The Needs for a Media Center to Enhance Preschool Children Development of Early Childhood Education Teachers in Schools under the Office of Nakhon Pathom Primary Education Service Area 2

Abstract

              The purpose of this research was to study the needs for a media center to enhance preschool children development of early childhood education teachers in schools under the Office of Nakhon Pathom Primary Education Service Area 2.

             The research sample consisted of 222 randomly selected early childhood education teachers in schools under the Office of Nakhon Pathom Primary Education Service Area 2.  The employed research instrument was a needs assessment questionnaire.  Statistics for data analysis were the percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

            Research findings showed that the overall need for a media center to enhance preschool children development of early childhood education teachers in schools under the Office of Nakhon Pathom Primary Education Service Area 2 was at the highest level.  When specific aspects of the needs were considered, They ware found that (1) on the management aspect of the media center, the resolution of the media center should be determined; early childhood education teachers should be encouraged to apply up-to-date research and technology innovations for development of preschool children; and there should be personnel in the Early Childhood Education Media Research and Development Section of the center; (2) on the academic aspect of the media center, there should be programs for development of early childhood education teachers via study tours, seminars and conferences, and research and development on early childhood education media and innovation; (3) on the service aspect of the media center, new media should be acquired and produced every month; not more than three pieces of media should be allowed to be checked out  per check out time, and should be returned within the period of ten days; as for the reference service, there should be a reference service via the Internet network; also, there should be a service on provision of assistance and problem solving on media matters; (4) on the aspect of types of media for teachers, there was a need for multi-media; (5) on the aspect of types of media for preschool children, there was a need for media to be used with educational games; (6) on the environment management aspect of the media center, there was a need for organizing outside playgrounds for preschool children;  while inside the buildings, there should be exhibition boards to provide information on the use of media and technology; (7) on the location aspect of the media center, the center should be located in the district kindergarten, and its area should be spacious enough for activities of the center; and (8) on the facilities acquisition aspect of the media center, there should be a room for conference preparation with appropriate light and communication equipment.