Exploring STEM and Coding Development for Thai Youth Through a System Theory Perspective
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Published
Mar 19, 2024
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Abstract
This study explores the development of STEM and coding competencies in Thai youth, employing a systems theory framework to examine various elements like input, process, output, and environment. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, the research gathered data from a diverse group including 1,400 respondents comprising K-12 teachers, educational supervisors, school administrators, higher education instructors, parents, pre-service teachers, and a general audience. The quantitative data, derived from a comprehensive 30-item questionnaire, revealed that 57.7% of the respondents were K-12 teachers, indicating a strong interest in STEM and coding education at the primary and secondary levels. Additionally, qualitative insights were gleaned from an expert focus group, consisting of eight multi-disciplinary STEM and coding experts. This group provided valuable perspectives on the current state of STEM and coding in Thailand, emphasizing its growing significance and identifying gaps in the development of innovative and entrepreneurial skills among youth.
The findings identify crucial areas for improvement in the Thai STEM and coding education ecosystem. It highlights the need for more inclusive and collaborative strategies that involve a wide range of stakeholders, including parents and non-educational sector individuals, to enhance the effectiveness of STEM education. The research suggests integrating coding into curriculums, developing comprehensive teacher training programs, and fostering partnerships between schools, universities, and industries. These steps aim to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical coding skills vital for the workforce. Moreover, the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is emphasized as crucial for preparing students for future professional domains where AI plays a significant role. The study’s findings and recommendations offer a roadmap for transforming STEM education and coding in Thailand, ensuring it aligns with the evolving demands of the digital age and contributes to the country’s economic growth and workforce development.
Keywords: Ecosystem, Competency, Coding, System Theory, STEM Education
References
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Bybee, R. W. (2013). The Case for STEM Education: Challenges and Opportunities. Arlington, Virginia: NSTA Press.
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Cheng, M. M. H. (2022). An Overview of STEM Education in Asia. In M. M. H. Cheng, C. Buntting, & A. Jones (Eds.), Concepts and Practices of STEM Education in Asia (pp. 1-15). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2596-2_1
Cook, J. W., & Tõnurist, P. (2016). From Transactional to Strategic: Systems Approaches to Public Service Challenges. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Dyer, J. H., Gregersen, H. B., & Christensen, C. M. (2019). The Innovator’s DNA, Updated, with a New Preface: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators. USA.: Harvard Business Review Press.
Education Estonia. (n.d.). How it all Began? From Tiger Leap to Digital Society. Retrieved from https://www.educationestonia.org/tiger-leap/
EO Channel. (2023, March 2). Survival Strategies in the Era of AI Taught by Stanford | Stanford AIRE Director [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA9K0JMrbWg
Hammond, D. (2010). The Science of Synthesis: Exploring the Social Implications of General Systems Theory. Colorado: University Press of Colorado.
Holmes, W., Persson, J., Chounta, I.-A., Wasson, B., & Dimitrova, V. (2022). Artificial Intelligence and Education: A Critical View Through the Lens of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. France: Council of Europe. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/artificial-intelligence-and-education-a-critical-view-through-the-lens/1680a886bd
Hung, H.-C., Liu, I.-F., Liang, C.-T., & Su, Y.-S. (2020). Applying Educational Data Mining to Explore Students’ Learning Patterns in the Flipped Learning Approach for Coding Education. Symmetry, 12(2), 213. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12020213
Kast, F. E., & Rosenzweig, J. E. (1972). General Systems Theory: Applications for Organization and Management. The Academy of Management Journal, 15(4), 447-465. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/255141
Kaygısız, G. M., Üzümcü, Ö., & Uçar, F. M. (2020). The Case of Prospective Teachers’ Integration of Coding-Robotics Practices into Science Teaching with STEM Approach. İlköğretim Online, 19(3), 1200-1213. https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2020.728020
Khogkhao, C., Sungtong, E., & Kerdtip, C. (2023). Proposed Strategy for STEM Educational Policy Implementation by Using Bioecological System Theory. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Research and Development, 5(2), 43-67. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JMARD/article/view/261231
Ministry of Education. (2017). Indicators and Concepts in Science Subject (Revision B.E. 2560) According to Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551. Bangkok: The Agricultural Co-operative Federation of Thailand Printing House. Retrieved from https://academic.obec.go.th/images/document/1580786506_d_1.pdf
Morrison, J., & Fisher, W. P., Jr. (2018). Connecting Learning Opportunities in STEM Education: Ecosystem Collaborations across Schools, Museums, Libraries, Employers, and Communities. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1065(2), 022009. http://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1065/2/022009
Nguyen, L. T., Kanjug, I., Lowatcharin, G., Manakul, T., Poonpon, K., Sarakorn, W., ... Tuamsuk, K. (2023). Digital Learning Ecosystem for Classroom Teaching in Thailand High Schools. SAGE Open, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231158303
OECD. (2002). Glossary of Key Terms in Evaluation and Results Based Management. France: OECD Publications.
