The Development of Khon Learning Systems

Abstract

This research work is an experiment in the style of One Group Pretest Posttest Design. It uses mixed research methodology which includes both qualitative and quantitative methods by using instruments, which are 1) lessons of the Ramakian story, 2) Thai masked dance (Khon) learning management system, 3) A performance test questionnaire, and 4) quality and satisfaction assessment questionnaire. Data are collected and analyzed as follows: 1) the collect information of Ramakian story from documents and information media to determine the direction for the study; 2) to collect information from field work with the following methods: (1) to take photographs of murals of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to create graphic works and to record the lecture on Ramakian story to make video clips; (2) to analyze Ramakian story to design pretest-posttest examination questionnaire; (3) to set up learning system for teachers, to analyze the system and to design database system; and (4) to distribute the quality and satisfaction assessment questionnaire. The samples are selected with purposive sampling technique from students from the department of Thai classical dance and performance, Songkhla Rajabhat University, the total number of which is 15.

The objectives of this research works are 1) to analyze Ramakian story; 2) to develop Thai masked dance (Khon) learning systems to promote self-learning; and 3) to evaluate outcomes of the learning of Thai masked dance (Khon).

The findings are as follows. 1. Concerning basic information of the Ramakian, I, the researcher, have set the scopes of the content to be from the beginning of the Ramakian story to the dead of Ravana, which can be divided into 7 phases as follows: 1) the original cause of Ramakian story; 2) the beginning of the Ramakian story; 3) Rama’s, Laksaman’s, and Sita’s ordination; 4) the beginning of army mobilization; 5) journey to Lanka City, 6) the battle with demons; and 7) Ravana’s battle. 2. The making of learning system of the Ramakian story uses a web application consisting of (1) a web board; (2) pretest-posttest examinations; and (3) lesson learnt based on the research outcome in Item 1. 3. Concerning the assessment of the outcomes from the learning through the system of the management of the learning of Ramakian story, the findings showed that the students’ average pretest score is 62.67. It is found out that the average posttest score is 123.80. Comparing with each other, the learning outcomes of the students after the learning through learning systems is higher than the pretest score with 0.05 statistical significance. In addition, the overall pictures of the results of the assessment of quality and satisfaction of the learning system in  two categories are at a high level.