4 – 5 February 2023 ─ SEAMEO STEM-ED Centre Research and Evaluation Manager, Mrs. Yaowalak Jittakoat led a team of researchers to conduct a two-day capacity-building workshop ─ shining a light on the fundamentals of how to elicit more efficiency in the classroom using STEM-integrated knowledge at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Since its establishment, SEAMEO STEM-ED Centre has had a clear determination in propelling STEM education and at the same time developing the highest quality educators and teachers in the region. With such goals, “STEM Professional Academy” (an R&E-based program to assist education personnel in excelling at their professions) emerged as one of the key strategies.

In detail, the workshop coined “Analysis and Interpretation” highlighted data analysis and interpretation which was collected qualitatively and quantitatively from 47 schools (137 teachers and 2,790 students). The so-called quasi-experiment conducted in this case demonstrated four key aspects of how teachers could utilize and allow STEM learning to excel.

Those four aspects tackled the matter of strengthening teacher capacity with integrated STEM concepts; providing continuous support in boosting teachers’ confidence in applying STEM approaches to the classroom; sustaining the Professional learning community (PLC) with the model of the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” method; and ensuring best practices of teachers that will impact students’ capabilities and reviewing real-world experiences in their daily life.

Regarding the research tools, the team of researchers has adopted the UTeach Observation Protocol (UTOP, an observational instrument to assess the overall quality of classroom instruction from kindergarten to the undergraduate level) from Utech Institute (a nonprofit organization created in 2006 in response to growing concerns about STEM education in the United States and interest in the secondary STEM teacher certification program) at the University of Texas at Austin.

The key findings from this program research’s effectiveness will also be shared with SEAMEO Centre Policy Research Network (CPRN) 2023.

𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

SEAMEO STEM-ED Centre Director, Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman later shared his expertise in transforming various research and scientific-based institutions into agencies that the public could relate to. For this reason, he spoke about how communicating research results (through various communication methods such as visual hierarchy, color usage, etc.) could prompt better insights by the public and stakeholders.

From here onwards, the R&E department will continue its journey in disseminating key factors in developing quality classrooms and conducting research that could benefit the Southeast Asia Pacific region.

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Names of the researchers for the event are as follows:

Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, Centre Director of SEAMEO STEM-ED

Mrs. Yaowalak Jittakoat, Research and Evaluation manager from SEAMEO STEM-ED

Ms. Kwankamol Napaniwattikul, a Research Assistant from SEAMEO STEM-ED

Mr. Chakkree Sosah, a Research Assistant from Chevron Enjoy Science Phase II

Mr. Faozee Lahtee, a Research Assistant from Chevron Enjoy

Dr. Artorn Nokkaew from Naresuan University

Asst. Prof. Dr. Phimpawee Suwanno from Yala Rajabhat University

Dr. Krittaphat Wongma from Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University

Dr. Rungrong Sommitr from Srinakharinwirot University

Dr. Ruj Luecha from Srinakharinwirot University

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teerasak Urajananon from Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna

Dr. Pannee Boonprakob from Srinakharinwirot University

Asst. Prof.Dr. Uraiwan Hanwong from Chiangmai University

Asst. Prof.Dr. Prakittiya Tuksino from Khon Kaen University

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sasiporn Phongploenpis from Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University