Abstract:
The study applied an experimental research method with the following objectives: 1) to compare the learning achievement of students; 2) to compare the ability for critical thinking; and 3) to study the satisfaction level of the 3rd secondary school students after the learning method based on Ariyasacca. A sample group was acquired by means of purposive sampling and consisted of the 3rd secondary school students, Wat Chantharawat school, Krachan subdistrict, U Thong district, Suphanburi province, in a total of 11 students. The research instruments were 1) 4 learning activity packages based on Ariyasacca in Buddhism subject on the topic of Buddha-paṇidhāna (4 kinds of aspiration); 2) the learning achievement test; 3) the critical thinking ability test; and 4) the satisfaction assessment form. The acquired data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation (S.D.), and t-test.
The results of the research are as follows: 1) Students with the learning based on Ariyasacca have the posttest of learning achievement higher than the pretest with a statistical significance at 0.05 level. This is because the learning method based on Ariyasacca is the process for seeking knowledge on problem-solving and life skills development by following each step of the Ariyasacca as the guidelines. It is a learning management focusing on the students; 2) The ability for critical thinking of students, it is found that the posttest score is higher than pretest with a statistical significance at 0.05 level. This is because students get to learn from the real situations arising in daily life as they get to study the situation, to identify the cause of the problems, to contemplate the information, to discuss the problems, to define the problems, to gather information from the scenario, and to contemplate the credibility of the information. All of which is the process for developing the ability to think critically; and 3) Students have satisfaction towards the learning based on Ariyasacca at a high level with a statistical significance at 0.05 level. This is because students get to experience the real problem from practicing various skills on the topic of Buddha-paṇidhāna. This helps to motivate the curiosity of students and challenge their ability to solve problem (the stage of dukkha), to find out the cause of the problems (samudaya), to gather information in order to support the path one chooses to present to the group (nirodha), to make decision together and practice the best solution for problem-solving (magga).