A Supporting Model for Elderly Learner in Bachelor Degree of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to 1) study learning problems and need for support of elderly learners in distance learning system of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, 2) develop a supporting model for elderly learners in distance learning system of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, and 3) study an effectiveness of the supporting model for development learning potentiality of elderly learners in distance learning system of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. The subjects in stage 1 for studying the problems of distance learning system and need for support were 83 elderly learners in Bachelor Degree of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, 2021 academic year. They were obtained from simple randomization. The key informants in stage 2 for development a supporting model were 12 experts in distance learning system and they were obtained by purposive selection. The subjects in stage 3 for studying the effectiveness of the supporting model were 16 volunteer elderly learners who had scores of less than moderate level from a learning potentiality measurement. They received the supporting model by training both face-to-face and online for 3 and 6 sessions, respectively. The instruments were 1) questionnaires for learning problems and need for support of elderly learners, 2) the learning potentiality measurement form, and 3) the supporting model. Statistics were percentage, mean, standard deviation, content analysis, and Friedman Test.

The results were as the followings:
1) The overall learning problems of the elderly learners were in moderate level. The highest aspect was media, technology, textbook, and equipment. The lowest aspect was building and facilities. The overall need for support was moderate level. The highest need aspect was supporting on media, technology, textbook, and equipment. The lowest aspect was building and facilities.
2) There were 4 aspects of the supporting model including learner aspect, instructor aspect, equipment aspect such as media, technology, textbook, and facilities aspect such as building and other facilities. The model could supporting learner aspect for the potentiality development of the elderly learners in distance learning system by training program both face-to-face and online method.
3) After using the supporting model, the learning potentiality of the elderly learners was increased and sustained until follow up period of the experiment.