Thai teachers to learn from the best

[webfact]

Thai teachers to learn from the best
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The battle to reform Thailand's education system will continue with the staging of EDUCA 2015 at Impact Muang Thong Thani this month.

The event, now in its eighth year, will mobilise world-class experts to impart their knowledge on Thai teachers, educators and administrators from October 14-16.

"This event will present the body of knowledge and lessons learned from classroom reform inside and outside Thailand under the three-think principle 'Think Across', 'Think Ahead' and 'Think Again'," said Silchai Kiatpapan, director of EDUCA's sub-organiser Pico (Thailand).

The event will feature seminars organised by the Finnish and South Korean embassies in Thailand in which Thai teachers will get tips from world-renowned education experts.

Professor Mick Waters from the UK-based University of Wolverhampton will talk about the best teaching methods.

Assist Prof Dr Asuke Saito from the Singapore National Institute of Education will touch on creating a learning society and guidelines for school reform.

Ellen Moir, founder and chief executive officer of the US-based New Teacher Centre, will discuss new teacher developments leading to professionalism.

There will also be seminars about distance learning innovations in Thailand and other countries. Another highlight will be a forum about instructional leadership and the creation of schools for all children with the goal of delivering headmaster leadership at every education level.

Under the Think Again concept, more than 200 workshop topics will be covered, including "Skills for Your Life, Not Just Life Skills", "Education Reform for True Learning" and "Model Classroom".

There will also be an exhibition on education innovations and technology.

Assoc Prof Bancha Chalapirom, dean of event co-host Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education, said the university supported EDUCA because of the importance of teacher development.

He said the event provided a good springboard to develop quality learning and would lead to education reform that benefited students in a sustainable way.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thai-teachers-to-learn-from-the-best-30270196.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-05

[BSJ]

Farang teaching Thai's how to teach.......

[Thian]

I meet plenty Thai who can speak very good english, they have a 108-shop, marketstand, plantshop or any other very small business.

The very big company's like project developers, Siam cement group or Samsung-Thailand can't speak english at all!

Why don't they rent the educated people? They only want cheap cheap cheap or take their familymembers.

[eldragon]

I don't understand. I thought the best was always right here in TH.

[lostoday]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

[eldragon]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

The key with Thais is to teach em things privately then let em tell their friends it was a Thai idea. They'll never accept anything otherwise.

[MaxLee]

But but but to learn from the best you need the globally modern standards freedom of expression and right to question authorities, which is taboo thanks to current ruling regime which must not be named.

[thesetat2013]

If this is their eighth year in doing this then they should stop wasting their money since apparently it has not done anything to help. A waste of the education ministry budget. Or maybe they should have teachers go there that actually listen and learn instead of us ng it as a holiday vacation to travel.

[Seastallion]

It's pointless teaching teachers the best modern information. They will return to their schools and be told by principals and directors to carry on with the old ideas.

[NongKhaiKid]

It's pointless teaching teachers the best modern information. They will return to their schools and be told by principals and directors to carry on with the old ideas.

that sums it up completely !

[Seastallion]

It's pointless teaching teachers the best modern information. They will return to their schools and be told by principals and directors to carry on with the old ideas.

that sums it up completely !

That is, of course, assuming the information imparted in English is assimilated into teachers' heads.

[bamnutsak]

under the three-think principle 'Think Across', 'Think Ahead' and 'Think Again'

Brilliant.

You think that the Aristocracy wants the masses well educated?

Think again.

I assume General Prayut will be kicking things off and imparting his wisdom?

[selftaopath]

Oh well..... somebody's "gotta" be the worst/ bottom of all rankings/ least productive/ least educated etc. I guess Thailand fills that option. Hell a lot of countries want cheap "nannies" house cleaners etc.

[chrisinth]

I meet plenty Thai who can speak very good english, they have a 108-shop, marketstand, plantshop or any other very small business.

