The main purpose of the research is to examine how the Internet has impacted on the schools
of library and information science in Thailand. The study focuses on how it is used and the
resultant changes in knowledge and skill of the academic staff, the teaching and learning
process and the schools' curricula. In the research framework general systems principles
were adapted to explain particular characteristics of the schools and the implementation of
innovation in organisation process was used to clarify the phenomenon of Internet
implementation in the schools' activities. The identification of the different pattern of
change was arrived at by correlation and comparison tests between Internet use, its
impact and the differential among the schools' characteristics and human factors.
Questionnaires were provided to 146 academic staff in 16 schools of library and
information science in Thailand. Sixteen heads of schools and 25 other information
professionals were interviewed and an analysis of each school's curricula was also
carried out.
The results of the study show that the library and information science schools in
Thailand are keeping up with the changes in information and communication
technology. Since 1997 some schools have changed the name of the programs to
Information Studies, Information Science or Information Management. The study
found a correlation between names of the programs, the number of courses and
credits for information technology and the inclusion of the Internet in the curricula.
As well, the visions and goals of the schools were found to be associated with
technology infrastructure and support from parent universities. The study also
found that the Internet has been integrated into the schools as an important part of
their curricula and the teaching and learning process, especially the courses in
information services, information resources and access, and information storage and
retrieval areas. Furthermore, Internet use has impacted on academic staff knowledge
and skills, their teaching methods and activities and their communication patterns
and research behaviour. However, the use and impact of the Internet shows a
correlation with the age of academic staff, their knowledge, skills and experience in
using the computer and the Internet and information technology infrastructure and
support in the schools. As a result of this research study, a new model of library and
information science education in Thailand is proposed which takes all of these
factors into account while considering its application to other countries in South East
Asia.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219178 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Manmart, Lampang, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Information Management & Tourism |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Lampang Manmart |
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