Tablets pep up classroom life
Wichai, a first-grade student from Myanmar at Ban Wang Yai School in Kanchanaburi's Sai Yok district next to the Myanmar border, has enjoyed every minute of a maths game played on a tablet computer.
- Published: 01/09/2012 at 12:00 AM
- Writer: Lamphai Intathep
Wichai is among 25 Thai and ethnic minority students at the school who have received tablet computers from the Education Ministry's Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) since the beginning of last month.
The distribution of tablets for students of all nationalities at Prathom 1 (Grade 1) level is part of the Pheu Thai Party's "One Tablet PC Per Child" policy.
"Learning through the tablet is more fun than studying through textbooks. I like playing the maths games on it," Wichai said.
His Myanmar friend Angkarn, who was busy learning to use the tablet, said he had a lot of fun because he had never used one before. "A teacher told me that it is called a tablet computer and I want to take it home to show to my parents. I love playing the matching game the most," he said.
Teacher Phatcharee Janlaor, who oversees the use of tablet computers, said the devices are kept at the school. Students are not yet allowed to take them home.
She said both Thai and ethnic minority students there are poor.
The students find it difficult to get in touch with this technology, she said. The tablet computers are intended to be used by students for about four hours a day in key subjects such as mathematics, Thai and English.
She has noticed that all her students concentrate more and have been eager to learn since receiving the computers.
But she said she will not jump to the conclusion that learning through the tablets will benefit her students' development over the long run as the tablet project needs to be proven as a success over time.
Ban Wang Yai School is a middle-sized school with 174 students from kindergarten to Prathom 6 classes. More than half are from Myanmar.
Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat recently visited the school to inspect the tablet distribution and how the devices are used to teach students.
"At least we know that a tablet can really reduce the social gap between Thai and non-Thai students. It helps change the classroom learning method by promoting active learning," he said.
Dr Cynthia Maung, founder of Mae Tao Clinic in Tak and director of the Children's Development Centre, who accompanied Mr Chinnapat to the school, said 40% of all Myanmar migrants in Thailand are children of school age enrolled in Thai mainstream schools and migrant learning centres. Regardless of their nationality, they are entitled to receive basic education, she said.
"This is a good opportunity for some migrant children in Thai schools to have equal access to the tablets," she said.
Michael Albert, country manager for the Right To Play Thailand Foundation, said education is not only memorising and "talking at children" but also about encouraging them to learn through student-centred learning methods.
"The Ministry of Education is on the right track. I believe that tablets will provide them with technological skills that will be needed in future," he said.
Share your thoughts
- Discussion 1 : 01/09/2012 at 07:04 PM
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A tablet is a tool, same as a hammer. But just because you have a hammer doesn't mean you can build a house. Without a good teacher to leverage the potential of that learning tool, a tablet becomes a toy.
D14 Genii - I have used computers since before the 8086 appeared, they have helped me "build better houses", but they haven't made me more intellectual, that was the result of great teachers when I was young.
- Discussion 2 : 01/09/2012 at 05:43 PM
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1 billion plus baht to spend on tablet pc or to reform the outdated education curriculum / text books and improve teacher training programs. If you were running your country which would you choose?
If you were a shareholder of a company, will you buy a high tech machine first or use the money to retrain the management that is doing a poor job at training the workers?
- Discussion 3 : 01/09/2012 at 05:19 PM
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"and I assume they all are more intellectual" Computers make you intellectual???
- Discussion 4 : 01/09/2012 at 05:11 PM
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D7: So the children should not be allowed changes to improve their education until the country becomes honest?
Learning to reject corruption is a change that will take many generations and probably will not come without a great expansion of the educated middle classes. Why do you not welcome all changes that can get away from the traditional rote-learning routine of most Thai schools?
- Discussion 5 : 01/09/2012 at 04:34 PM
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There use to be a time long ago when parents kept their kids at home for work because they thought school and education was a waste of time. Most commentators here probably grew up at least half their life using computers and I assume they all are more intellectual today because of it. Give it time it will work.
- Discussion 6 : 01/09/2012 at 03:38 PM
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The question is ... are the kids learning to do math or are they learning how to beat the game? Can the kids calculate 8+13 in their head or do they simply know which box to click to move on with the game?
- Discussion 7 : 01/09/2012 at 02:46 PM
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The fact that kids enjoy playing games isnt news .The state of education reform remains the same .
- Discussion 8 : 01/09/2012 at 12:18 PM
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As I have homeschooled my daughters until my oldest one got in to Chulalongkorn University, I am very well aware that many different tools can be helpful to get knowledge or to learn. However, the tablet will not improve the education in Thailand at all as the problems we are having are not missing IT gadgets but unqualified teachers and administrators, stupid curriculums, constandly changing educational policies and anmotivated learners.Lets be honest please, Thailand spends a huge amount of money on education, more than most Asian countries and still is Thailand education one of the worst. No gadget or tool will be able to change that.
- Discussion 9 : 01/09/2012 at 11:29 AM
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It's important to prep the students for a life of computer game addiction. Everyone knows Thailand is in short supply of such 'wizards.'
- Discussion 10 : 01/09/2012 at 11:14 AM
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Good. Another means by which Thai teachers can avoid what they are incapable of doing - TEACHING.
As if is it needs to be said once again...students need critical thinking and problem solving skills. They need to learn as individuals and construct knowledge and meaning through experience.
Tablets won't help with this fundamental pedagogy, which is completely lacking in Thai education.
- Discussion 11 : 01/09/2012 at 10:05 AM
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Two things spring to mind,Have the teachers been trained and can they adapt to distance learning techniques. Unfortunately some older ones ,those with the experience, will probably take time to come to terms with change.
The second, new brooms sweep clean,so lets see 12 months dawn the line but we should be prepared to give it a chance.
- Discussion 12 : 01/09/2012 at 09:58 AM
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Sorry I don't agree to this project.The kids must first of all learn how to be HONEST and what is wrong what is right . That's one way to avoid inplement of corruption
- Discussion 13 : 01/09/2012 at 09:56 AM
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Big surprise ... children like tablet computers. But are the tablet computers actually accomplishing anything? And if they are so effectie, why aren't they used in schools in the developed countries? A friend in Japan told me Japanese students are not allowed to use any kind of computers except in ther computer class.
- Discussion 14 : 01/09/2012 at 09:38 AM
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before someone starts criticizing the games, they are educational games, I taught my son with them. I is a fun way to both learn to use the computer and learn other things too.
- Discussion 15 : 01/09/2012 at 08:10 AM
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Come mothers and fathers throughout the land and don't criticize what you can't understand. Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command, your old road is rapidly aging. Please get out of the new one if you can't lend your hand, for the times they are changing. Bob Dylan, 1964.
- Discussion 16 : 01/09/2012 at 05:41 AM
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Encouraging article!
- Discussion 17 : 01/09/2012 at 04:51 AM
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needs more investment in qualified teachers in education, so the teachers can teach the kids how to usr it ?
- Discussion 18 : 01/09/2012 at 04:38 AM
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I eagerly await the higher test scores these tablets are supposed to produce.
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