Development of A Non–Formal Education Activity Model to Enhance Life Skills for the Non–Formal and Informal Education Students

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to: 1) study the needs of life skills of non-formal and informal education students; 2) develop a non-formal education activity model to enhance life skills for the non-formal and formal and informal education students; 3) study the effect of using a non-formal education activity model to enhance life skills for the non-formal and formal and informal education students which is developed; and 4) study the factors and involved conditions of a non-formal education activity model to enhance life skills for the non-formal and formal and informal education students. The population of this research is non-formal and informal education students from districts in Bangkok. The research procedure uses the principles of development of a non-formal education activity model by Brundage (Archanya Rattanaubon, 2551) and integrates 2 concepts of learning activities, which are the self-directed learning concept by Knowles, which focuses on self-learning, allowing learning to occur in any place, at any time and throughout life. The other concept is arrangement curriculum that focuses on child-centered individually (4F: Fun-Find-Focus-Fulfillment).

This arrangement curriculum must be aligned with the natural character, potential, interest and need of learners. The integration creates a non-formal education activity model that consists of 5 stages. Stage1 is to diagnose the needs of learning by analysis of one‘s need and interest. Stage2 is to arrange activities so that the learners could enjoy and be happy in learning (Fun). Stage 3 is to arrange activities for learners to find their potential, aptitude, likes and interests (Find). Stage 4 consists of the learners choosing to study what they are most aptitude, like and have real interest and to increase and deepen their knowledge (Focus). This focus consists of fixing the purpose of learning by clearly writing their own purpose of learning; identifying resources that are used for learning, including both materials and people; selecting and using their most appropriate learning strategy. In Stage 5, learners fulfill their potential individually according to ability, aptitude, likes and interests that are found (Fulfillment). Finally, the learners evaluate their own learning. Research tools in this study include questionnaire, interviews, assessment and observations. The outcome of this study is identifying the characteristics of life skills of non-formal and informal education students in the cognitive domain, affective domain and psychomotor domain.