GUIDELINES FOR ACADEMIC SERVICE TO ENHANCE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS OF LEARNERS IN SUPHANBURI PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AREA OFFICE 3

Academic administration guidelines, Critical thinking skills , Acquisition

Abstract

With the rapid change of the world today, developing the abilities on how to think and systematic thinking is essential for students to keep up with such global and social changes. Traditional way of learning alone will hence be unable to develop students to keep pace with changes. Other than the subjects learned, it is important to consider other issues that students should know and learn to be more prepared and comprehensive to support their quality living. In this respect, critical thinking skills are imperative to the 21st century’s students as the skills provide a new set of truth leading to the alteration of students’ thinking process.

The study to seek ways to enhance students' critical thinking skills will guide the implementation of educational management that is beneficial to schools. The objectives of this research were: 1) to investigate the current state, the desirable state, and the priority needs; and 2) To propose approaches to academic management for enhancing critical thinking skills of students under Suphanburi Primary Educational Service Area Office 3.  This quantitative research included a sample of school administrators and teachers totally 286 persons. The total respondents were 262 persons, accounting for 83.75 %. The instrument consisted of questionnaire as a 5-point rating scale with IOC between .67 - 1.00 and reliability of .98, and the analysis of Priority Needs Index Modified. The proposed approaches were evaluated by 15 experts, using a propriety and feasibility evaluation form as a 5 point rating scale. Research statistics included percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Priority Needs Index Modified.

Research results found that the overall current state was at a moderate level (3.39), and the overall desirable state was at the highest level (4.53). The priority needs index of academic management reported PNI_modified = 0.336 in overall. The priority needs by individual aspects ranked from the highest to the lowest levels were as follows: development and use of educational technology and media (PNI_modified  = 0.344) 2), learning process development (PNI_modified = 0.334), and measurement, evaluation, and credits transfer (PNI_modified  = 0.333), and as weaknesses. The results was brought to determine a set of approaches to academic management for enhancing critical thinking skills of students under Suphanburi Primary Educational Service Area Office 3 as follows. 1) Developing and promoting effective management of media and technology for critical thinking. 1.1) Developing information management to increase interpretation with scientific method. 1.2) Developing a data analysis process for learning management. 2) Developing the quality of learning management process based on the critical thinking concept. 2.1) Developing the learning management to strengthen the knowledge acquisition with scientific method. 2.2) Developing the learning management quality to enhance life skills with self-assessment. 3) Developing a system for critical thinking measurement, evaluation, and credits transfer. 3.1) Developing a system for measurement, evaluation, and credits transfer based on inferences. 3.2) Developing technologies for measurement, evaluation, and credits transfer based on standards.