A Development of Online Inquiry Based Learning Instructional Model for Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University’s Graduate Students 1

Introduction  Sukhothai Thammathirat (STOU) is an open university with the theory of lifelong education. Printed media are used as the major instructional media with other supplements.  Ordinarily, STOU has an electronic instruction which provides online learning for students to investigate and study themselves without classroom attendance; however, it hasn’t responded to the different contexts of students. 2

 According to the study and related research, for students to study through computer connection is Inquiry Based Learning (IBL). This method responds to the learning context of STOU which supports the students to study themselves with a variety of learning styles.  The researcher have developed the online learning by using IBL to be an alternative of distance education through computer connection in STOU’s graduate level. 3 Introduction

Purposes of the Study To develop online inquiry based learning instructional model for STOU ’s graduate students. To compare the learning achievement before and after learning by online inquiry based learning instructional model of STOU’s graduate students. To study the satisfaction of STOU’s graduate students towards the online inquiry based learning instructional model. 4

Research Procedure Step 1: Study the elementary information of online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 2: Develop online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 3: Experiment with online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 4: Improve the online inquiry based learning instructional model 5

Research Procedure Step 1: Study the elementary information of online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 2: Develop online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 3: Experiment with online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 4: Improve the online inquiry based learning instructional model 6

Step 1  Study the theory and concepts of the development of instruction, inquiry based learning, online learning and the structure of STOU’s online learning  Use the acquired information to develop a questionnaire to five experts. The form of questionnaire is a checklist relating scale  Use frequency and percentage to analyze the responses from the experts and use a content analysis to analyze the responses of open- ended questions for the information 7

Research Procedure Step 1: Study the elementary information of online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 2: Develop online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 3: Experiment with online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 4: Improve the online inquiry based learning instructional model 8

Step 2  Construct the scope of instructional model  Construct the learning procedure according to the identified scope of instructional model  The components of learning, including content, learning activities and process, learning resource, and evaluation  The five steps of online inquiry based learning from the study of the elementary information Step 1 Students’ preparation Step 2 Pre- evaluation Step 3 Online content presentation Step 4 Online activities : 1) Engagement 2) Exploration 3) Explanation 4) Elaboration 5) Evaluation Step 5 Summative evaluation 9

Step 2  Evaluate the appropriateness of online inquiry based learning instructional model by five experts. The result was described as the highest level of appropriateness  Develop online learning instructional model and check the quality of designing online instructional management system by three experts. The experts have identified the media as the high level of appropriateness  Use the instructional management system which was developed and checked the quality to the samples. It was experimented in authentic situation for checking the quality of media and content before experimenting to the samples. 10

Research Procedure Step 1: Study the elementary information of online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 2: Develop online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 3: Experiment with online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 4: Improve the online inquiry based learning instructional model 11

Step 3  The sample group in this study consisted of forty STOU’s students in five groups who registered in Nursing Research, Statistics and Nursing Informatics in the second semester of 2011 academic year by cluster random sampling.  The experiment had been done for eight weeks.  The experiment instruments consisted of two categories  Online inquiry based learning instructional model and manuals for the instructors and students  pretest and posttest of learning achievement and questionnaire of online inquiry based learning. 12

Research Procedure Step 1: Study the elementary information of online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 2: Develop online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 3: Experiment with online inquiry based learning instructional model Step 4: Improve the online inquiry based learning instructional model 13

14 Research Results Sections 1: The results of the development of online inquiry based learning instructional model for Stou’s graduate students 1. The components of the online inquiry based learning instructional model for Stou’s graduate students were content, activities and learning process, learning resource, and evaluation. 2. The procedure of the online inquiry based learning instructional model for Stou’s graduate students consisted of 5 steps. Step 1 Students’ preparation Step 2 Pre- evaluation Step 3 Online content presentation Step 4 Online activities : 1) Engagement 2) Exploration 3) Explanation 4) Elaboration 5) Evaluation Step 5 Summative evaluation

Assistance bases Assistance bases Instructor’s / expert’s suggestion Stimulate students to observe / set the question Search, Links, Chat, Web board Learning tools Group assistance Close-by / interesting question Condition /question after case study Presenting case study on network Explanation of the reasonable solution to the group for decision making Self-constructed knowledge Step 1 Students’ preparation Step 2 Pre- evaluation Step 4 Online activities  Engagement  Exploration  Explanation  Elaboration  Evaluation Step 3 Online content presentation Learning procedure on the network Learning procedure on the network Team-based problem solving cooperative learning / analysis Open-ended question based on team-based decision making Exchange, cooperation, and brainstorm with the tools on the network Cooperation / Analysis Cooperation / Analysis Evaluation Peer group / instructor evaluation Group evaluation Content Activities and Learning Process Evaluation Learning Resource Step 5 Summative Evaluation

16 Section 2: The comparison of learning achievement of Stou’s graduate students before and after learning EvaluationnS.D.tp Before After *p <.05

17 Section 3: The satisfaction analysis of Stou’s graduate students towards the online inquiry based learning instructional model Topics of EvaluationS.D.Meaning 1. Content design High Satisfaction 2. Learning design High Satisfaction 3. Materials and media High Satisfaction 4. Usage High Satisfaction Mean High Satisfaction

18 Discussion 1. The online inquiry based learning instructional model consisted of four components. Each component consisted of details, a guideline, and expected result after learning. All components and learning procedure were already evaluated by the experts. The experts certified that the online inquiry based learning instructional model is credible and effective to use in Stou’s graduate level.

19 Discussion 2. The test result of different mean of learning achievement between before and after the experiment by t-test Dependent was found that the graduate student’s posttest score were significantly higher than pretest score at.05 significant level, as a result of following the procedure of online inquiry based learning which was from the analysis and synthesis of textbooks and related research and from the experts’ opinions. This procedure will encourage students to discover what they have learn themselves and provide authentic context of learning. The instructors need to prepare learning context, study the instructional structure, content sequences, and the activities that facilitate students to study the lessons and further their knowledge.

20 Discussion 3. The students have a high level of satisfaction of online inquiry based learning instructional model, as a result of a freedom of learning with unlimited information. In addition, modern students are happy to study with an instruction with new technology. They are completely ready to accept the technology of this learning model, study themselves, be enthusiastic and responsible, and be eager to express their opinions and learn new knowledge and information. The students also have a better listening skill compared with using the traditional media.

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