The Searching Skill Development in Students Faculty of Education in Chiang Rai Rajabhat University

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to improve the information searching skill which can be possessed and done on their own among education students, and to obtain the information on methods and time for the skill development in each individual student.   The target group comprised 80 students from the Faculty of Education, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University who enrolled in 2^nd semester course in the academic year 2555. The method to obtain the target group was from simple random sampling.

            The data collection instruments were a test on information searching aspect, a searching skill evaluation form, a searching skill analysis form, a searching skill interview form, a learning result record form . The data obtained were analyzed for mean and standard deviation. The result of mean was compared by the use of T-Test and analyzed for variance. The result was presented in form of table with description and content analysis.

            The findings of this study were as follows:

1. The result of students’ information searching skill comparison between Pre and Post study showed the difference significance at .01. It was found that the modernity and reliability of information got the highest mean score. The lower mean scores were found in the item of presentation method and referencing method respectively. As for the analysis of information searching process of the students it was found that at Pre learning stage there was no planning for information searching, but the information was gathered as collected before sending for printing. There was no editing or rearranging of the found information at this stage. At Post learning, the students made a plan in advance for the desired information searching by indicating the scope of content. The students tried to search from key words given by the instructor. Having been praised by the instructor, the students showed courage to do more searching and were able to apply searching skill in their life.  The analysis of learning process from the information searching development of the students showed that most of them used websites as their learning source and spent more than 3 hours with them. There was no expense for learning. They used computer and video as tools for learning.  From the analysis of attitude on information searching of the students, the highest score showed that information searching widened their view. The lower scores showed that information searching done on their own developed learning process by the students themselves, and that information searching introduced them to advantageous self-learning management respectively.

            2. Methods and time spent on skill development from each student were as follows: 1) Assign topics to be used for searching to the students in order to set the scope of study and searching. Searching skill had been tested before searching process began 2) Assign group working tasks to the students according to the preset topics. No instruction of searching process was given. After that, the report was evaluated for information searching skill 3) Assign task according to the preset topics to individual student. No instruction of searching process was given. Then, the evaluation of information searching report was done according to the preset criteria. 4) Collect qualitative data through interview on the topic of planning, time spending, sourcing, searching methods, information recording/sorting and reflection on searching result.