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Using open education and information and communications technology to promote functional literacy and mother tongue language use among ethnic girls and women in Northern Thailand
Resource type
Journal Article
Author/contributor
- Intaratat, Kamolrat (Author)
Title
Using open education and information and communications technology to promote functional literacy and mother tongue language use among ethnic girls and women in Northern Thailand
Abstract
This study is a participatory action research for development using a qualitative approach comprising a documentary study, interview, focus group discussion, observation, and participatory activity (i.e., training and workshop). The main findings of this research are as follows. Socio-economically, the ethnic girls and women are generally mountainous farmers with an average marriage age of 15-20 years. The majority obtain primary education while some, with permission from their families, may obtain high school education from nearby nonformal education providers in their community. Most of them express interest in gaining functional literacy as a way to improve their living conditions, whereas in terms of language literacy, Thai language is considered most indemand, followed by English and Chinese languages. Their Information Communications Technology literacy is generally represented by smartphone use for social media. In the context of functional literacy, gender disparity is still present, but this could be mitigated if the girls and women have better access to functional literacy in Thai language, as well as better income-earning and farm contribution opportunities. Among the prioritised demands are smart farming, nutrition, and Thai language, respectively. Concerning mother tongue language use via open education and Information Communications Technology, the study found that mother tongue languages are used to pass down local wisdom, heritage, and crafts. Additionally, open education and Information Communications Technology are used to fulfil demands in the aspects of gender sensitisation, self-identity, mother tongue, and creative economy. Meanwhile, functional literacy can be better accessed through online channels, especially for commerce. Thus, open education and Information Communications Technology can be used as tools to integrate ethnic local wisdom, creativity, mother tongue use, and resource management for the betterment of ethnic people.
Publication
ASEAN Journal of Open and Distance Learning (AJODL)
Volume
13
Issue
2
Pages
97-106
Date
2021
Language
en
Library Catalogue
Zotero
Citation
Intaratat, K. (2021). Using open education and information and communications technology to promote functional literacy and mother tongue language use among ethnic girls and women in Northern Thailand. ASEAN Journal of Open and Distance Learning (AJODL), 13(2), 97–106. https://ajodl.oum.edu.my/
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