DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE ON HISTORY OF BUDDHA THROUGH FIELD STUDIES AT BUDDHAMONTHON IN THAILAND

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the knowledge and students’ comprehension of history of Buddha through the field studies at four commemorative sites in Buddhamonthon Nakhon Prathom province. The students were assigned to visit Buddhist precinct and instructor then described the history of the Buddha. All participants were ninety students from Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin (RMUTR) who were taking Foundations of Thai Civilization (HUM 1007). The research tools were a set of satisfaction questionnaires and an achievement test. The obtained data had been analyzed based on the efficiency standard 80/80. In addition, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (SD) and t-test were reformed to compare the pretest and the posttest score form the test. The results revealed that simulation activity for teaching of Buddha history were effective the criterion obtained from this study was higher than the hypothesis as 80/80 and the pre-test and posttest score were different at significant 0.01. The result suggests three aspects of simulation activity benefits; clarity of instructor’s presentations, instructor’s availability and helpfulness to students
and overall quality of lesson.