DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACTIVE LEARNING MANAGEMENT ABILITIES OF ELEMENTARY TEACHERS THROUGH THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY PROCESS

Abstract

This research aimed 1) to develop components and indicators of active learning management abilities (ALMAs) 2) to develop a professional learning community (PLC) process, and 3) to examine the effects of the PLC process on the development of the ALMAs of elementary science teachers.  This research is Research and Development.  The samples were seven science elementary teachers at Ban Na Wai School, Chiang Mai province were voluntarily participated in the study, in the second semester of academic year 2019. The instrument was the ALMAs questionnaire.  The qualitative data were collected by a focus group interview and analyzed by the content analysis method. The quantitative data were collected by the ALMAs questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive statistics, a Friedman test, and a Wilcoxon sign rank test.  This research found that the components of the ALMAs consisted of the following: (1) the ability to write lesson plans comprised of four subcomponents and 18 indicators; and (2) the ability to use active learning in science teaching that was comprised of six subcomponents and 17 indicators.  The PLC process consisted of three steps: prepare, practice and learn, and conclude.  The participants presented post-intervention mean ALMA scores that were 75% higher than the standard.  In addition, participants had post-intervention mean ALMA scores significantly increased at the p-value of .05.