March 26, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. – Khon Kaen University by the Education and Academic Service Section, the Institute for Research and Development of Teaching Profession for ASEAN and the Mathematics Study Research Center joined the Education Foundation for Thinking Skill Development, Mathematics Study Association, Mathematics Excellence Center and Education Equity Fund to hold an opening ceremony for the 15th National Open Class. Assoc. Prof. Maitree inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service made a reporting speech to Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, who presided over the opening ceremony and made an opening address. Prof. Monchai Duangchinda, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Study welcomed the participants to the event, which took place at 4th Floor, the Institute for Research and Development of Teaching Profession for ASEAN, Khon Kaen University. There were, on this occasion, over 1500 participants attending the activity online, including educational institution administrators, lecturers and students from Khon Kaen University and other universities, directors of educational service areas, educational supervisors, school directors, teachers and the interested public.
The National Open Class has been organized for the 15th times this year. The main objective is to open a stage for interested individuals to share their experiences related to instructional development processes in order to upgrade the classroom qualities by the use of Lesson Study. “Lesson Study” is an innovation under the APEC Lesson Study Project of Tsukuba University in Japan and the Economics Network. The target is to develop instructional methods by creating new sustainable culture.
Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service said that due to the spread of Corona virus Covid-19, the 14th National Open Class in 2020 was postponed to 2021. The activities were modified for full online arrangement for the first time. In order to continue with the 15th National Open Class in 2022, this activity was held with an emphasis on: 1) development of learning of learners in classroom, 2) development of real classrooms, 3) learning together of teachers to understand school students and accept their thoughts, and 4) continuous development using schools as the base.
There were a lot of interesting activities at the event:
- Six open classrooms by teachers who are experts in teaching innovation development in the country. The activity was honored to have overseas expert joining: Prof. Hiroyuki Abe from Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa School, Japan.
- Special talks by experts in education in Thailand and abroad: Prof. Vijarn Phanit, M.D., Benjalak Namfa, Prof. Yutaka OHARA, College of Education, Kanto-Gakuin University, Japan and Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D. (on instruction that emphasizes advanced thinking and AI)
- A forum and presentation of classroom research by the teachers who use classroom development innovations
- Presentation of Best Practices in various aspects by directors of schools
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said that the 15th National Open Class is an important national event that shows Khon Kaen University’s vision in seeing the importance of the work under the policy of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation related to the plans for concrete national manpower and teacher development. This is connected with the Reskill, Upskill, and Newskill, which leads to lifelong Learning and sustainable teacher development as required by the job market today.
“The activity today opens up a chance for everyone to learn and understand the innovation of Lesson Study and Open Approach. The innovation has been applied for over 100 years in Japan. Participants will have a chance to observe the classroom that uses innovation and see how classrooms using innovation for over 100 years in Japan run. In order to have such classroom, what must school administrators and teachers do, what should be planned for implementation? Participants will see from the point of view of Best Practices in various aspects by experienced school directors and watch the documentaries on Blended-Learning Classroom Model (BLC), which is another method to manage instruction for the present situation. I hope that what you learn today will be useful for your Upskill, Reskill and building of New skill,” said KKU President.
The 15th National Open Class was scheduled on March 26-27, 2020 full online via: www.openclassthailand.com
The activities included learning and sharing and special talks by experts in education from Thailand and abroad in the following topics:
Understanding complexity of classrooms for upgrading classroom quality by Prof. Vijarn Phanit, M.D., founder and former President of the Office of Research Funding
The role of educational supervisor and competency-based classroom development by Dr. Benjalak Namfa, Managing Director of Maha Chakri Prize Foundation and Advisor of the Institute for Research and Development of Teaching Profession for ASEAN
Updating progress of electronics textbooks and their role in the age of Covid by Prof. Yutaka OHARA, College of Education, Kanto-Gakuin University
Instruction that emphasizes advanced thinking and AI by Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service, Khon Kaen University
The activities this year also accented the revelation of the secret about complexity of classrooms in the Digital Economy era through the following activities:
Open Class by an expert in teaching innovation development, Prof. Hiroyuki Abe, a professional teacher from Japan and by Thai teachers who use the innovation of Lesson Study and Open Approach that emphasizes Blended Learning Classroom Model
Forums led by teachers who use the innovation of Lesson Study and Open Approach in practice and in classroom research
Presentation of Best Practices by school directors, that use the innovation of Lesson Study and Open Approach to drive forward development of the whole system of the school
Documentaries on instruction in classrooms that use the Blended-Learning Classroom Model (BLC)
Presentation of classroom research by teachers who applied Lesson Study and Open Approach in practice and then developed this into classroom research
Virtual Exhibition of the outcomes from schools project that applied Lesson Study and Open Approach and over 200 exhibitions from various organizations
