Building STEM Education Capacity: A Study of Thai Teachers' Network on Girls in ICT Day

STEM teachers networking in Thailand

Abstract

The STEM teachers networking in Thailand: Computational Thinking in STEM Education was launched during Girls in ICT Day 2023. The study had two objectives: to explore challenges in teaching STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) in Thailand, and to understand teachers’ strategies and readiness for online child safety in digital learning due to the significant of ICT utilization in teaching and learning. A qualitative study involved 120 randomly selected teachers who attended the forum from May 2-3, 2023. They completed an anonymous online questionnaire. By the end, 81 teachers (mean age 37.7 years) responded—22 men (27.2%) and 59 women (72.8%). Male teachers had a median teaching experience of 8 years, while female teachers had 10 years. About 89% of participants understood STEM education well. Teachers found STEM most feasible to teach in science (60.5%), followed by engineering (30.9%), and math (8.6%). Male teachers were more likely to teach engineering than female teachers. Most teachers also showed good awareness and proactive efforts regarding online child safety, especially younger teachers. This study offers useful insights into Thailand’s STEM education, emphasizing the need for digital skills, safe learning spaces, and balanced gender participation in STEM fields. Additionally, most teachers demonstrated awareness and proactive approaches to child safety online, especially among younger age groups. The study contributes valuable insights into Thailand’s STEM education landscape, highlighting practical needs for digital competency, safe learning environments, and equitable gender representation in STEM fields