OECD. (2017). Systems Approaches to Public Sector Challenges: Working with Change. France: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264279865-en
OECD, & UNESCO. (2016). Reviews of National Policies for Education, Education in Thailand: An OECD-UNESCO Perspective. Paris: OECD Publishing. http://doi.org/10.1787/9789264259119-en
Office of the Education Council, Ministry of Education. (2019). National Educational Standards 2561 B.E. Nonthaburi: 21 Century. Retrieved from https://cadt.dpu.ac.th/upload/content/files/มาตรฐานการศึกษาของชาติ %202561.pdf
Office of the Education Council, Ministry of Education. (2020). Lesson Learned: Coding Teaching and Innovation: Developing Students to have the Desired Characteristics of Thai People 4.0 According to National Education Standard. Nonthaburi: 21 Century. Retrieved from https://fliphtml5.com/wbpvz/nhri/basic/51-66
Ola, M., Riikonen, S., Korhonen, T., & Sormunen, K. (2019). Student Tutor Model for Supporting Digital Technology Use in Maker-centered Learning. In FabLearn Conference 2019: 8th Annual Conference on Maker Education, Teacher College, Columbia University, New York, United States, 9-10 March 2019. USA.: Columbia University.
Pimthong, P., & Williams, P. J. (2021). Methods Course for Primary Level STEM Preservice Teachers: Constructing Integrated STEM Teaching. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 17(8), em1996. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/11113
Royal Thai Government Gazette. (2018). Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy (B.E.2561-2580). Retrieved from http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/A/082/T_0001.PDF
Savchenko, D. (2019). E-Estonia Reprogrammed: Nation Branding and Children Coding. In M. Biagioli, & V. A. Lépinay (Eds.), From Russia with Code: Programming Migrations in Post-soviet Times. USA.: Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.1215/9781478003342-009
Seow, P., Looi, C. K., How, M. L., Wadhwa, B., & Wu, L. K. (2019). Educational Policy and Implementation of Computational Thinking and Programming: Case Study of Singapore. In S. C. Kong, & H. Abelson (Eds), Computational Thinking Education (pp. 345-361). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6528-7_19
Srikoom, W., Hanuscin, D. L., & Faikhamta, C. (2017). Perceptions of In-service Teachers Toward Teaching STEM in Thailand. Asia-pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, 18(2), 1-23. Retrieved from https://www.eduhk.hk/apfslt/download/v18_issue2_files/srikoom.pdf
Tan-a-ram, S., Leelayuttho, A., Kittipiyakul, S., Pornsukjantra, W., Sereevoravitgul, T., Intarapanich, A., ... Treeumnuk, D. (2022). KidBright: An Open-Source Embedded Programming Platform with a Dedicated Software Framework in Support of Ecosystems for Learning to Code. Sustainability, 14(21), 14528. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114528
The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. (n.d.). IPST Learning Space: Teacher Professional Development System. Retrieved from https://teacherpd.ipst.ac.th/accredited-course/
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
The World Bank. (2021, December 14). Thailand Economic Monitor: Living with COVID in a Digital World. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/th/country/thailand/publication/thailand-economic-monitor-december-2021-living-with-covid-in-a-digital-world
Timko, G., Harris, M., Hayde, D., & Peterman, K. (2023). Sustainable Development of Community-supported STEM-learning Ecosystems in Rural Areas of the United States. Community Development Journal, 58(3), 492–511. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsac016
True Digital Park. (2020, February 27). 10 Thai S-curve Industries. Retrieved from https://www.truedigitalpark.com/insights/articles/15/10-thai-s-curve-industries
Vandeweyer, M., Espinoza, R., Reznikova, L., Lee, M., & Herabat, T. (2020). Thailand’s Education System and Skills Imbalances: Assessment and Policy Recommendations (OECD Economics Department Working Papers No. 1641). Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/b79addb6-en
von Bertalanffy, L. (1968). The Meaning of General System Theory. In General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications (pp. 30-53). New York: George Braziller.
