LIFE SKILLS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT BY USING THINKING-BASED LEARNING FOR PRATHOMSUKSA 6 STUDENTS

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to develop and to study the effectiveness
of Life Skills Curriculum by using Thinking-based learning for Prathomsuksa 6 students.
The curriculum development comprised of four stages. 1) Studying and Surveying Fundamental
Data. 2) Constructing the curriculum. 3) Implementing the curriculum, and 4) Evaluating and
Revising the curriculum.
The results of processes got five factors of Life Skills (Five Smarts) as follows : 1)
Thinking Smart : T-Smart 2)Decision Making and Problem Solving Smart : D-Smart 3)
Communication & Social Skills Smart : C-Smart 4) Emotional Control & Coping Stress Smart : ESmart 5) Self – Smart : S-Smart. The curriculum components are the background of problems,
purpose, content of the curriculum are 10 units, activities, media/instruments and leaning
resources and evaluating methods. There are 31 activity plans using 32 hours for activities
organizing. (31st activity plan was used 2 hours) There are 5 steps for the lessons as follow that :
1) Motivation 2) Sharing 3) Thinking 4) Producing 5) Conclusion, Evaluating and Applying.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the curriculum using pretest- posttest control group design. The
sample of this research is Prathomsuksa 6 students of Ban Nongmihaudong (Prachawittayakarn)
School of 2011 academic year during the first semester. The results of this research indicated
that : The posttest mean score in life skills of the experimental group were significantly
higher than pretest at .05 level. The posttest mean score in life skills of the experimental
group were significantly higher than control group at .05 level and the development of
life skills behavior of the experimental group tend to be higher level. The Evaluation
indicated that the effectiveness of the curriculum was in criteria.