Tablet Computers Get Cautious Thumbs-Up In Early Test: Thai Education

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Tablets get cautious thumbs-up in early test

WANNAPA KHAOPA

THE NATION

Interactive content motivates Prathom 1 students

BANGKOK: -- Months have passed since hundreds of thousands of tablets were given to Prathom 1 (Grade 1) pupils across the country. So far, interactive learning with the tablets has provided good motivation to study and to practise for Prathom 1 pupils at a Bangkok school.

Each time, the students focused on their own tablet screens sitting on their desks, while moving their index fingers on the screens to interact with electronic exercises and lessons.

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About 40 pupils in two Prathom 1 classes at Chumchonmoobanpat-tana School in Khlong Toei district have been studying like that for about three months now.

The interactive content in the tablets is succeeding in arousing students' curiosity to practise exercises and study. Prathom 1 teachers from both classes said they had used the tablets to motivate their classes to learn on their own.

The school is supervised by the Department of Education under

the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The BMA has given 46,575 tablets to 431 schools in the capital.

In all, 800,000 tablets were issued to all Prathom 1 students in the 2012 academic year nationwide.

The government will eventually distribute 1.69 million tablets to all Prathom 1 and Matthayom 1 (Grade 7) students countrywide for the 2013 academic year.

During The Nation's observation in both Prathom 1/1 and 1/2 classes last week, Prathom 1/2 students were seen actively adding numbers in mathematics games, as Prathom 1/1 students practised reading about two elephants on their tablets.

"Mostly, we' ve had them practise exercises on the tablets. Some are educational games that they can interact with. So, once they touch to answer, they know if the answer is correct or incorrect immediately. And also animation makes the exercises and lessons more exciting and interesting for them," Chongjit Borvornsakulchart, 45, a Prathom 1/1 teacher said.

Chongjit and Prathom 1/2 teacher, Srisuda Kul-ak, 42, said they still mainly taught with textbooks as they had more content than the tablets. They used tablets in other lessons.

"I like studying from textbooks because they have more knowledge, but we have more fun while studying from tablets," the two teachers said. Supha Numkamnerd, 7, in Prathom 1/1 and Kaothit Imlim, 7, in Prathom 1/2, expressed the same opinion.

Supha added that she liked doing fun exercises on her tablet, especially mathematics and reading.

Apart from this, students at the school practice singing and learning development songs, writing and drawing.

Both teachers said they had their pupils use tablets three times per week on average and one to two hours at a time.

"We won't let them use the gadgets every day. We want them to do other activities so they can develop other skills, particularly writing," Srisuda said.

Chongjit said she wanted more interactive exercises and electronic lessons installed in the tablets for the students to practise and review.

If possible, she wanted the lessons to cover all eight subjects. Now, the lessons covered only five main subjects. Also, she wanted apps that suited her teaching.

According to the department, most teachers wanted the content in the tablets to cover the whole Prathom 1 curricula that could be applied to their teaching. They wanted educational supervisors to guide them on how to use tablets with teaching in class more effectively. Meanwhile, pupils said that they wanted electronic lessons in the tablets to be provided in other subjects, including health and physical education, art, and occupation and technology.

"They've paid more attention to study and helped guide each other on how to use applications. Now, they appear more skilled in using the tablets compared to the first week," said Pornnicha Chatapun, director of the school.

Pornnicha said the school was providing Wi-Fi access and it would be available from next week as she saw the Internet as an updated source of knowledge for her students. "We'll have to prepare our teachers for challenges that will come with Internet use to protect our pupils from improper media."

According to the department, teachers at all 431 BMA schools have taught with tablets since November last year, using them along with textbooks. The schools reported that the pupils concentrated more on studying and interacted extensively with their teachers. The tablets have also helped the pupils understand more about the content of some lessons.

It found the tablets were an effective teaching tool and aroused students' curiosity in technology use. The gadgets could also provide for teachers and pupils with an opportunity to access up-to-date and varied learning sources. However, care had to be taken with negative impacts, like students entering improper websites and the maintenance burden on schools.

