Curriculum Development for Competency-Based Training of Scout Leaders in Thailand: A Design and Development Research Study

Abstract

Scout leader training in Thailand has remained essentially unchanged since the 1960s and continues to fall short of the essential basic leadership competencies required for the 21st Century. In response to this pressing issue, we designed, developed, and evaluated a competency-based curriculum in Basic Scout Programs for Thai teacher leaders based on a Design and Development Research (DDR) framework consisting of iterative phases of analysis, design, development, and evaluation. In Phase I (Analysis), we conducted a large-scale curriculum needs assessment (n = 476) with primary school teachers. Using the Modified Priority Needs Index (PNImodified) to analyze the data, we identified and prioritized the gaps in knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics. In Phase II (Design and Development), experts constructed, validated, and piloted the curriculum with 83 teachers and student teachers, analyzing data using inter-rater reliability, means (M), standard deviations (SDs), PNImodified, and t-tests. The five-step training model that emerged consisted of (1) learning to coach, (2) learning to be happy, (3) learning to act, (4) learning new knowledge, and (5) learning to apply new knowledge. Post-training leadership knowledge was significantly and considerably improved (p < 0.01). At the same time, performance rates for skills and personal characteristics exceeded the 80% cut-off, indicating the model's efficacy and relevance for modernizing scout leadership in Thailand.