Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand

The main purpose of this classroom action research was to improve student learning in a Health Science class in Thailand by using the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) and a constructivist learning approach. This study combined quantitative and qualitative data and was conducted over...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jinvong, Achara
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Curtin University 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2283
_version_ 1848743911510507520
author Jinvong, Achara
author_facet Jinvong, Achara
author_sort Jinvong, Achara
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The main purpose of this classroom action research was to improve student learning in a Health Science class in Thailand by using the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) and a constructivist learning approach. This study combined quantitative and qualitative data and was conducted over one semester in four stages: 1) assessing the students' perceptions of their constructivist learning environment and determining students' pre-instruction conceptions about AIDS; 2) constructing an intervention based on constructivism theory in order to improving learning environments and students' learning outcomes; 3) implementing the intervention; and 4) evaluating the success of the intervention by re-assessing with the CLES. The Attitude Towards AIDS Questionnaire (ATAQ) was used to assess students' attitudes about AIDS. The students' cognitive achievement was assessed with the Students' Knowledge of AIDS Test (SKAT). Qualitative data were obtained from informal observation, focus group discussions, and student journals. The results indicated that the adapted Thai version of the CLES is appropriate for use in Health Science classes in Thailand's socio-cultural context because it was shown to be valid and reliable in both Actual and Preferred Forms. The results also revealed that the CLES and a constructivist learning approach can be used as effective tools in order to improve the learning environment of a Health Science class. This approach can improve students' knowledge and students' attitudes toward AIDS. The qualitative results supported the results from the questionnaires. This study suggests that teachers and health educators in Thailand can use the CLES to improve their learning environment and use a constructivist learning model to bring about improvement in students' achievement in their classes.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T05:53:05Z
format Thesis
id curtin-20.500.11937-2283
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T05:53:05Z
publishDate 2007
publisher Curtin University
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-22832017-02-20T06:37:03Z Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand Jinvong, Achara Thailand health science classes CLES constructivist learning environment survey constructivist learning The main purpose of this classroom action research was to improve student learning in a Health Science class in Thailand by using the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) and a constructivist learning approach. This study combined quantitative and qualitative data and was conducted over one semester in four stages: 1) assessing the students' perceptions of their constructivist learning environment and determining students' pre-instruction conceptions about AIDS; 2) constructing an intervention based on constructivism theory in order to improving learning environments and students' learning outcomes; 3) implementing the intervention; and 4) evaluating the success of the intervention by re-assessing with the CLES. The Attitude Towards AIDS Questionnaire (ATAQ) was used to assess students' attitudes about AIDS. The students' cognitive achievement was assessed with the Students' Knowledge of AIDS Test (SKAT). Qualitative data were obtained from informal observation, focus group discussions, and student journals. The results indicated that the adapted Thai version of the CLES is appropriate for use in Health Science classes in Thailand's socio-cultural context because it was shown to be valid and reliable in both Actual and Preferred Forms. The results also revealed that the CLES and a constructivist learning approach can be used as effective tools in order to improve the learning environment of a Health Science class. This approach can improve students' knowledge and students' attitudes toward AIDS. The qualitative results supported the results from the questionnaires. This study suggests that teachers and health educators in Thailand can use the CLES to improve their learning environment and use a constructivist learning model to bring about improvement in students' achievement in their classes. 2007 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2283 en Curtin University fulltext
spellingShingle Thailand
health science classes
CLES
constructivist learning environment survey
constructivist learning
Jinvong, Achara
Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand
title Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand
title_full Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand
title_fullStr Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand
title_short Improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in Thailand
title_sort improving student learning in health science classes: a case study in thailand
topic Thailand
health science classes
CLES
constructivist learning environment survey
constructivist learning
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2283