Great work as of the year’s beginning! KKU Science Education wins prizes from instructional prototypes that launch new era citizens

The 3 works of undergraduate, Master’s degree and PhD students in Science Education of the Faculty of Education win three national prizes, namely: 1) The instruction prototype that promotes elementary learning of science, called “Water cycle physical-digital board game”, winning the first runner-up prize at the Show & Share or the 8th Research and Academic Seminar (SoTL8 2023) organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, Knowledge Network of Thailand, Mae Fa Luang University and the network universities; 2) The Curricular Contest on “Youth of Citizen Science” by the team named Far out, winning the first runner-up prize for the Water Curriculum Contest at an event organized by Suntori Pepsico Beverage Thailand, Department of Water Resource, Department of Pollution Control, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation; and 3) The Development of Application for Environmental Problem Solving and Enhancing Social Business by the SPP Developers Team, winning a silver medal at the GPSC Young Social Innovator 2022 held by Global Power Synergy Public Company (GPSC). The 3 projects were under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Niwat Srisawat, Ph.D., a lecturer of the Science Education Program.

The “Water cycle physical-digital board game” – an elementary promotion game for science learning is a board game developed for the content of water cycle subject. The game process is cyclical and incorporates digital technology for players to interact. There is also a mini game application that can be used on smart phone for players to learn about the 4 processes of water cycle, namely, vaporization, condensation, precipitation and collection. This work was done by Miss Sasiwimon Premthaisong, a PhD student of Science Education Program and a full-time teacher at Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, International Section and Asst. Prof. Niwat Srisawat, Ph.D., a lecturer of the Science Education Program.

The “Youth of Citizen Science” under the team name: “Far out”, was the work of Miss Radasa Khammuang, a 5th year student majoring in science education and Miss Tawinan Jan-in, a 4th year student majoring in Science Education. This Youth Citizen Science Curriculum has been designed for students to be aware of the necessity to care for water resources under the notion of citizen inquiry education. It opens up a chance for students to learn about scientific process with modern technologies of the 21st Century with promotion from local communities who receive direct impact from water pollution. The program will lead to conservation and saving of water resources around the students and the knowledge obtained will be disseminated among the public through mass media.

The “Development of Application for Environmental Problem Solving and Enhancing Social Business” is a Plastic Detectives Application that will be used as a tool to change the behavior and instill citizen science awareness in students relating to management of plastics garbage along with the use of digital coin technology – KGO Token – for development and deployment of community and social economy. The team that carried out this project was SPP Developers, consisting of Miss Pornyanee Sonsomnuk, Mr. Putthipong Khonyong and Mr. Satawat Yuthakrai.

Asst. Prof. Niwat Srisawat, Ph.D., a lecturer of the Science Education Program said, “It is the standard and duty of University professors to develop students’ potentiality in research and innovation creation. Therefore, encouraging students majoring in science education to develop education innovations is a very important professional mission. The works resulted from the incubation of students through the learning processes obtained from the course and training as well as the experiences acquired from real practices and collaborative work of students and lecturers until we got the prototype innovation specifically designed under the assignment that promotes science learning of students in the new era. The works include new products such as the board game that uses digital technology, a mobile application for specific learning, and a novel learning program that emphasizes learners’ potential. These will be used in research and development of science learning of students in the next step.”

News: Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University

[Thai]

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