Voogt, J., Fisser, P., Roblin, N. P., Tondeur, J., & van Braak, J. (2013). Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge–A Review of the Literature. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(2), 109-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00487.x
Weintrop, D., Beheshti, E., Horn, M., Orton, K., Jona, K., Trouille, L., & Wilensky, U. (2016). Defining Computational Thinking for Mathematics and Science Classrooms. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 25, 127–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-015-9581-5
Whipple, M. (2019, August 12). A.I. & Education: An Interview with Li Jiang of Stanford University. Retrieved from https://www.scaruffi.com/last/magazine/articles/jiang.html
Wing, J. M. (2006). Computational Thinking. Communications of the ACM, 49(3), 33-35. https://doi.org/10.1145/1118178.1118215
Wolkenhauer, O., & Muir, A. (2011). The Complexity of Cell-Biological Systems. In C. Hooker (Ed.), Volume 10 in Handbook of the Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Complex Systems (pp. 355-385). Netherlands: Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52076-0.50013-4
Wong, G. K. W., Cheung, H. Y., Ching, E. C. C., & Huen, J. M. H. (2015). School Perceptions of Coding Education in K-12: A Large Scale Quantitative Study to Inform Innovative Practices. In 2015 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE), United International College, Zhuhai, China, 10-12 December 2015 (pp. 5-10). USA.: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/TALE.2015.7386007
Allen, P. J., Chang, R., Gorrall, B. K., Waggenspack, L., Fukuda, E., Little, T. D., & Noam, G. G. (2019). From Quality to Outcomes: A National Study of Afterschool STEM Programming. International Journal of STEM Education, 6, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-019-0191-2
Bybee, R. W. (2013). The Case for STEM Education: Challenges and Opportunities. Arlington, Virginia: NSTA Press.
ChatGPT. (2023). OpenAI. Retrieved from https://chat.openai.com
Cheng, M. M. H. (2022). An Overview of STEM Education in Asia. In M. M. H. Cheng, C. Buntting, & A. Jones (Eds.), Concepts and Practices of STEM Education in Asia (pp. 1-15). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2596-2_1
Cook, J. W., & Tõnurist, P. (2016). From Transactional to Strategic: Systems Approaches to Public Service Challenges. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Dyer, J. H., Gregersen, H. B., & Christensen, C. M. (2019). The Innovator’s DNA, Updated, with a New Preface: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators. USA.: Harvard Business Review Press.
Education Estonia. (n.d.). How it all Began? From Tiger Leap to Digital Society. Retrieved from https://www.educationestonia.org/tiger-leap/
EO Channel. (2023, March 2). Survival Strategies in the Era of AI Taught by Stanford | Stanford AIRE Director [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA9K0JMrbWg
Hammond, D. (2010). The Science of Synthesis: Exploring the Social Implications of General Systems Theory. Colorado: University Press of Colorado.