The department will conduct research to study other impacts the tablets have on teachers and pupils using the computers in class.

-- The Nation 2013-02-04

[philw]

Oh dear, seems it was a good idea after all................

Hope the TV naysayers aren't choking on their coffee.

[fezman]

What a load of shit. Meanwhile up here in Isaan our local school doesn't have a teacher that turns up everyday and the school has no windows or playground equipment let alone a goddamn tablet . So no we're choking on the bullshit we get fed by the Gov . But we all got a nice taksin Calander yesterday .

[jonclark]

Oh dear, seems it was a good idea after all................

Hope the TV naysayers aren't choking on their coffee.

It will be accepted as a good idea when the learning of students is seen to visibly improve, and remember that the entire content of this report is based on "During The Nation's observation" - the newspaper visiting a school to see the tablets in action as opposed to a specialist report evaluating the long term impact on learning.

I think personally that the tablets will be a positive, but would want something more solid than a newspaper jolly at a school as evidence of that ? Wouldn't you Phil?

[slapout]

Oh dear, seems it was a good idea after all................

Hope the TV naysayers aren't choking on their coffee.

The good part is the kickbacks that went to those who received them. I would guess the next group placing orders for more computers would agree, 'its a good idea'.

Another half arsed promise (which orginally said 1 computer per student) which has not shown any real benifit to those that need it most, students. Internet avalbiaility, poorly trained teachers, who seem skeptial in its use, little actual student in hand use, software which is lacking for full potential, and how many of the 100's of thousands of the "gagets" are actually in the students possesion?

If this is considered good, bad will have a new relative meaning.

[473geo]

Well done with the tablets Thailand, never to be accepted by the farang fossils but clearly the teachers appreciate their worth, enough to request more of the curriculum be incorporated

[OzMick]

Sounds like a handout from the DoEd. Where are investigative questions with reference to failure rate, battery life, % of students who have not received their tablets, why only 2 subjects?

[hellodolly]

Looks good if you keep one eye closed and a closed mind.

One school picked out of thousands and it is a school in a well to do area where the government lavishes money on them at the expense of other schools in poorer areas.

See post #3 by fezman. Not to say that they can not be of value but a fair and honest non biased study would be appreciated. this is just a hand out with very little meaning in it to the devout who will buy anything her Majesty the most famous clone in the world will hand out.

[caykay]

The director of my school gave away all the tablets to "important" people in the community. Some the the parents of the EP students, some to her friends. The rest remain locked in a cabinet, gathering dust. The whole program is a sham.

[Suffinator]

You mean the tablets are still working?

[nattydread]

Both teachers said they had their pupils use tablets three times per week on average and one to two hours at a time.

what a waste of money these tablets are...the money would have been better spent on text books and teacher training and still enough left over for a room full of PCs which each class could have used each day for a couple of hours.....guarantee these cheap tablets will be broken and kept in the cupboard within a year.still some hiso politicians will be riding around in a new MERC with the kick back money so its not all bad

[TackyToo]

Great! The government provides the tablets and the street dealers provide the pills to them. Everyone happy!

[OzMick]

The director of my school gave away all the tablets to "important" people in the community. Some the the parents of the EP students, some to her friends. The rest remain locked in a cabinet, gathering dust. The whole program is a sham.

I'm sure that she would listen to a reasonable offer.

[OzMick]

I'm sure that there must be inspection teams travelling to all schools to ensure that this program is being run correctly.

[Payboy]

Now, they appear more skilled in using the tablets compared to the first week," said Pornnicha Chatapun, director of the school.

I'm guessing they'll be even more skilled next week.

