DOI: 10.7763/IPEDR. 2013. V60. 11

A Development of Learning Innovation “Debris Flow Monitoring” with Problem Based Learning Approach: A Case Study at the

Amphur Khao Phanom, Thailand

Ratchasak Suvannatsiri1+ and Kitidech Santichaianant2 1Learning Innovation in Technology Program 2 Department of Civil Technology Education

1, 2 Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

Abstract. The debris flow is a type of the violent natural disaster in Thailand which is increasing and also migrating to the risk areas continuously. It can make damages for life and property. Early warning system to detect the debris flow is necessary to reduce the damages. Presently, most of students studying in Geotechnical Engineering lack of knowledge in this area, since the situation of the disaster may be too complex and need to involve with several monitoring data. Consequently, a development of learning innovation “Debris Flow Monitoring” has been created to help students to understand in both theory and monitoring technique. This article presents a development of learning innovation “Debris Flow Monitoring” with problembased learning approach: a case study at the KhaoPhanomBenja Mountain, Amphur KhaoPhanom, Krabi on 29 March 2011. A mountain model with miniature monitoring instruments were set up for students to practice in monitoring trial where they themselves are able to set up alarm scenario for early warning system under the problembased learning approach.

Keywords: Debris Flow, Disaster, Geotechnical Engineering, Monitoring Instrument, Problem Based Learning.

1. Introduction Many years ago in Thailand, the landslide is a violent natural disaster which damaged living things and

properties rapidly.It is still violent continuously nowadays.The changing of climate makes a storm.The changing of land using such as the land of forest was changed to agricultural.The increasing population and migration to the land continuously is the cause of landslide events making economic and social condition stop abruptly, and also since the budgets taken to help disaster victims and restoration of the area affectedwhere limited[1-2].Seriouslandslides in Thailand had taken place since 1970 to 2006,total about 534 died[3] andsince 2007 to 2011 total about 64 died[4].There were 51 risky provinces of landslide in Thailand [5] werealmost landslide cases were in type of flowing of soil, sand,stones and trees or debris flow urged by rainfall more than 100 mm/dayand still cumulativein 2-3 days.Although the geology of the area was the rock formation but was easily decayed.The soil was coarse-fine texture soils. The landscape was taken place at the steep hills, plateaus, valleys and cliffs [6].The 11th(2012–2016) National Economic and Social Development Plan of Thailand aims to prepare to prevent the natural disaster.Developing of training and learning innovation is concentrated for educational organization, especially major in science and engineering by integrating learning and real life working together.Modern learning styles and instruction media are used for learners to learn, think and be able to adapt in daily life[7].From the data of many countries, landslides can be predicted if they are seriously studied, therefore,problems and victims will be decreased [8].The concept for present work was developed for the undergraduate students who are the most important leader group of developing country to prevent the landslides problem.There are 38 universities in Thailand, where teachbachelor of geotechnical engineering and are being the members of Engineering Institute of Thailandin the fields of civil, mining,irrigation,water resources andgeological engineering,and civil technology education [9]. Presently, most of students studying in geotechnical engineering lack of knowledge in this + Corresponding author. Tel.: + 662-470-8508; fax: + 662-427-8886. E-mail address: 53501820@st.kmutt.ac.th.

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area, since the situation of the disaster may be too complex and need toinvolve with several monitoring data.Due to the difficulty to go to the disaster site, students havestill been taught in a lecturebased teaching.Therefore, a new teaching style should be developed to be different from the past.The student could be encouraged to study in both experiential and lifelong learning [10-11].Problem Based Learning (PBL) is one of the interesting learning styles of Constructivist Learning Theorythat might solve several problems as mentioned above.PBL is one of learning innovation to encourage the learners to think systematically and to learnactively.Authors had selected PBL to use in a development of learning in bachelor of geotechnical engineering.The very important step of PBL is to showactual situation presenting and actuating the learners to have self-directed learning[12-15]since it is too complex and difficult to understand.Therefore, authors have created visual situation from a case study of actual situation.Visual situation was created for learners to study by themselves through several scenarios.This research is concentrated to the visual situation;the debris flow monitoring which is a part of the instructional packageunder the PBL.The objectives of this research were:1)to create and test the efficiency of an instructional package “Debris Flow Monitoring” for teaching by PBL,2)to compare learningachievement of learners between pre-test and post-test,3)to evaluate the satisfaction of learners who learned by PBL and4)to evaluatethe behaviors and skills of the learners by the facilitators.

2. Methodology Authors conducted a study pattern of the PBLon the principles conceptualized by Lynda Wee

[15].Authorsapplied the pattern of PBL as mentioned above by creating5 learning steps of PBL activities including:1)sample group orientation and pre-test (3 in-class hours), 2)visual situation for debris flow monitoring from a case study of actual situation(3 in-class hours), 3) PBL process by using FILA template(F = Facts, I = Ideas, L = Learning Issues, A = Action Plans)(3 in-class hours), 4)searching for information and sharing ideas (a week outside class) and 5)result presentation, discussion, post-test and evaluation (3 in-class hours).

Instructional package of PBL was consisted of: 1)the observation template for virtual situation (see Appendix), 2) PBL sheet by using FILA template, 3) pre-test and post-test formsof multiple 4 choices (20 questions), 4) questionnaire of satisfaction and 5)authentic evaluation forms of PBL.

Sample group was the4th year undergraduate students in Bachelor degree of Science in Industrial Education (major in civil engineering),Department of Civil Technology Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. The 8 students of simple random sampling were divided into 2 groups and did pre-test and post-test (one group pre-test and post-test design). This experiment was a preliminary exercise. The result may will be developed and improved before using in universities or used in the future to educate people at the disaster areas.

2.1 Sample group orientation and pre-test Sample group orientation was taken placed for understanding knowledge about the processof

PBL.Learners tried on doing a sample of PBL activities and did the pre-test in the classroom.

2.2 Visual Situation for Debris Flow Monitoring from a Case Study of Actual Situation 2.2.1. Actual Situation for Debris Flow Monitoring

A case study at the KhaoPhanomBenja Mountain, AmphurKhaoPhanom, Krabi on 29 March 2011 was used as a prototype of disaster where raining had been continuously taken place for 5 days.The accumulate precipitation of over 1200 mm.wasunofficially reported by the cup‐type rain gauge in which recorded by the villagers. Therefore, soil,sand, stone and trees on the top of the mountains were moved fromthe elevation of the mean sea level of1402 m. to the village.There were 12 victims dead [5, 16].This area had no early warning system at the time.Consequently, a year later, a pilot debris flow warning system was selected to be used in this area.Debris flow detection sensor model code MC-0692/1 of Oyo Corporation [17] was installed at KhaoPhanomBenjaby Geotechnical Engineering Research and Development Center (GERD), Kasetsart University, on 19 August 2012. Debris flow sensor would warn and sent early warning to the village chief.Since it was expensive and expended from abroad, so the GERD was able to install only a unit at the site (Figure 1).

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53

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