Joyful Learner in Bangkok

British Ambassador’s Residence Bangkok
British Ambassador’s Residence Bangkok

Today I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the UK Teacher Training Capability Showcase at the British Embassy, Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand. The event was funded by the UK’s Prosperity Fund initiative in Thailand. The audience of around 100 included representative from the Rajabhat universities and from Thailand’s other universities where teacher education courses are offered.

Margaret Tongue, Deputy Head of Mission in the British Embassy Bangkok welcomed speakers and delegates and Dr Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, Thailand’s Minister of Education, opened the workshop.

Photo by mwangi gatheca on Unsplash
Photo by mwangi gatheca on Unsplash

Prof Chris Atkin of Bishop Grossteste University, Lincoln began the day by presenting presenting the review of ITT in the Rajabhat sector carried out in 2016. The Thai Teachers’ Council (TTC) was represented by Dr Tinsiri Siiribodhi who launched their competence framework – shown in the diagram – centered on the needs of pupils as Joyous Learners and deliberately couched in non-academic, teacher-friendly language.    The framework has been agreed and will be adopted across the ASEAN countries.

 

I was honored to be be a member of the team of academics from across the UK who spoke about each quadrant of the framework:

  • Know and understand what I teach: Dr Nick Gee – Bishop Grosseteste University
  • Help my students learn: Professor Linda Clarke – University of Ulster
  • Engage the community: Dr Aileen Ackland – University of Aberdeen
  • Become a better teacher everyday: Professor Wasyl Cajkler – University of Leicester
Joyful learner diagram

Teaching in Thailand and is not a high status profession; parents would prefer that their pupils became doctors or engineers (surprisingly, perhaps, law is not highly esteemed here either). The TTC is seeking to redress this issue by enhancing the professionalism of teachers.

 

The Place Model: interactive online concept
The Place Model: interactive online concept