Holmes, W., Persson, J., Chounta, I.-A., Wasson, B., & Dimitrova, V. (2022). Artificial Intelligence and Education: A Critical View Through the Lens of Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. France: Council of Europe. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/artificial-intelligence-and-education-a-critical-view-through-the-lens/1680a886bd
Hung, H.-C., Liu, I.-F., Liang, C.-T., & Su, Y.-S. (2020). Applying Educational Data Mining to Explore Students’ Learning Patterns in the Flipped Learning Approach for Coding Education. Symmetry, 12(2), 213. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12020213
Kast, F. E., & Rosenzweig, J. E. (1972). General Systems Theory: Applications for Organization and Management. The Academy of Management Journal, 15(4), 447-465. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/255141
Kaygısız, G. M., Üzümcü, Ö., & Uçar, F. M. (2020). The Case of Prospective Teachers’ Integration of Coding-Robotics Practices into Science Teaching with STEM Approach. İlköğretim Online, 19(3), 1200-1213. https://doi.org/10.17051/ilkonline.2020.728020
Khogkhao, C., Sungtong, E., & Kerdtip, C. (2023). Proposed Strategy for STEM Educational Policy Implementation by Using Bioecological System Theory. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Research and Development, 5(2), 43-67. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JMARD/article/view/261231
Ministry of Education. (2017). Indicators and Concepts in Science Subject (Revision B.E. 2560) According to Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551. Bangkok: The Agricultural Co-operative Federation of Thailand Printing House. Retrieved from https://academic.obec.go.th/images/document/1580786506_d_1.pdf
Morrison, J., & Fisher, W. P., Jr. (2018). Connecting Learning Opportunities in STEM Education: Ecosystem Collaborations across Schools, Museums, Libraries, Employers, and Communities. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1065(2), 022009. http://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1065/2/022009
Nguyen, L. T., Kanjug, I., Lowatcharin, G., Manakul, T., Poonpon, K., Sarakorn, W., ... Tuamsuk, K. (2023). Digital Learning Ecosystem for Classroom Teaching in Thailand High Schools. SAGE Open, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231158303
OECD. (2002). Glossary of Key Terms in Evaluation and Results Based Management. France: OECD Publications.
OECD. (2017). Systems Approaches to Public Sector Challenges: Working with Change. France: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264279865-en
OECD, & UNESCO. (2016). Reviews of National Policies for Education, Education in Thailand: An OECD-UNESCO Perspective. Paris: OECD Publishing. http://doi.org/10.1787/9789264259119-en
Office of the Education Council, Ministry of Education. (2019). National Educational Standards 2561 B.E. Nonthaburi: 21 Century. Retrieved from https://cadt.dpu.ac.th/upload/content/files/มาตรฐานการศึกษาของชาติ %202561.pdf
Office of the Education Council, Ministry of Education. (2020). Lesson Learned: Coding Teaching and Innovation: Developing Students to have the Desired Characteristics of Thai People 4.0 According to National Education Standard. Nonthaburi: 21 Century. Retrieved from https://fliphtml5.com/wbpvz/nhri/basic/51-66
Ola, M., Riikonen, S., Korhonen, T., & Sormunen, K. (2019). Student Tutor Model for Supporting Digital Technology Use in Maker-centered Learning. In FabLearn Conference 2019: 8th Annual Conference on Maker Education, Teacher College, Columbia University, New York, United States, 9-10 March 2019. USA.: Columbia University.
