Teacher Development Program to Enhance Learning Competency for Small Primary Schools in Thailand

Abstract

The main aim of this research is to develop a teacher development program in order to enhance learning competency, utilizing research and development process. Since teachers’ competencies have the potential impact on students’ learning, therefore teachers have to develop themselves in order to excel and augment their competencies in learning management and teacher empowerment, consequently will lead to students’ effective learning. It is essential to improve students’ learning since reformation in learning is the main core of educational reform. Factors affecting students’ learning are learning process, contents, theory and teachers’ learning management. Researchers employ five phases to collect comprehensive data. Firstly, researchers study context, problems and suggestions in teacher development. This is followed by documentary study and experts’ input. Then, researchers examine and improve the program in parallel with producing learning documents. Next, researchers develop the program assessment tools and finally implementing the developed program in 30 schools in Khon Kaen. Results reveal that majority of the teachers (83.30%) satisfied with the development process. Teachers have upgraded their knowledge, skills and competencies in learning management. Findings from supervision outcomes showed teachers’ performances are ‘very good’. Related to teachers’ assessment and feedbacks from the four aspects, namely support, promotion, syllabus analysis and organization also indicate as at high rank. Furthermore, there are at least three school projects which categorized as ‘quality’ are ‘Collaborative action for teacher professional development project’, ‘Applying cognitive load theory for instructional design project’ and ‘Show and share for learning process modification and the assessment of students’. Teachers who have witness performance, are able to promote as ‘master teacher’ because they have academic leadership and being able to contribute and assist other teachers.