Guidelines for Developing a Community Participatory Tourism to Enhance Learning Skills in the 21st Century by using the Community as a Social lab

Abstract

   The objectives of this research are to study and develop the potential of tourism learners to develop 21st century learning skills through a community-based social laboratory participation process, to achieve community tourism development goals through participatory processes, and to propose guidelines for developing a community participatory tourism in order to enhance learning skills in the 21st century by using the community as a social lab. This research was classroom action research using community as a social lab. The research methodology was a combination of an emphasis on qualitative research techniques and quantitative research data. The sample group consisted of 63 people using pre and post-study assessment forms as research tools. Moreover, the researcher selected 30 key informants and used tourism resources survey and interview form as research tools, then analyzed the contents and wrote a descriptive description. The results showed that learners' post-study assessment showed higher scores in all areas, including learning and innovation skills, information, media and technology, and life and career, which received the highest rating with average score of 4.68, considering the highest level. For the results of the course content, learners could create tourism development plans for all 10 communities. It is considered that the learning objectives of all groups were achieved. As for the guidelines for developing a community participatory tourism to enhance learning skills in the 21st century by using the community as a social lab, it was recommended that various educational institutions adopt a proactive learning approach with classroom action research and use community as a social lab in related courses to allow students to develop their potential in 3 areas: Learning and Innovation Skills, Information, media and technology skills, Life and Career Skills. These skills helped learners to understand the context of real society which was a teaching process that gave students’ opportunity to develop their own learning potential and apply it effectively.