The very big company's like project developers, Siam cement group or Samsung-Thailand can't speak english at all!

Why don't they rent the educated people? They only want cheap cheap cheap or take their familymembers.

Because someone can speak English does not make them educated.

I can set you up with an appointment with 'Ae' or 'Noi' from the Beaver Bar in Nakon Somewhere to prove that point.....................

[Happy Grumpy]

Why do I envisage 1000 Thai teachers playing Candy Crush and popping balloons on their phones during the seminars.

[MaxLee]

It's pointless teaching teachers the best modern information. They will return to their schools and be told by principals and directors to carry on with the old ideas.

that sums it up completely !

Well first of all, why not start with the most promitive principles first which is:

Social behaviors, tolerant manners for each other's first, prior to skills..., because where there is NO toleration and social behavior, adequate learning can NEVER be accomplished.... hint hint at the bad social behavior aka looking down on poor people attitude if the ignorant high so's of Thailand....

You get the idea???

Edited October 5, 2015 by MaxLee

[Zonka]

'The event, now in its eighth year, will mobilise world-class experts to impart their knowledge on Thai teachers, educators and administrators from October 14-16.'

Which they will then ignore and continue with their rote system!

[TEFLKrabi]

Does anyone understand that it will take a whole generation, if not two, to make the changes? It's a really slow process and needs to be started sooner rather than later but it can be done with a little outside help and with government backing. Good luck. I think Thailand could become a much better place if these changes can be made.

[timber]

It doesn't have to take that long to change the system. Two main points that are often left out in teaching any subject that

are required, is the receptivity of the teachers and students. Without this nothing will ever change. Sometimes changing from

within means more of the same. Once you have the receptivity then you just have to spend the money on existing state of the

art media for presentation sills and techniques will reach everyone. The money required is being spent without any return on the investment already.

[bamnutsak]

Does anyone understand that it will take a whole generation, if not two, to make the changes? It's a really slow process and needs to be started sooner rather than later but it can be done with a little outside help and with government backing. Good luck. I think Thailand could become a much better place if these changes can be made.

The event, now in its eighth year

Does anyone read the article?

But seriously, this is all just "Edumacation Theater", meant to make it look like they want an educated populace. And, they've got to spend all that budget.

[oneday]

If this event has been going on for 8 years then I think it can safely be said that it is a failure.

Actually, the most likely reason is the teachers and administrators are not listening to the sound advice being given.

Edited October 5, 2015 by oneday

[Suradit69]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

The key with Thais is to teach em things privately then let em tell their friends it was a Thai idea. They'll never accept anything otherwise.

Unlike farang who feel they already know everything and believe they have nothing to learn from anyone else.

There are no universal "best methods." Even within one classroom, the one-size-fits-all approach won't work for everyone. Assuming that something that's been moderately successful with middle class students in Europe will be easily transplanted to rural Thailand with similar results is naive.

Most of the students studying at the graduate level in science, engineering and mathematics in the US are foreign and most of them are Asian. But the blinkers are still on and everyone still maintains that the Western approach to education is superior to that in most Asian countries.

It will come as no surprise to observers of graduate education that the report documents the fact that foreign students make up the majority of enrollments in U.S. graduate programs in many STEM fields, accounting for 70.3 percent of all full-time graduate students in electrical engineering, 63.2 percent in computer science, 60.4 percent in industrial engineering, and more than 50 percent in chemical, materials and mechanical engineering, as well as in economics (a non-STEM field).

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/12/new-report-shows-dependence-us-graduate-programs-foreign-students

[bamnutsak]

How complex can it be to memorize Twelve Core Values? Do they really need workshops?

The Military Junta competed their Education Reform with the simple implementation of these Twelve Core Values, and a few patriotic songs.

Time to move on to other reforms, and reconciliation of course.

[gandalf12]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

Thing is they have to have both the will to learn and the will to change. I doubt if Thailand has the will to do either.

