April 21, 2021 – the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN, Khon Kaen University and the National Institute for School Teacher and Staff Development (NITS), Japan, held an opening ceremony of Phase 2 Education Professionals Development Project, 2020. At the event arranged via the Video Conferencing, Mr. Katsumi Arase, President of the National Institute for school teachers and staff development and Dr. Disakul Kasemsawat, Permanent Secretary of Thailand Teacher Council welcomed Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University who conveyed the opening speech. Among key attendants were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maitree Inprasitha, Vice President for Education and Academic Service and Acting Director of the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN; directors and principals of schools, teachers, educational supervisors, who attended the event at Room 101, the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN, Khon Kaen University, and online via the video conferencing.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said, “This Education Professionals Development Project is in accordance with Khon Kaen University’s policy, which emphasizes academic service transformation for the university to become a learning resource and a center of social wisdom. There is also transformation of academic service from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Creating Shared Value (CSV). From Phase 1 on March 25-28, 2021, attendants have been exposed to the Open Class activity, which was under the Lesson Study and the Open Approach in real classrooms at Banthum School (Thumprachanukhroh), Khon Kaen. The participants obtained knowledge, understanding, and approaches for managing classrooms with the Lesson Study and the Open Approach innovation.
“The activity today is the second phase carried out by the National Institute for School Teachers and Staff Development (NITS), Japan. Trainees are learning classroom management from the study cases and developmental processes of Japan. They will also have a chance to learn and share experiences with other participants and Japanese experts. The event truly enables collaboration with the network in teaching profession development abroad. And it will assist our university to enhance teaching instruction and lead the university towards becoming internationalized. Moreover, the knowledge will enable the university’s leaping advance in instruction, research and academic service,” said the President.
The morning session featured video showing from Ishiki Junior High School, Kagoshima Class 2-3, taught by Mr. Takahiro Miyasako, and the afternoon session was small-group discussions.
The Education Professionals Development Project is the collaboration of 4 organizations, namely, 1) the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN, Khon Kaen University; 2) Office of the Permanent Secretary of Thailand Teacher Council; 3) Institute for Teachers and Educators Development; and 4) the National Institute for School Teachers and Staff Development (NITS), Japan. The first conference was held in 2018 with the objectives to strengthen the capacities of the teaching professions in development and management of knowledge in the Lesson Study, classroom management and leadership. This is Class 3, which is held on April 21-26, 2021. The project for each class is divided into 4 phases as follows:
Phase 1: Developing the innovation application context for strengthening the capacities of the teaching professionals at the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN.
Phase 2: Attending the management of classrooms and developmental processes of Japan at NITS; however, with the COVID-19 situation, the event is organized online.
Phase 3: Applying knowledge at schools.
Phase 4: Following-up and evaluation at the Institute for Teachers and Educators Development.
