Developing Digital Literacy for Thai High School Teachers in Nonthaburi Province

Abstract

This research study aims to: 1) examine the current state, challenges, and needs related to digital skill development for secondary school teachers in Nonthaburi Province, and 2) enhance their modern digital competencies by focusing on four key components—understanding, access, usage, and creation—through three tailored training courses and 3) evaluate the result of the Nonthaburi school teachers’ digital skill development. This study is a research and development project targeting teachers as the primary participants. The study included in-depth interviews with 18 teachers, focus group discussions with 10 teachers, a modern digital skills development group of 30 for modern digital skills development training. The current situation assessment group, problems and needs in digital skills development, numbered 473 people, and the modern digital skills development assessment group and 33 for evaluating the program's outcomes using questionnaires to collect data. Data analysis utilized percentages, means, standard deviations and t-tests. Findings revealed that schools currently face shortages of modern computers and equipment, unstable internet connections, and that while most teachers possess basic digital skills, they lack advanced competencies such as using online AI applications—an area where training demand was high. The digital skills development program implemented 3 lab-based training courses with manuals, focusing on 4 key skill components: 1) understanding 2) accessing 3) utilizing and 4) creating. Evaluation of pre- and post-training digital skills, along with assessments of teachers' ability to create infographics using AI applications, showed highly satisfactory results and the school administrators and academic heads are extremely satisfied with the teachers regarding the integration of digital skills in the school.