Abstract:
The purpose of the study was threefold: First, to study the current background of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Computer in Education (Ed.COM) at Thai Primary and Secondary Schools (P&S Schools); Second, to evaluate the efficiency of outputs, outcomes, and problems for using ICT and Ed.Com in the P&S schools. Data were collected from 6 research instruments [1) ICT and Ed.COM Infrastructure survey Form for school; 2) ICT and Ed.COM projects/plans examining Form; 3) Interviewing Form for school administrator; 4) Questionnaire Form for teachers; 5) Questionnaire Form for Students, and Questionnaire Form for parents. All completed data were analyzed by the SPSS program in frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean )normal distribution case) standard deviation, median (un0nrmal distribution case), and quartile deviation. Research results were as follows: 1. The total efficiency for using the ICT and Ed.COM in all Thai P&S schools were at almost low level (52.22%) when comparing with the established criteria. For details in each category, it was found that the first 2 categories had to improve so fast as peopleware (33.36%) and managerial administration (44.18%). 2. The P&S schools in the Metropolitan (68.11%), Northern (60.18%), and Central (56.93%) areas had a higher efficiency in ICT and Ed.COM than the schools in the Northeastern (41.21%) and Southern (34.99%) areas. Problems of Schools in each part of Thailand concerning with ICT and Ed.COM should be improved so fast: one problem in Metropolitan, and Northern areas as peopleware; two problems in Central area as peopleware and managerial administration; three problems in Northeastern area as financial, peopleware, and managerial administration; and four problems in Southern area as peopleware, financial, managerial administration, and Hardware & Software, respectively. 3. The ICT and Ed.COM Readiness in the Thai P&S schools were: 1) All schools had Computer )including Hardware & Software) for learning and teaching at 72 percent, a total ratio per computer room between student and computer as 1: 1.30, small schools as 1: 0.80, middle schools as 1: 1.04, large schools as 1: 1.70, state schools as 1: 0.81, and private schools as 1: 1.23. It was also found that most popular programs were used as Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint), Computer Aids Instruction (CAI), and other programs, respectively. B) By average 62.96 percent of personnel in each school used computer well [7.30 percent graduate from major computer science]. These following aspects were used below 30 percent: using internet, having own E-mail address, having knowledge for building teaching media, having knowledge for maintaining computers, and having knowledge for keeping computers. As a result of budgeting concerning the ICT and Ed.COM, by average, each school got financial around 58,350 baht a year [including fiscal budgets and financial supports from the other sources]. All supporting sources were as: citizen, teacher and parent association, local government organizations, official departments, and so on. 4. Top 5 given chances for using the best ICT and Ed.COM benefits in schools were: 1) given learning opportunity to all students at every levels, 2) managing school as the community ICT learning center, 3) training ICT for all personnel or civilians, 4) showing ICT and Ed.COM activities, and 5) managing teaching and learning knowledge in internet website. 5. As a result of teaching activities, most of teachers (29.03%) taught students by searching knowledge in internet. Most programs that teachers (62.58%) knew best as Microsoft-Word. Top five subjects that teachers used computer frequently were: Computer, Science, Mathematics, English, and Thai subjects. In addition, most top three activities that teacher assigned to students were: printing reports/documents/exercises, searching information in websites, and drawing/making tables or graphics, respectively. 6. As a result of learning activities, most of students (37.80%) had computers at home, 41.50% could link internet by themselves, average using 2 times a week, mostly used the top 3 programs as Microsoft-Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at 65.70, 39.30, and 34.80 respectively. Top five subjects that students used computer frequently were: Science, English, Mathematics, Arts, and Social Science, respectively. In addition, most activities that students used frequently were: printing reports (66.80%), playing games (52.60%), and drawing (34.60%), respectively. 7. Crucial problems and obstacles for using the ICT and Ed.COM in P&S schools were as follows: no computers enough to students, computer low speed, lack best teachers who knew ICT and Ed.COM knowledge, no fiscal budgeting enough, no networks among schools, and no new software. 8. Strategic map was presented by researchers for an implement plans, applied from the ideas of the Balanced Scorecard, consisted of 4 components: financial, learning and development, internal process, and customers. Moreover, scorecard sheet was also presented. Some details of scorecard sheet were: objectives, key performance indicator or KPI, baseline data, target, and initiatives. [see details of scorecard sheet in Table 45, Chapter 5 of the completed report]