Pimthong, P., & Williams, P. J. (2021). Methods Course for Primary Level STEM Preservice Teachers: Constructing Integrated STEM Teaching. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 17(8), em1996. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/11113
Royal Thai Government Gazette. (2018). Thailand’s 20-Year National Strategy (B.E.2561-2580). Retrieved from http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2561/A/082/T_0001.PDF
Savchenko, D. (2019). E-Estonia Reprogrammed: Nation Branding and Children Coding. In M. Biagioli, & V. A. Lépinay (Eds.), From Russia with Code: Programming Migrations in Post-soviet Times. USA.: Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.1215/9781478003342-009
Seow, P., Looi, C. K., How, M. L., Wadhwa, B., & Wu, L. K. (2019). Educational Policy and Implementation of Computational Thinking and Programming: Case Study of Singapore. In S. C. Kong, & H. Abelson (Eds), Computational Thinking Education (pp. 345-361). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6528-7_19
Srikoom, W., Hanuscin, D. L., & Faikhamta, C. (2017). Perceptions of In-service Teachers Toward Teaching STEM in Thailand. Asia-pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, 18(2), 1-23. Retrieved from https://www.eduhk.hk/apfslt/download/v18_issue2_files/srikoom.pdf
Tan-a-ram, S., Leelayuttho, A., Kittipiyakul, S., Pornsukjantra, W., Sereevoravitgul, T., Intarapanich, A., ... Treeumnuk, D. (2022). KidBright: An Open-Source Embedded Programming Platform with a Dedicated Software Framework in Support of Ecosystems for Learning to Code. Sustainability, 14(21), 14528. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114528
The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. (n.d.). IPST Learning Space: Teacher Professional Development System. Retrieved from https://teacherpd.ipst.ac.th/accredited-course/
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Science and Engineering for Grades 6-12: Investigation and Design at the Center. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
The World Bank. (2021, December 14). Thailand Economic Monitor: Living with COVID in a Digital World. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/th/country/thailand/publication/thailand-economic-monitor-december-2021-living-with-covid-in-a-digital-world
Timko, G., Harris, M., Hayde, D., & Peterman, K. (2023). Sustainable Development of Community-supported STEM-learning Ecosystems in Rural Areas of the United States. Community Development Journal, 58(3), 492–511. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsac016
True Digital Park. (2020, February 27). 10 Thai S-curve Industries. Retrieved from https://www.truedigitalpark.com/insights/articles/15/10-thai-s-curve-industries
Vandeweyer, M., Espinoza, R., Reznikova, L., Lee, M., & Herabat, T. (2020). Thailand’s Education System and Skills Imbalances: Assessment and Policy Recommendations (OECD Economics Department Working Papers No. 1641). Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/b79addb6-en
von Bertalanffy, L. (1968). The Meaning of General System Theory. In General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications (pp. 30-53). New York: George Braziller.
Voogt, J., Fisser, P., Roblin, N. P., Tondeur, J., & van Braak, J. (2013). Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge–A Review of the Literature. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(2), 109-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00487.x
Weintrop, D., Beheshti, E., Horn, M., Orton, K., Jona, K., Trouille, L., & Wilensky, U. (2016). Defining Computational Thinking for Mathematics and Science Classrooms. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 25, 127–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-015-9581-5
Whipple, M. (2019, August 12). A.I. & Education: An Interview with Li Jiang of Stanford University. Retrieved from https://www.scaruffi.com/last/magazine/articles/jiang.html
Wing, J. M. (2006). Computational Thinking. Communications of the ACM, 49(3), 33-35. https://doi.org/10.1145/1118178.1118215
Wolkenhauer, O., & Muir, A. (2011). The Complexity of Cell-Biological Systems. In C. Hooker (Ed.), Volume 10 in Handbook of the Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Complex Systems (pp. 355-385). Netherlands: Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-52076-0.50013-4
Wong, G. K. W., Cheung, H. Y., Ching, E. C. C., & Huen, J. M. H. (2015). School Perceptions of Coding Education in K-12: A Large Scale Quantitative Study to Inform Innovative Practices. In 2015 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE), United International College, Zhuhai, China, 10-12 December 2015 (pp. 5-10). USA.: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/TALE.2015.7386007
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How to Cite
CHAMRAT, Suthida et al.
Exploring STEM and Coding Development for Thai Youth Through a System Theory Perspective.
Journal of Community Development Research (Humanities and Social Sciences), [S.l.], v. 17, n. 1, p. 31-51, mar. 2024.
ISSN 2985-0231.
Available at: <https://www.journal.nu.ac.th/JCDR/article/view/Vol-17-No-1-2024-31-51>. Date accessed: 28 apr. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.14456/jcdr-hs.2024.3.