The Development Model of Knowledge Management to Strengthen Thai ict Community Learning Center

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to: 1) study the problems, obstacles, and best practices in Local Wisdom Knowledge Management for strengthening Thai ICT Community Learning Centers (ICT-CLC) in various areas of Thailand; 2) develop Local Wisdom Knowledge Management Model to strengthen Thai ICT-CLC; 3) construct a training operation plan for administrative committee members and staff to strengthen the center; and 4) evaluate the KM strategic operation plan for strengthening ICT-CLC.The research sample included 49 administrative committee members and staff of 8 ICT-CLCs in the central provinces of Thailand. Five experts were also included as part of the focus group who critiqued the strategic operation plan for strengthening ICT-CLC. The research instruments composed of a questionnaire on ICT-CLC and strategic plans, training operation plan, and an evaluation form for strategic operation plan assessment. The data were gathered using a survey on basic information of ICT-CLC in the central provinces. Based from this, the strategic plan was developed and tried out with the target group. Finally, the assessment of the plan was conducted.Findings showed that most of the small, medium, and large ICT-CLCs had problems and obstacles in terms of center management and services. Moreover, most of the small centers did not have long-term plan activities and maintained the local wisdom study and collection. The result of the strategic plan development revealed that the first strategic plan included issues on human development, efficiency in services, and availability of training services for administrative committee members. The second strategic plan involved the improvement of the quality of life, issues in the environment, community, sociality, and capability in enhancing the learning of the people in community through electronic media.The results of the strategic plan utilization found that the suitability of the plan was at a high level. The assessment of the ICT-CLC involving the plan revealed that the community participated in local wisdom collection with the team and bring about the indigenous knowledge to construct online media on two websites: www.donpingdad.ictlearningcenter.org and www.khemasampun.ictlearningcenter.org. The Local Wisdom Knowledge Management Model in strengthening ICT-CLC had been tried out and tested. The result showed that the model was applicable at a good level. This could be also applied to the other centers.