Connecting Between Culture of Learning in Thai Contexts and Developing Students' Science Learning in the Formal Setting

Abstract

This study aimed to explore people perception about science concepts related to their culture, the way of life and living styles to connect between culture of learning in Thai contexts and developing students' science learning in the formal setting. Target group was students, science teachers, and people from three district of Khon Kaen, Nongbualumphu, and Kalasin province in Northeastern of Thailand. Data collection was carried out both in school and communities that students living in. Data in communities was collected by assistant researchers who are local people and someone lived in those communities more than 2 years. Research instruments included participant observation, informal interview, and questionnaires. Findings revealed that a number of students held understanding of science related to their event, activities, and the way of life but most of them could not give verbal concepts of science. However, it seemed that science teaching and learning in schools did not provide students to link science concepts for applying to their event or activities in their communities. The paper will discuss scientific concepts related to event or activities to develop connection between culture and science learning in schools, and the implications of these results for better understanding socio-cultural views of learning, especially in relation to science teaching and learning in Thailand.