questionnaire on conditions, needs for the master teacher development course, a semi-structured in-depth interview form, the master teacher development course, a satisfaction questionnaire of teachers who participated in the training course, the teacher’s test for the design and organize the activities to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, teacher manuals, student materials, critical thinking and problem solving tests, a student satisfaction questionnaire on Learning Management, and a questionnaire on the opinions of teachers who participated in the knowledge sharing seminar. The statistics used in data analysis consisted of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Effectiveness Index (E.I.) and t-test.
          The research resulted showed that 1) the aspect of condition in teaching and learning management that has the lowest score was the student aspect at low level and the needs for training that has the highest score was the mathematical learning management to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. The course comprised of lecturing and practicing on writing lesson plans. 2) The 2-day course comprised of student-centered learning management, mathematics learning management for the 21st century, active learning management, activities to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, design learning activities, research to develop mathematics learning. 3) There were 30 teachers attended the training course in Pathum Thani and 42 teachers attended the training course in Nonthaburi. Most of them were female, age of 26 – 30 years old, graduated bachelor degree, and from large schools. 4) The results of using the course were that (1) teachers who attended the training course had higher scores of the activity’s design to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills than before attending at the significance level of .05. The overall satisfaction scores for the training course were at the high level. (2) After using the lesson plans developed by master teachers, The Mathayomsuksa 1 and 3 students had critical thinking and problem solving scores higher than before the learning management at the significance level of .05. The overall students satisfied with the learning management of the Mathayomsuksa 1 and 3 students was at high level and fair level, respectively. (3) After attending the knowledge sharing seminar, teachers had overall satisfaction and overall knowledge’s utilization after training course at the highest levels