STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT ON STEM EDUCATION IN NORTHERN BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOLS ยุทธศาสตร์การพัฒนาครูเพื่อจัดการเรียนการสอน ตามแนว STEM EDUCATION ในสถานศึกษาขั้นพื้นฐานภาคเหนือ

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: 1) specify the existing situations of school teachers on STEM Education, 2) identify factors and conditions that effected to school teachers on STEM Education, and 3) propose strategies for teachers competency development on STEM Education. Mixed methods were employed in data gathering: in-depth interviewing, observation and verifying the strategies for teachers competency development on STEM Education. Findings revealed that: 1) teachers who received Thailand STEM Education Teacher Awards are reflexive teachers since the beginning of their career while the others lack of competency development, 2) there are no different key factors and conditions of success among small and medium sized (SMS) school teachers which are: inspirations and school directors, but they are permeated with low academic achievement students and budget shortage as well as laboratories. Where there is a clear contradiction, teachers in large-size schools are high competence but less inspiration, students are high academic achievement but isolationism, plenty of budget and laboratories but useless, and 3) strategies for teachers competency development on STEM Education composed of: SO – Aggressive Strategy. For SMS school teachers must be stimulated in training, using Active learning, “to be teachers for students”, and being “schools for the community by the community”. For the large sized school, school administrators must dare to stimulate sluggish teachers in STEM Education workshops leading to be STEM School. WO – Turnaround Oriented Strategy. For SMS schools need to strengthen school-community relationships: local wisdoms and team work as well as providing positions to highly qualified temporary teachers and applying the PBL. For the large sized schools, PBL must be applied in the whole school, teachers need to write books about their teaching experiences, conducting researches as well as setting up “Hall of Fame” that stimulate teachers inspiration. ST – Defensive Strategy. For SMS schools two-way communications with communities and superior units are necessary. For the large sized schools, SWOT Analysis and AAR are persistently needed. And WT – Defensive Strategy. For SMS schools must cooperatively strategic plan and monitor with external organizations. For large sized schools, directors need to effectively apply psychology management to subordinates since there are many visitors from other schools.