[Pimay1]

Well done with the tablets Thailand, never to be accepted by the farang fossils but clearly the teachers appreciate their worth, enough to request more of the curriculum be incorporated

They asked the teachers at one school in Thailand, not the tablets in Thailand as your post inferred. . This reminds me of a company I used to work for. They would interview only one customer that was satisfied with our product and give the interview to the PR department for a big press release. If you want a true picture of the tablet success or failure you cannot go to one selected hi-so school. Edited February 4, 2013 by Pimay1

[JetsetBkk]

Who paid The Nation to write this propaganda?

[Nickymaster]

Oh dear, seems it was a good idea after all................

Hope the TV naysayers aren't choking on their coffee.

Some people are easy to please.., others might require some more proof and convincing. Not just A story from 1 school. And if you read carefully the story basically says that there are some good things too that can be achieved with these tablets. It's not THAT bad.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Nickymaster

[473geo]

Well done with the tablets Thailand, never to be accepted by the farang fossils but clearly the teachers appreciate their worth, enough to request more of the curriculum be incorporated

They asked the teachers at one school in Thailand, not the tablets in Thailand as your post inferred. . This reminds me of a company I used to work for. They would interview only one customer that was satisfied with our product and give the interview to the PR department for a big press release. If you want a true picture of the tablet success or failure you cannot go to one selected hi-so school.

This article proves it can work, given the correct implementation and encouragement. My son is about to move up from a laptop to a more up to date tablet, he is 7 this year it is the way foward.

[billd766]

Well done with the tablets Thailand, never to be accepted by the farang fossils but clearly the teachers appreciate their worth, enough to request more of the curriculum be incorporated

They asked the teachers at one school in Thailand, not the tablets in Thailand as your post inferred. . This reminds me of a company I used to work for. They would interview only one customer that was satisfied with our product and give the interview to the PR department for a big press release. If you want a true picture of the tablet success or failure you cannot go to one selected hi-so school.

This article proves it can work, given the correct implementation and encouragement. My son is about to move up from a laptop to a more up to date tablet, he is 7 this year it is the way foward.

Now your post I do agree with since you have said This article proves it can work, given the correct implementation and encouragement.

However without the correct application and encouragement as show by a few posters it won't work.

However philw in post # 2 assumes that if forty work in only one school every other one of the 800,000 works as well in the rest of the schools whereas many other posters disagree with him from their own childrens experience.

[OzMick]

Well done with the tablets Thailand, never to be accepted by the farang fossils but clearly the teachers appreciate their worth, enough to request more of the curriculum be incorporated

They asked the teachers at one school in Thailand, not the tablets in Thailand as your post inferred. . This reminds me of a company I used to work for. They would interview only one customer that was satisfied with our product and give the interview to the PR department for a big press release. If you want a true picture of the tablet success or failure you cannot go to one selected hi-so school.

This article proves it can work, given the correct implementation and encouragement. My son is about to move up from a laptop to a more up to date tablet, he is 7 this year it is the way foward.

Your son is receiving one-on-one instruction from a computer literate native English speaker, with as much access time as he and you want. If you think this one case is relevant to the success or otherwise of pupils who don't share the same advantages, you are fooling only yourself.

[Payboy]

Who paid The Nation to write this propaganda?

You mean one can get paid for writing such <deleted>?

[Pimay1]

I'm sure that there must be inspection teams travelling to all schools to ensure that this program is being run correctly.

Yes and I'm waiting with baited breath to see the results of their inspections.

[Chrisswe]

Sorry, but this is the wrong way to go for Kid education !!

[473geo]

Well done with the tablets Thailand, never to be accepted by the farang fossils but clearly the teachers appreciate their worth, enough to request more of the curriculum be incorporated

They asked the teachers at one school in Thailand, not the tablets in Thailand as your post inferred. . This reminds me of a company I used to work for. They would interview only one customer that was satisfied with our product and give the interview to the PR department for a big press release. If you want a true picture of the tablet success or failure you cannot go to one selected hi-so school.

This article proves it can work, given the correct implementation and encouragement. My son is about to move up from a laptop to a more up to date tablet, he is 7 this year it is the way foward.

