Let's use social media for dialogue on education

Even though I missed a chance to vote in the 2013 gubernatorial election, I have not failed to notice the power of social media in the run-up to the vote day.

I also would like to point that all the comments Bangkok people had posted could be compiled and investigated. 

In fact, I had already traced the view of voters via online social behaviour and social computing movement. Briefly, social computing concerns the use of social software that enables people to communicate, connect and form a group online. Such computer systems may reinforce human behaviours and communities.

Indeed, we shall monitor the online pattern of social interaction through the use of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), in particular social media software like Facebook, Twitter or Blogs. It is also called Social Network Analysis (SNA).

To analyse social data, we can model the relationship of people by drawing a Social Graph, which is the global mapping of everybody on social networks and then see how they are related and bonded. The result can be great evidence of users’ perspectives and social demands that are actually valuable for the government to listen to.

Bangkok voters launched many creative campaigns and expressed lots of good intentions through social-networking websites last month. It would be great if the same thing happened to our education system, too!

Political opinions aside, I have found social networks provoke a great deal of worthwhile arguments and dialogue. Interestingly, it can be the case for other social issues, especially for educational development and policy!

Bangkok people made their voices heard to the people who aspired to be the next governor via social media. Their demands, including the call for bicycle lanes, inspired the candidates’ policies. If that can happen in the political arena, it can happen elsewhere too. So, why don’t we push for educational issues in the same way?

Let’s start discussing educational concerns and problems, and more stuff about education online now. If we actively exchange our ideas and share our comments, we could be the driving force behind progressive 

dialogue for a better Thai education system. By collaboratively exchanging ideas, we could indirectly push the government to get serious on education for the sake of Thailand’s future.

Let’s provoke a reformist channel for education via social media now! I believe that if we horizontally form a systematic dialogue about education, we all will be able to start a dialogue on anything concerning education; including the school system, teacher education, curriculum, government policy, textbook quality, pedagogical process, educational challenges, trends, world-class standards and so on.

Let’s discuss the progress and failure of our education; execution of education plans; the organisational structure at the Education Ministry; curriculum, standards and learning materials; principals and school performance; the teacher profession and teacher education; assessments and formative evaluation, etc.

If we start dialogue, reflect and share perspectives via social media, we in the end may be able to see the relationships between relevant factors and understand the problems more clearly. That way, we will have information and even evidence to present to government agencies concerned.

Let’s imagine we start posting the wishes for a better education and raise some issues today. The results would reflect an alert society keen to tackle education problems.

Undeniably, this is comparable to a research process in gathering consensus data for a better policy of our country! Please say aloud what kind of better education you desire and how government policy should be improved and changed. I dream to have such a dialogue nationwide with whomever whoever has not given up good intentions for our nation!

Later, the education dialogue may take place anywhere anytime and circulate nationwide. Education is a topic for everyone and we all should get involved and pay attention to government policies. Through this dialogue, we will not only educate our government, but also our nation!

Let’s motivate people to have an education dialogue, sharing a fabulous idea to push the government in regard to our educational direction. I do believe that all your voices have the power to change our nation! 

Don’t keep silent to education policy.

There are great showcases happening at schools every day. We should collect those perspectives and spread the news. Start now! You can help spread the word and stimulate people to continue conversations about what works for our education.

Dialogue outcomes may instigate government to revamp a better curriculum for kids. By bringing these voices together, we may create a forum and powerful thinkers that shape the ongoing debate about teaching and leaning or a whole system.

The more we collect the echoes and increase the education dialogue countrywide, the more we empower ourselves to have voices for a better education.

If we do not invest in education, there is no future for the nation.