Guidelines for Learning Ecological System Management in Secondary Schools to Enhance Future Learning Skills

Abstract

This article has two objectives: 1) to study the needs for developing future learning skills, and 2) to design approaches for organizing learning ecosystems in secondary schools that promote the development of students' future learning skills. This mixed-methods research collected quantitative data through questionnaires distributed to a sample of 368 teachers from the Rayong 2 Educational Network secondary schools in the academic year 2024, based on Krejcie & Morgan's (1970) sample size determination table with stratification according to school size. The research instrument was a questionnaire using a 5-level rating scale. For qualitative data, focus group discussions were conducted with school administrators and student presidents using purposive sampling, along with
a literature review, to draft guidelines for organizing the learning ecosystem. The statistics used for data analysis included mean, standard deviation, and Priority Needs Index (PNI). Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. The research findings revealed that:

1.  Research results for objective 1: The level of future learning skills as perceived by teachers regarding lower secondary and upper secondary students showed that the Priority Needs Index ranked “thinking skills” first, which refers to intellectual abilities for processing information to solve various situations, reasoning, planning, decision-making, and creating new things.


2. Research results according to objective number 2 The draft design for structuring learning ecosystems in secondary schools to promote future learning skills comprises the “6Is” principle as follows: 1) Inspiration, 2) Investment, 3) Integrated, 4) Inclusive, 5) Innovation, and 6) Internalization.

The knowledge gained from this research enables educational administrators to utilize the needs of teachers and learners in formulating strategic management approaches for educational institutions, creating a learning ecosystem that promotes learners' development of future learning skills. This will foster participatory development across all sectors within educational institutions, leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness.