The New Normal Phenomenon in Fully Virtual Conference – ICER 2020 and NTIE 2020

September 11-13, 2020 – Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University acted as the principle host for The 13th International Conference on Educational Research (ICER2020). Joining as the co-hosts from overseas were: (1) Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, the Philippines; (2) Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa; (3) National Cheng-kung university, Taiwan; and from Thailand was College of Research Methodology and Cognitive Science, Burapha University. ICER2020 was organized in the form of Fully Virtual Conference, which is the first of its kind online by Khon Kaen University in order to respond to the new normal under the surveillance and prevention of the spread of COVID-19. In addition, The 1st National Teacher Induction Expo (NTIE 2020) was organized, also in the fully virtual style in parallel with the first one. The Opening Ceremony was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University while Prof. Sumalee Chaicharoen, Ph.D., Dean of Faculty of Education and Chairperson of the Conferences, made a reporting speech.

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., said in his opening address, “…All of the academics’ participation in this ICER 2020 shows your interest and determination to exchange and develop bodies of knowledge in order to step forward toward the sustainable developing society. Your support is another sign of success according to the goal in educational development for a better society in the future. I’m grateful to the guest speakers and experts from abroad who dedicate your time to join this online conference. Thanks are extended to the network universities for being the co-hosts.”

Prof. Dr. Sumalee Chaicharoen, Dean of Faculty of Education said, “The 13th ICER 2020 is organized for students from different countries to learn and share, and to build a network that will receive the challenging future education. The conference is a collaboration project between Khon Kaen University and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Education, the Philippines; Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa; and National cheng-kung university, Taiwan. The organizer is pleased to welcome online presenters from 7 countries: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa, China, and Cambodia as well as from many universities in Thailand. The overall oral online presentations were 101 topics. There were experts specialized in different fields sharing their experiences and ideas, and over 600 participants from ICER and NITE, who are under the Teacher Preparation Project for Local Development, joining as listeners. The conference was also a venue for learning and sharing of knowledge with specialists and so will benefit the education in each of the participants’ countries.”

The 13th ICER 2020 this year was an open venue for educators all over the world to present their work outcomes and exchange knowledge and ideas with their counterparts. Participants were able  to obtain new bodies of knowledge from famous experts and well known educators both in the country and abroad, namely, Prof. Ching Sing Chai from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong who gave a talk on “TPACK and Professional Learning in STEM Education”; Prof. Yueh-Min Huang from National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan, R.O.C., on “Embedding Diagnostic Mechanisms in a Digital Learning Context”; Dr. Natthaporn Chanchalia, Chairman of Starfish Country Home School Foundation, who gave a talk on “Transforming Thai Education with Innovation and Technology”; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Montreeyaem Kasikorn, A specialist for Office of Khurusapha General Secretary, on  “Technology-Enhanced Learning; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Isara kanjak, Associate Dean in Planning and Organization Development of Faculty of Education, on “Transforming Teacher Education for the Future”; and Dr. Supot Srinuttapong, Director of State Projects, Microsoft (Thailand) Company. In The 1st National Teacher Induction Expo (NTIE 2020), organized by Faculty of Education and the 19 teacher training network institutions in the Upper Northeast, educational researchers presented their works, totaling over 120 topics, which were from: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa, China, Cambodia and Thailand.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Srisawat, Associate Dean for Research and Creative Education Innovations added, “Due to the spread of COVID 19, conferences all over the world have changed their arrangement format because of the obstacle in traveling to and from the host country. ICER 2020 this year therefore was changed from the conventional style into the Fully Virtual Conference or fully online. This was the result of the attempts of Faculty of Education of KKU under the lead of Prof. Dr. Sumalee Chaicharoen, Dean of Faculty of Education so that the virus spread would not bring impact on networking and learning of new things in education. The conference was organized on September 11-13, 2020. There was a Pre-conference or a workshop for researchers of Khon Kaen University, from Faculties of Engineering and Education, and co-hosts from College of Research Methodology and Cognitive Science, Burapha University. The workshop presented bodies of knowledge and educational developments and instructional showcases of teachers of Khon Kaen University’s Demonstration School in 8 subjects. There were also presentations and special talks by specialists from Thailand and abroad.”

The conference was also supported and collaborated by the Center for Instructional Innovation of Khon Kaen University, by Asst. Prof. Dr. Anucha Somabutr, Director of the Center and the online meeting organizing team who helped in organizing online Zoom Video Webinars, with support from Khon Kaen University administrators.

[ Thai ]

 

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