Justification of Using Problem-based Learning with Action Research Method for Educational Reform in Professional Education and Training for Thailand's Decentralization Policy

S. Natakuatoong
Thailand

Professional education and training for rural development is one of the key issues for Thailand's policy of decentralization with people-centered development in the Ninth National Plan (2002-2006). The Tambol (Sub-district) Administration Organization (TAO) has been established as part of a democratic participatory decision making process and a mechanism for decentralized planning. TAO civil technical officers (CTO) have the key role in working and collaborating with every aspect of technical and engineering works related to infrastructure construction projects with people participation in order to effectively perform the decentralization process of the government.

In the TAO implementation, there have been many criticisms for CTO capacity. The main problems of TAO infrastructure projects are from the staff capability: lack of technical and managerial skills, lack of clear understanding working procedures and regulations, lack of understanding community needs and participation process (AIT, 2000). TAO infrastructure construction projects have effects on people life in both short term and long term. Thai government has seen the urgent need to augment the capacity of CTO for TAO duties in the short term. Also, those nearly 6,000 CTO with vocational certificate holder have to be upgraded to be engineers in the medium term.

Current vocational & engineering education and training in Thailand is for urban development which lacks of social and cultural contexts of rural development. The teaching method is still taught with traditional approach or teacher-centered and subject-based learning, and hence has limitation in augmenting CTOs' capability in effectively function their duties.

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a curriculum model and teaching and learning method using 'problem' as a simulation of professional practice on real situation. PBL main characteristics are: a student-centered/self-directed learning approach; a focus on the processes of knowledge acquisition; an acknowledge learners experiences; a multidisciplinary learning; a learning both in individual and in group; develop high professional competency (Boud, 1985; Engle, 1991; Woods, 1994; PROBLAC, 2000). This approach has been accepted and applied worldwide in many areas of professional education including engineering and built environment.

People-centered development is a social learning process which relies on a process that, by combing two kinds of knowledge_ personal and theoretical or 'processed' knowledge_ yields an understanding greater than either could have produced by itself (Korten and Klauss, 1984: 192). Any research project related the people-centered development in community-based setting, people in the organization or community need to be co-researchers.

Action research (AR) has attempted to render the problematic social world understandable as well as to improve the quality of life in social settings. AR is a form of collective self-reflective inquiry undertaken by participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of their own social or educational practices, as well as their understanding of these practices and the situations in which these practices are carried out (Carr & Kemmis, 1988). The outcomes of AR project are: the practice and understanding of the practitioner researcher is improved; the situation and the understanding of the situation is improved; the critical response of a skeptical public (Bawen, 1991).

This paper addresses the needs of a new development of curriculum and teaching methodology in professional education and training for Thailand's decentralization policy.

From exploring literature review and theoretical investigation, this paper will seek to:

1. Identify CTO's professional education and training framework
2. Explore learners outcomes with PBL approach
3. Provide AR theoretical framework
4. Provide justification of using PBL approach with AR method

The initial findings are:
1. Professional education and training curriculum teaching methodology requirements for CTO to fulfil their roles are:

a. Decentralization or social/cultural requirements: community-based learning; social learning; local people capacity building learning

b. Professional or technical requirements: competency-based learning; workplace-based learning

c. Educational pedagogy requirements: adult learning; experiential learning; problem-centered learning; learner-centered learning

2. PBL integrates educational theory with professional and workplace practice. PBL benefits to graduates with working lives skills in workplace with professional competency, people-oriented management, team-oriented or self-managing team culture.

3. AR process is a spiral steps of reflection, plan, act and observe research process; is a participatory working with stakeholders in the research process who retain ownership of research study_ empowerment and development. Its main theoretical frameworks are experiential learning theories and action learning theories which provide a link between theory and practice; education, workplace and personal development.

4. Justification of using PBL approach with AR method for educational reform in CTO professional education and training:

a. PBL is suitable for CTO's from its experiential learning-based process of professional reflective-in-action and problem solving learning process

b. CTO working with people-centered development should be able to effectively use AR as a tool to promote participation and empower communities people.

c. CTO's professional training curriculum development needs participation of stakeholders in both policy and implementation levels in the overall research design and development, data collection & analysis, evaluation of research results and implications.

d. AR research provides both 'product' and 'process'_ a new curriculum model and an educational change and improvement in learning and practice_for CTO and community people.