an innovative approach
an innovative approach
an innovative approach
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focuses prepare them to take the National Entr<strong>an</strong>ce Examination for university level.<br />
However, they also spend 6-10 hours outside formal schooling studying in private<br />
tutorial institutions for the entr<strong>an</strong>ce examination <strong>an</strong>d for regular schooling<br />
examinations (Bur<strong>an</strong>akarn, 2003). This additional study is becoming <strong>an</strong> educational<br />
fashion of students <strong>an</strong>d, even parents, who w<strong>an</strong>t higher marks in each examination.<br />
Unfortunately, the private tutoring which mostly emphasizes recalling technique<br />
rather th<strong>an</strong> thinking process resulted in most students learning for taking<br />
examinations. Those often ask them close-ended question or multiple choice styles<br />
rather th<strong>an</strong> open-ended questions asking them to <strong>an</strong>alyze <strong>an</strong>d critically think.<br />
The educational values of students indicate that the formal education<br />
system is being ch<strong>an</strong>ged by the private tutorial system. Some students learn biology<br />
particularly to assist them with the National Entr<strong>an</strong>ce Examination without really<br />
underst<strong>an</strong>ding the aims of biology education (p.20). Therefore, challenging students<br />
to rethink the value of biology in terms of its knowledge <strong>an</strong>d its learning process for<br />
every day living is import<strong>an</strong>t in this research study.<br />
2.5) Thai School Society<br />
Every morning students <strong>an</strong>d teachers begin their day by singing the<br />
national <strong>an</strong>them, <strong>an</strong>d clasping their h<strong>an</strong>ds <strong>an</strong>d giving th<strong>an</strong>ks to the country, to Buddha<br />
<strong>an</strong>d to the king who upholds the Buddhist faith (Orihara, Wright <strong>an</strong>d Knowlton,<br />
1988). In school students wear school uniforms, <strong>an</strong>d have a teacher advisor. They<br />
spend 20 minutes before teaching starts in meeting with their advisor. This meeting is<br />
called home room. The advisor <strong>an</strong>nounces school news <strong>an</strong>d advises them on how to<br />
be a good student. Normally the first teaching period starts at 8.30 a.m. There are 6<br />
one-hour teaching periods <strong>an</strong>d one hour for lunch. The last teaching period finishes at<br />
3.30 p.m.<br />
In the classroom, students are expected to show considerable respect for<br />
authority, especially teachers (Triolo <strong>an</strong>d Lewis, 1998). The relationship between<br />
teachers <strong>an</strong>d students is formal, <strong>an</strong>d the students rarely argue decisions made by the<br />
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