Development of Highland Environment Curriculum For Students in Chiang Dao and Chaiprakarn District under Chiang Mai Provincial Office of the Non-formal and Informal Education

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were 1) to study the provisions and problems of highland environment of Chiang dao and Chaiprakarn district in Chiang Mai Province 2) to develop highland environment curriculum for students of Chiang dao and Chaiprakarn district in Chiang Mai Province and 3) to test and compare the learning achievement of highland environment for students of learning centers in  Thai hill-tribe  community and Office of the Non – formal and Informal Education in Chiang Dao districts for experimental group and Chaiprakarn districts for control group under Chiang Mai Provincial Office of the Non – formal and Informal Education. This testing was conducted by using qualitative research from document interview, community survey, interview and questionnaire for investigating problem conditions of highland environment and ; respondents included, directors, teachers, officials, developer monks, community leaders and students. Tests also measured knowledge, attitudes and behavior for comparing learning achievement pre – test and post – test from primary students of learning centers in  Thai hill-tribe  community and Office of the Non – formal and Informal Education in Chiang Mai Province (highland) for second  semester in academic year 2015, all included 15 districts with 5,237 students and selected Cluster random sampling with 2 districts which were Chiang Dao for experimental and Chaiprakarn for control group.Then used simple sampling by drawing lots in 2 districts for learning centers in Thai hill-tribe community and Office of the Non – formal and Informal Education in Chiang Mai Province both experimental group with 27 students and control group with 25 students. The satisfaction assessment to curriculum analyzed in data with content analysis from interview was performed based on percentage, mean, standard deviation and t –test independent for quantitative research.
    The research results showed that :
         1.The provisions and problems of highland environment of Chiang Dao and Chaiprakarn districts of Chiang Mai are mostly come from forest and natural resource fertility, then there are  environmentally unbalanced problems such as deforestation, forest expanding, forest burning, fog problem, damaged eco – system, hot weather, flood, drought, soil erosion, wildlife reduction and solid waste problem. Solution should be founded in education to cultivate consciousness to participate in the maintenance of the environment and natural resources. The survey of surroundings communities and factors affecting the problems revealed that development of a highland environmental curriculum and integrated cooperative model for maintenance should be the way forward.
     2. The result of the highland environmental curriculum development project for students Under Chiang Mai Provincial Official of the Non – formal and Informal Education was the curriculum of 40 hours learning content and an experienced promotional activity 30 hours plan. The curriculum total 70 hours.
     3. The results of testing and comparing students learning achievement (correctly  and appropriately) were the average scores in terms of knowledge, attitude and behavior of both the experimental and control groups before and after  participation different with a statistical significance at .05. That is, students participating in this program had higher in all parts of average scores than those of students who didn’t participate in the program. Additionally, the results of the experimental group’s satisfaction in the curriculum showed that students average were satisfied with participation of curriculum development program at highest level ( = 4.25). It was said that the program of highland environment curriculum development made by the research was a sufficient model to develop students with knowledge, understanding, attitude and consciousness to the environment and natural resource. In conclusion, this curriculum can be used to teach highland environmental awareness for students.