Your son is receiving one-on-one instruction from a computer literate native English speaker, with as much access time as he and you want. If you think this one case is relevant to the success or otherwise of pupils who don't share the same advantages, you are fooling only yourself.

You know Mick I get a bit sick of your persistent inuendo that Thai parents cannot supply the same advantages, I don't know in what part of Thailand you reside, but my chidren are surrounded by very capable people. Older children happily pass down their knowledge and a receptive younger child can move on at quite a pace, my wife is also one impressive and focussed person when it comes to schooling. I don't think this situation is unusual.

[Pimay1]

Your son is receiving one-on-one instruction from a computer literate native English speaker, with as much access time as he and you want. If you think this one case is relevant to the success or otherwise of pupils who don't share the same advantages, you are fooling only yourself.

You know Mick I get a bit sick of your persistent inuendo that Thai parents cannot supply the same advantages, I don't know in what part of Thailand you reside, but my chidren are surrounded by very capable people. Older children happily pass down their knowledge and a receptive younger child can move on at quite a pace, my wife is also one impressive and focussed person when it comes to schooling. I don't think this situation is unusual.

Well geo I'll say this with confidence. You sure do not live in Esaan.

[axact]

Following the success of this programme tablets will also be given to lorry and coach drivers.

They can then work many more hours without feeling tired although I suspect the tablets they will be given probably wont have gps and will only be for oral use but will definitely work. Productivity is bound to go up.

Here's to Thailand, the hub of tablets, excellence in education and driver productivity.

[belg]

i would really really like to buy on, 81$ right? where ? i mean with content to learn thai

[BlackArtemis]

I help a friend tutor P1 after school some times and I have seen the kids with their tablets. I was surprised that the games were actually both fun and interesting. Now, I only saw a few math games and spelling games, but they looked enjoyable. If the word games were programmable with the week's/unit's vocab, this could be effective for some.

I was originally against the who scheme, but now finding myself agreeing, a shaky thumbs up is how I feel about it. I saw kids using them and enjoying learning, but I know that some have already been lost, kids forget to charge them and I personally know the Thai teachers in charge of the kids I help tutor and their idea of a tablet involves slate or papyrus.

In the hands of a knowledgeable educator and one who has time and care to incorporate them correctly, I can see benefit. But I worry that these teachers will be few and far between.

I also want to see how long we go before critical parts failure becomes a problem, I assume with Chinese knock offs we will see this sooner than later. And also when the tech becomes too slow due to updates or new apps that take too much resources.

[OzMick]

They asked the teachers at one school in Thailand, not the tablets in Thailand as your post inferred. . This reminds me of a company I used to work for. They would interview only one customer that was satisfied with our product and give the interview to the PR department for a big press release. If you want a true picture of the tablet success or failure you cannot go to one selected hi-so school.

This article proves it can work, given the correct implementation and encouragement. My son is about to move up from a laptop to a more up to date tablet, he is 7 this year it is the way foward.

Your son is receiving one-on-one instruction from a computer literate native English speaker, with as much access time as he and you want. If you think this one case is relevant to the success or otherwise of pupils who don't share the same advantages, you are fooling only yourself.

You know Mick I get a bit sick of your persistent inuendo that Thai parents cannot supply the same advantages, I don't know in what part of Thailand you reside, but my chidren are surrounded by very capable people. Older children happily pass down their knowledge and a receptive younger child can move on at quite a pace, my wife is also one impressive and focussed person when it comes to schooling. I don't think this situation is unusual.

I live on Samui and most Pathom 1 students here do not have access to the advantages your son has. Take a jump to the mainland and there is a very small percentage of villages that will have a computer literate native English speaker willing to offer affordable computer tutoring or willing to give his time, and take the associated risks in regard to work permits and pedophilia accusations. Perhaps you don't realise that many Thai children are brought up by their grandparents while their parents work away.

There are already 2 reports here of schools where tablets have not been issued, and persistent reports of schools without electricity.

BTW take 2 laxatives which accelerate your problem but should cure it eventually.