The Model and Mechanism for Applying Best Practices from Professional Development Activities to Enhance the Quality of Educational Management in a Whole-School Development Approach in the Context of Songkhla Province

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) explore best practices in developing learners’ competencies and educational personnel by synthesizing knowledge from professional development activities conducted by the Secretariat Office of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand, and 2) develop models and mechanisms to apply this knowledge to enhance the quality of educational management in the context of Songkhla province. The sample included a group of developed schools: Tesaban 3 School (Wat Sala Huay Yang) and Ban Bo It School; and a group of co-developed schools: Tesaban 1 School (Thanon Nakhon Nok) and Ban Dan Community School. The research tools comprised a selection form for best practices in competency development and an evaluation form for the models and mechanisms. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and content analysis. The results showed that 1) Developed schools utilized innovative learning activity sets and active learning to develop reading and writing skills, while co-developed schools employed the 4-step skill ladder, both with very good results, and 2) The model and mechanism for applying knowledge from best practices in professional development activities are able to improve the overall quality of education in schools included the BOIT Model for Ban Bo I School, the SMART Model for Tesaban3 (Wat Sala Huay Yang) School, the BANDAN Model for Ban Dan Community School, and the PIER Model for Tesaban1 (Thanon Nakhon Nok) School. The evaluation indicated that all four models were highly appropriate.