Special report: “RMUTT” contribution of ‘Arduino Touch’ device with Thai language reading and spelling game

Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) had appointed Associate Professor Paiboon Yaemphuan as an Advisor of RMUTT to preside over presentation ceremony of “Aduino Touch” set package with Thai Language Reading Game to support and educate 23 schools of RMUTT network. The aim of the presentation was to promote professional development process for teachers (PLC) in order to eradicate illiteracy in lower secondary school students utilizing the Su Ji Pu Li principles. Being supported and promoted by higher education institutions to help network schools in the upper central region, the RMUTT project was as part of improving the quality of education and reinforcing local development in the upper central region of Thailand.

Prof. Dr. Sommai Pivsa-Art, President of Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUTT) promoted and supported the Center for Educational Innovation and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology to carry out a project of quality improvement in education and local development with the education support from higher-education teaching personnel to network schools in the upper central region around Pathum Thani province. According to policies for continuous actions since 2016 of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) had been responsible for overseeing from 1 school, 39 schools, 59 schools to 73 higher schools. These institutions were small but ready to be offered to students from middle and lower-income families. It was found that some of the families were broken with undereducated parents; thus, the schools needed help from higher institutions to offer student career guidance after school graduation. In addition, emerging challenges in school were that student did not wish to pursue their higher education, teachers were not equipped with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly demanding and uncertain job world, and school-age students with disabilities often had negative school experiences with other students inside the classroom.

As one of the major problems in Thai reading-writing skills, fluency had adversely affected all school subjects. Asst. Prof. Dr. Tossaporn Saengswang, Head of the Center for Innovation and Learning Technology, Faculty of Industrial Education and President of the Network Educational Reform to Reduce Inequality” “of RMUTT” who was the researcher of ‘Arduino Touch’ machine and Thai language reading and spelling game revealed that the innovative research was the combination of two fields of study : Educational Technology and Communications and Mechatronics Engineering and Robot. Associate Professor Dejrit Maneetham had provided his support and advice to create this innovative teaching device. Concerning the collaboration between Innovation and Learning Technology Center, Faculty of Industrial Education, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi and Education Reform Network to Reduce Inequality, the project had jointly been implemented to improve the quality of education and local development through the education support from higher education institutions. Subsequently after implementing the project, problems of teaching and learning for children with learning disabilities had arisen as while school teachers did not meet the minimum criteria for adequate qualification. Thus, Asst. Prof. Dr. Tossaporn Saengsawang had decided to find out the cause of problems, enroll his Master and Ph.D. studies in Mechatronics Engineering and Robot and invented an automatic Thai language reading and spelling device so called ‘Automatic Arduino Touch’ device with Thai language reading and spelling game. This device was the result of bringing real-life language use into the device with intention of solving illiteracy in children utilizing with Su Ji Pu Ri principle of Thongpoon Uthit Primary School. During the presentation ceremony, Director of Thongpoon Uthit School, Dr. Somchai Sangsee and other guest speakers had delivered their speeches on the topic of ” Problem and Solutions for reading and writing utilizing with Su Ji Pu Li Model”. Guest lecturers, Ms. Jidapa Boonsangsom, Director of Wat Phalahan School and Representatives from 23 schools had accepted the contribution including

Wat Poy Fon Temple School, Khlong Song School (Sawat Somboon Upatham) Wat Moon Lek School, Khlong Ha School (Pruek Chat) Wat Nopparatanaram School, Wat Pirunsat School, Wat Klang Klongsarm School, Prachnukrau School,  Wat Lanna School, Klong Sa School (Sapawityauthit), Wat Prahumrat School, Wat Bueng Khao Yorn School (Kongphan Uppatham) Khlong 11 School, Sala Khru (Thiam Uppatham), Lam Mahamek School (Prachatri Anusorn) Wat Song Phi Nong School, Wat Khum Kaew School, New Charoen Mosque School, Bua Luang Temple School, and Bang Khu Wat School.