Starfish Maker Partnership Event

Starfish Education Foundation and Starfish Innovation Company Ltd held the Starfish Maker Partnership event with Mr. Kitthanet Phanpanuchat of the Chiang Mai Provincial Education Department presiding over the opening ceremony on Friday, 23 August 2019 at the Imperial Ballroom of the Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The event had presentations by seven pilot schools in Chiang Mai province that joined the Starfish Maker program last year. They introduced their Makerspace and STEAM Design Process activities applied in the context of their schools, and the resulting improvement of their students.

It aimed to create a community network for learning and professional development for educators. It was also an opportunity for educators to adopt the STEAM Design Process at their schools, to meet each other, and to present and exchange experiences with each other.

Dr. Nanthaporn J. Seributra, CEO of Starfish Education Foundation and Starfish Innovation Company Ltd, shared that from project's start in 2017 onwards the foundation has opened demonstration sites in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Samut Sakhon provinces. This has assisted students from nearby schools and educators interested in traveling to study, with over 18,000 students and 6,000 educators coming in to learn since then. Teachers who have used it see that the STEAM Design Process can be used to develop 21st century skills for students.

In August 2018, the foundation finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with schools in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and nearby provinces. 61 schools signed the MOU to collaborate in professional development and create access to formal education for learners.

Dr. Seributra also discussed the future with MOU schools or other institutions that are interested in innovative solutions. We will promote online coaching through the online platform Starfish Labz, which can be used by schools and educational institutions throughout Thailand, and can be accessed anytime. They also can apply knowledge of Makerspace to organize activities according to the context of each school. This will help to promote the creation of a learning community network (PLC) for educators to prepare Thai children for future.