The Developmental Process of Mindfulness-Based Learning: A Case Study Upper Primary School at Ban Tha Khoi Nang School Sisaket Provice

Abstract

The research article consisted of three objectives: 1) to study the problems of students of Ban Tha Khoi Nang School in Sisaket province as well as the theories and principles on mindfulness-based learning according to modern science; 2) to analyze the mindfulness-based learning process according to Theravada Buddhism; and 3) to develop and present the mindfulness-based learning process of the students of Ban Tha Khoi Nang School in Sisaket province. The study employed a research and development method by studying documents, researches, and in-depth interview with 2 groups of key informants, in a total of 26 persons. The focus group discussion was conducted with 13 experts. The study was experimented with the upper primary school students of Ban Kham Tub Khon School and applied with upper primary school students of Ban Tha Khoi Nang School. The instruments used for collecting data was a pre-test and post-test. The acquired data were analyzed to find the mean. The results of the research are as follows: 1) Students are addicted to telephone in which the teachers said that students prefer to stay as a group and talk about the entertainment they got from using telephone instead of paying attention to the lessons, resulting in bad grades of studying; 2) The mindfulness-based learning process according to Theravada Buddhism requires practitioners to have mindfulness in every present moment by applying the tools for developing mindfulness according to Theravada Buddhism, that is, Satipaṭṭhāna (the Four Foundations of Mindfulness); and 3) The mindfulness-based learning process comprises 7 learning units and 20 classrooms as follows: 1) 3 classes on mobile phone, 2) 3 classes on having mindfulness and concentration, 3) 2 classes on being confident to do good deeds, 4) 3 classes on not bullying friends, 5) 3 classes on being a good and responsible person, 6) 3 classes on Thai way and Buddhist way; and 7) 3 classes on summarizing. All of these can solve problems and appropriate to the contexts.