The Land of Smiles and The Land of Smiles and TechnologiesTechnologies

Sawadee!Sawadee!Professors Across BordersProfessors Across Borders

Thailand - Summer 2006Thailand - Summer 2006 URL: http://thailand.csusb.eduURL: http://thailand.csusb.edu

Joseph A. Scarcella, Ph.D.Joseph A. Scarcella, Ph.D.California State University, San BernardinoCalifornia State University, San Bernardino

College of EducationCollege of EducationDepartment of Science, Mathematics, and Technology EducationDepartment of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education

E-mail: jscarcel@csusb.eduE-mail: jscarcel@csusb.eduURL: http://coe.csusb.edu/scarcellaURL: http://coe.csusb.edu/scarcella

Objective of TravelsObjective of TravelsAcademic Trip Objectives: Academic Trip Objectives:  • To plan student and faculty exchanges between CSUSB To plan student and faculty exchanges between CSUSB

and Thai sister institutions.and Thai sister institutions.• To deliver workshops (English Language Teaching, To deliver workshops (English Language Teaching,

Educational Leadership, Technology Education, Educational Leadership, Technology Education, Technical/Vocational Education, and Communication Technical/Vocational Education, and Communication Studies) at Thai partner institutionsStudies) at Thai partner institutions

• To provide research opportunities for group participants To provide research opportunities for group participants by collaborating with academic colleagues, as well as by collaborating with academic colleagues, as well as visiting schools and meeting with teachers and school visiting schools and meeting with teachers and school administrators.administrators.

Truly, an experience of a lifetime and tremendous learning Truly, an experience of a lifetime and tremendous learning opportunityopportunity..

New Horizons - ThailandNew Horizons - Thailand• CSUSB Faculty visited the Country of Thailand CSUSB Faculty visited the Country of Thailand

and its Universities and Schools in the and its Universities and Schools in the following following ProvincesProvinces: :

• Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok            Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok            • Rajanagarindra Rajabhat University, Chachoengsao           Rajanagarindra Rajabhat University, Chachoengsao           • Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin  Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin  • Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Ubon   Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Ubon   • Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai • Uttaradit Rajabhat UniversityUttaradit Rajabhat University• Nakorn Payap International School, Chiang Mai  Nakorn Payap International School, Chiang Mai  • Montfort International SchoolMontfort International School

Workshops Conducted Workshops Conducted • During the visit, the group presented to During the visit, the group presented to

numerous Thai faculty and staff members numerous Thai faculty and staff members with various educational backgrounds.with various educational backgrounds.

• Opportunities were made available for Opportunities were made available for each professor visiting Thailand to each professor visiting Thailand to present on their field of study.present on their field of study.

• Personal emphasis included. Personal emphasis included. presentations to departments and presentations to departments and programs of Science, Technology, programs of Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Industrial Technology.Mathematics, and Industrial Technology.

Personal FocusPersonal FocusTo examine Thailand’s Technology Education, To examine Thailand’s Technology Education, Technical/Vocational, Industrial Technology, and Technical/Vocational, Industrial Technology, and Workforce Education system practices, processes, and Workforce Education system practices, processes, and procedures for credentialing teachers and for preparing procedures for credentialing teachers and for preparing individuals for the workforce. individuals for the workforce. Potential goals for the submission of this Potential goals for the submission of this International International Travel Grant Proposal, Professors Across Borders was toTravel Grant Proposal, Professors Across Borders was to:: • To internationalize, enhance, and expand the To internationalize, enhance, and expand the Career and Career and

Technical/Vocational Teacher Education Programs at Technical/Vocational Teacher Education Programs at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB).California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB).

• To write an article and/or prepare a conference To write an article and/or prepare a conference presentation that compare Thai systems to those that presentation that compare Thai systems to those that exist in the U.S.exist in the U.S.

• To potentially recruit Thai students for CSUSB’s Career To potentially recruit Thai students for CSUSB’s Career and Technical/Vocational Teacher Education Program. and Technical/Vocational Teacher Education Program.

Targeted Goals Targeted Goals • To establish an on-going relationship with professors and students from various To establish an on-going relationship with professors and students from various

locations of Thailand. locations of Thailand. • To gain a better understanding of Thailand’s career and technical/vocational, Industrial To gain a better understanding of Thailand’s career and technical/vocational, Industrial

Technology, and Workforce Education system...how it is funded, implemented, and Technology, and Workforce Education system...how it is funded, implemented, and organized.organized.

• To gain a better understanding of To gain a better understanding of practices, processes, and procedures for practices, processes, and procedures for credentialing career and technical (vocational) teachers. credentialing career and technical (vocational) teachers.

• To share and exchange career and technical education trends and philosophies. To share and exchange career and technical education trends and philosophies. • To build partnerships with a goal of inviting international students to apply to the To build partnerships with a goal of inviting international students to apply to the

CSUSB career and technical (vocational) MA program. CSUSB career and technical (vocational) MA program. • To learn about successful and key elements that could be incorporated into my To learn about successful and key elements that could be incorporated into my

curriculum.curriculum.• To enhance my own personal and professional development through the study in To enhance my own personal and professional development through the study in

Thailand.Thailand.• To prepare materials for a workshop based on the academic trip.To prepare materials for a workshop based on the academic trip.• To internationalize one or more courses as knowledge gained will allow me to modify, To internationalize one or more courses as knowledge gained will allow me to modify,

redesign, and provide additional international content and resources in course redesign, and provide additional international content and resources in course development.development.

• To prepare an article and/or conference presentation on what was learned...highlighting To prepare an article and/or conference presentation on what was learned...highlighting Thailand’s career and technical/vocational educational system. Thailand’s career and technical/vocational educational system.

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments• Evidence of research conducted during the academic trip (including Evidence of research conducted during the academic trip (including

publication draft).publication draft).• Created the Thailand 2006 – CSUSB Professors Across Borders Created the Thailand 2006 – CSUSB Professors Across Borders

Website, URL: http://thailand.csusb.edu. This website hosts the events Website, URL: http://thailand.csusb.edu. This website hosts the events of the traveling team and shows evidence of documented events that of the traveling team and shows evidence of documented events that took place. took place.

• Have established International Activities in the Career and Technical Have established International Activities in the Career and Technical Education MA Program.Education MA Program.

• Plans are currently underway to publish a paper in the Technology Plans are currently underway to publish a paper in the Technology Teacher on the Technologies of Thailand.Teacher on the Technologies of Thailand.

• Materials for a conference/workshop presentation based on the Materials for a conference/workshop presentation based on the academic trip were accepted and presentation at the International academic trip were accepted and presentation at the International Technology Education Association, March 2007 in San Antonio, TX.Technology Education Association, March 2007 in San Antonio, TX.

• Plans are also currently underway to present for the CSUSB Plans are also currently underway to present for the CSUSB International Office in the Spring of 2007. International Office in the Spring of 2007.

• Developed a better understanding for all Thai Delegation on and off Developed a better understanding for all Thai Delegation on and off campus. Efforts for collaboration are currently underway. campus. Efforts for collaboration are currently underway.

Conversations Taking Conversations Taking PlacePlace• Successful dialogues took place, establishing strong dialogue Successful dialogues took place, establishing strong dialogue

with the Dean of Science and Technology, and other faculty with the Dean of Science and Technology, and other faculty members. members.

• Their faculty gave an extensive presentation about their Their faculty gave an extensive presentation about their Industrial Technology and Science programs. I too presented on Industrial Technology and Science programs. I too presented on Career and Technical Education MA program and the Integration Career and Technical Education MA program and the Integration of Technological Literacy into academic curriculum. of Technological Literacy into academic curriculum.

• There was much to be learned from one another as we There was much to be learned from one another as we discussed many particulars related to education, industrial discussed many particulars related to education, industrial technology, technical/vocational education, teacher technology, technical/vocational education, teacher credentialing, and other. credentialing, and other.

• Their faculty seemed to be interested in the exchange of ideas Their faculty seemed to be interested in the exchange of ideas about the teachings and studies of technology as they related to about the teachings and studies of technology as they related to occupations.occupations.

• Invitations for mutual beneficial educational research and Invitations for mutual beneficial educational research and exchange ideas related to the development of a Career and exchange ideas related to the development of a Career and Technical and Industrial Technology MA program now exist.Technical and Industrial Technology MA program now exist.

ConclusionConclusion• As this was a very eventful experience, the Thailand As this was a very eventful experience, the Thailand

2006 – Professors Across Borders Website, personal 2006 – Professors Across Borders Website, personal pictures, information materials received from the trip, pictures, information materials received from the trip, and anecdotal information learned will all be weaved and anecdotal information learned will all be weaved into the MA Program in Career and Technical Teacher into the MA Program in Career and Technical Teacher Education and treasured for a lifetime. Education and treasured for a lifetime.

• There will also be assignments developed, having There will also be assignments developed, having students seek information about other countries of students seek information about other countries of world as it relates to Career and Technical/Vocational, world as it relates to Career and Technical/Vocational, Industrial Technology, and Workforce Education.Industrial Technology, and Workforce Education.

Thanks to the CSUSB International Office for making this Thanks to the CSUSB International Office for making this experience possible, I am gratefulexperience possible, I am grateful!!

Resources and LinksResources and Links• Library of Congress Library of Congress

http://lcweb2.loc.gov:80/frd/cs/thtoc.html• Transworld Education Transworld Education

http://lcweb2.loc.gov:80/frd/cs/thtoc.html• History of Thai Education History of Thai Education

http://www.moe.go.th/main2/article/e-hist01.htm• Thailand Tourism Official Site Thailand Tourism Official Site

http://www.tourismthailand.org/