[worgeordie]

I hope they are listening intently,as they are not going to learn much

in 3 days,

regards Worgeordie

[WitawatWatawit]

I expect that all the teachers who attend this event will get a certificate to say they have passed.

[BlindMagician]

I've been working in a Thai Uni for many years, and tried to promote internal discussions on standards, benchmarking, educational methodology etc...nobody cared...Thai lecturers see it as an invasion of their domain, a challenge to their lofty status, with a touch of fear....and that includes Thai lecturers who studied for their degrees overseas. Then there's the culture of plagiarism, and letting students pass regardless of their performance. It's so deeply embedded in the Thai mindset.

[eldragon]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

The key with Thais is to teach em things privately then let em tell their friends it was a Thai idea. They'll never accept anything otherwise.

Unlike farang who feel they already know everything and believe they have nothing to learn from anyone else.

There are no universal "best methods." Even within one classroom, the one-size-fits-all approach won't work for everyone. Assuming that something that's been moderately successful with middle class students in Europe will be easily transplanted to rural Thailand with similar results is naive.

Most of the students studying at the graduate level in science, engineering and mathematics in the US are foreign and most of them are Asian. But the blinkers are still on and everyone still maintains that the Western approach to education is superior to that in most Asian countries.

It will come as no surprise to observers of graduate education that the report documents the fact that foreign students make up the majority of enrollments in U.S. graduate programs in many STEM fields, accounting for 70.3 percent of all full-time graduate students in electrical engineering, 63.2 percent in computer science, 60.4 percent in industrial engineering, and more than 50 percent in chemical, materials and mechanical engineering, as well as in economics (a non-STEM field).

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/12/new-report-shows-dependence-us-graduate-programs-foreign-students

Let me know when you find the stats for how many of em are Thai and didn't plagiarize their thesis.

[welshissan]

Finland had the same problems as Thailand in the 1960's. They hired experts and changed their education system till now it is one of the best in the world. Thailand could do the same. We have much to learn from each other.

The key with Thais is to teach em things privately then let em tell their friends it was a Thai idea. They'll never accept anything otherwise.

Unlike farang who feel they already know everything and believe they have nothing to learn from anyone else.

There are no universal "best methods." Even within one classroom, the one-size-fits-all approach won't work for everyone. Assuming that something that's been moderately successful with middle class students in Europe will be easily transplanted to rural Thailand with similar results is naive.

Most of the students studying at the graduate level in science, engineering and mathematics in the US are foreign and most of them are Asian. But the blinkers are still on and everyone still maintains that the Western approach to education is superior to that in most Asian countries.

It will come as no surprise to observers of graduate education that the report documents the fact that foreign students make up the majority of enrollments in U.S. graduate programs in many STEM fields, accounting for 70.3 percent of all full-time graduate students in electrical engineering, 63.2 percent in computer science, 60.4 percent in industrial engineering, and more than 50 percent in chemical, materials and mechanical engineering, as well as in economics (a non-STEM field).

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/12/new-report-shows-dependence-us-graduate-programs-foreign-studets

So what % of the foreign students are Thai ? The vast majority or as I suspect a very small amount if any?

My wife is a teacher and had to go to school today even though she has a very high fever !

Why did she have to go?

Their are 5 teachers and a director at the school. 4 of them, including the director are not attending as they have to attend meetings.

The other teacher is off work because she has a high fever too, so my wife felt obligated to go and be the only teacher.

This is NOT a one off occasion this happens on a regular basis.

Not good for the pupils and their future, and not good for the teachers to be put in this position.

Education in rural Thailand, A JOKE

[bangon04]

If this is their eighth year in doing this then they should stop wasting their money since apparently it has not done anything to help. A waste of the education ministry budget. Or maybe they should have teachers go there that actually listen and learn instead of us ng it as a holiday vacation to travel.

This year they will be using cartoons and video games to illustrate the important points. This way they hope that some of the Thai teachers will pay attention and understand the concepts....