Research and development of a curriculum based on the ecological and dynamic model of transition to enhance social skills of children preparing for first grade
Abstract:
The research aims to develop a curriculum based on the Ecological and Dynamic Model of Transition and to evaluate the efficiency of the curriculum. The research and development of the curriculum has been done through the 2 stages; 1)developing the curriculum in order to research fundamental data on essential social skills for first graders in purposively selected 6 elementary schools in Ratchaburi Province, together with the specific socio-cultural context of community people and drafting a curriculum base on the Ecological and Dynamic Model of Transition to enhance three essential social skills for kindergarten children moving on to first grade; 2) implementing the curriculum utilizing the A-B-A design, with 10 kindergarten children moving on to first grade, in Anuban ratchaburi school, muang district, Ratchaburi province, for the duration of 15 weeks, then revising the curriculum using the data obtained from the evaluation. The research instruments for collecting data was social skills evaluation and observation form. The data were statistically analyzed by mean, standard deviation, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Post Hoc comparison produces, namely Bonferroni. The data were presented in quantitative manner including tables and graphs, and descriptive explanation.
Research findings are as the followings:
1. The curriculum based on the Ecological and Dynamic Model of Transition was counted on the provision of experiences for child-centered. Peers, teachers, and parents were essential for developing social relationships between children and environment. The curriculum was consisted of 7 components: principle, objection, learning standards, learning content, learning period, the provision of learning experience, assessment and evaluation. The content of the 3 parts: cooperation, self-control, and assertion and 9 learning title for 9 weeks, 4 day a week. The provision of learning based on the Ecological and Dynamic Model of Transition to enhance social skills were 3 steps to support relationships between: 1) children and teachers; 2) children and peers; and 3) child and parents.
2. The curriculum based on the Ecological and Dynamic Model of Transition was an efficient curriculum. The evaluations result of the curriculum after the implementation showed that; 2.1) the kindergarten children social skills in terms of cooperation, self-control, and assertion have been improved statistically significance at .001 level; 2.2) the kindergarten childrens three social skills have shown to be inclined during the experimental stage, but be declined during the follow up period.