September 3, 2020 at Phumphirom Library, 50th Year Wisawa Ruamjai Building, Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University – There was an MOU signing ceremony between KKU and Aksorn Education Public Company. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University presided over the ceremony. Aksorn Education Public Company was represented by Khun Tawan Thewa-aksorn, Chief Executive Officer. Among witnesses were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rachapon Santiwarakorn, Dean of Faculty of Engineering; Asst. Prof. Dr. Somkiat Srijaranai, Dean of Faculty of Sciences; Asst. Prof. Dr. Issara Kanjak, Associate Dean of Faculty of Education for Organization Strategy and Development; Asst. Prof. Dr. Weerachai Sarakorn, Team Leader for Mathematics Innovation Development, KKU Smart Learning Project, representing Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; and many other lecturers, administrators and students.
The MOU is aimed at building collaboration in developing and upgrading the quality of teachers, students, and educators as well as developing learning innovations in the calculation and coding sciences. The implemented activities will include designing training programs and learning activities for teachers, educators, and learners; which will be a joint project between the Education for Competency Achievement Institute (EdCA) and 4 Faculties of KKU: Engineering, Education, Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University related that Khon Kaen University has a policy and strategy in Education Transformation, which means the university will be transforming instructional approaches and regulations to be sufficiently flexible and to correspond to the social changes. Following the industrial revolution, in particular, technologies will occupy a tremendous portion in various circles. An important issue is artificial intelligence (AI), which has its root in calculation and coding sciences. AI for Education is AI-assisted education that will assist learning. Education for AI is the use of AI to create occupations for learners. Faculties of Engineering, Education, Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences together with the private sector possess the capacities to develop new programs that benefit new and future occupation market. In this regard, instilling foundation in calculation and coding in learners ever since the kindergarten level through to the secondary level will result in learning innovations in calculation and coding. At the same time, the quality of teachers, students, and educators in the field will be upgraded. This joint cooperation with Aksorn Education Public Company is the starting point, the first and important step of KKU and the company that will lead to expansion of the calculation and coding science in a vast educational circle. This in turn, benefits the country in terms of development of basic technological knowledge necessary for now and the future.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rachapon Santiwarakorn, Dean of Faculty of Engineering said that the faculties in KKU joining in this mission are very pleased to collaborate with Aksorn Education Public Company. The MOU also answers KKU’s policy in Education Transformation as this involve the changing of Teaching Paradigm to Learning Paradigm, or from the former and traditional style that emphasized teaching to a new paradigm that emphasizes learning. This means students will be trained to develop thinking skills. In addition, Lifelong Learning concept will be enhanced, since any individual at any age can learn. Curricula will be developed, offering more Non-degree programs. Online or interactive learning will be incorporated into many programs, aiming principally at learners’ interest. Learners can also retake the course for higher grades. Courses can be accumulated and when the accumulated credits reach the criteria set by the Higher Education Commission, then the learner shall be entitled for a degree.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rachapon added that this MOU emphasizes development of curricula and models for skills learning in calculation, a science that enhances learner’s thinking and analytical skills. Learners will be able to apply the skills in solving questions systematically. The coding skill will lead to development of an order set for computer usage in which learners can efficiently adjust and use in their life, in their occupation, job and social activities. It is necessary to train learners with these skills since they are still young. In People’s Republic of China, Japan, and India, coding is taught since kindergarten. The skill leads to development of learning skills, self-assisting skill, and appropriate use of technology, especially the use of smart phone, tablet and other equipment as a tool for building bodies of knowledge. The MOU is expected to help develop learning innovations in the field of calculation and coding as well as upgrading quality of teachers, students, and educators in the field. It will lead to readiness and add to experiences in the science of calculation and coding among teachers, students and educators who can apply the knowledge in making instruction efficient and making life full of quality in the long run.
Khun Tawan Thewa-aksorn, Chief Executive Officer of Aksorn Education Public Company said that this is a good chance for the company to collaborate with Khon Kaen University, a leading institute in education. At the beginning, there used to be cooperation with Faculty of Engineering. The activities have now expanded and are expected to grow in the future until we will have good classrooms for calculation and coding in a vast circle, which are the outcome of the collaboration between the company and Faculties of Engineering, Education, Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences. Finally, the youths will be prepared for the changes of the world and technology.
The event also featured exhibitions and presentation of works in calculation and coding such as automaton control with micro-controller board, coding writing via Blocked Programming, Problem-based Learning or an approach of active Learning that suits the new era of education where learners are emphasized. There was teaching demonstration – Coding for Kids in a virtual classroom. Calculation is subject in the science and technology group under the core basic curriculum 0f 2018 (the amended version of 2017). It is the science that enables learners to develop their thinking and analytical skills, systematic planning, and logical problem solving.
ทั้งนี้ภายในงานมีการจัดแสดงนิทรรศการและนำเสนอผลงานที่เกี่ยวกับสาขาวิชาวิทยาการคำนวณและโค้ดดิ้ง อาทิ กิจกรรมการควบคุมหุ่นยนต์สำเร็จรูปด้วยบอร์ดไมโครคอนโทรลเลอร์ กิจกรรมการเขียนโค้ดดิ้งผ่าน Blocked programming กิจกรรมการเรียนรู้โดยใช้ปัญหาเป็นฐาน (Problem-based Learning) หนึ่งในแนวทางการจัดการเรียนรู้แบบ Active Learning ที่เหมาะสมกับการศึกษายุคใหม่โดยมุ่งเน้นให้ผู้เรียนเป็นจุดศูนย์กลาง พร้อมสาธิตการเรียนการสอนหลักสูตร Coding for Kids ในชั้นเรียนจำลอง ทั้งนี้ วิชาวิทยาการคำนวณถือเป็นวิชาที่ทางกระทรวงศึกษาธิการได้ทำการบรรจุให้อยู่ในสาระพื้นฐาน กลุ่มสาระการเรียนรู้วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี ตามหลักสูตรแกนกลางการศึกษาขั้นพื้นฐาน พ.ศ. 2551 (ฉบับปรับปรุง พ.ศ. 2560) ซึ่งถือเป็นศาสตร์ที่จะช่วยให้ผู้เรียนพัฒนากระบวนการคิดวิเคราะห์ วางแผนอย่างเป็นระบบ สามารถแก้ปัญหาโดยใช้เหตุผลเชิงตรรกะ และสร้างสรรค์นวัตกรรมได้
[ Thai ]
News / Photos: Natthwut Jaruwong
