Curriculum Development for Enhancing Motivation among Novice Monks: A Case Study of Triambhuddhasad School, Khao Kaew Sadet Educational Center, Prachinburi Province

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) develop a motivation-building curriculum for novice monks; 2) study the participants’ satisfaction with the curriculum and training; and 3) study the participants’ attitudes toward the DCI Center for Buddhist Studies. The study employed a Mixed Methods Research design. The research instruments included training satisfaction questionnaires and attitude interview forms. The researcher collaborated with three expert monastic teachers to develop the curriculum under the project titled “Meet the Seniors – DCI Activity.” The program consisted of three training modules conducted four weeks apart. The curriculum was implemented with the research population, comprising all 93 novice monks studying in Matthayom 2–3 (Grades 8–9) and Matthayom 4–6 (Grades 10–12). After each training module, participants completed a satisfaction questionnaire. Upon completion of all three modules, the researcher conducted Focus Group Discussions using the attitude interview forms to collect in-depth qualitative data.
The results revealed that: 1. The developed curriculum consisted of three modules: (i) Self-Understanding Module, featuring three topics—MBTI Personality Decoding, Cultivating a Growth Mindset, and DCI for Future Building—along with the “Evolution Game” outdoor activity; (ii) Teamwork Module, featuring two topics—Teamwork and Principles of Project Proposal Writing—along with the “Ball-into-Basket Game”; and (iii) Mind-Body Empowerment Module, consisting of four recreational outdoor activities: Spoon Relay Race, Magical Crystal Game, Water Balloon Challenge, and Endurance Eating Game. The training applied the 5E Instructional Model, consisting of five steps: Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, and Evaluation. The instructional materials included five sets of presentation slides and six sets of activity equipment. 2. The participants’ satisfaction with all three training modules was at the highest level, with average scores of 4.67, 4.63, and 4.50, respectively. 3. Regarding attitudes toward the DCI Center for Buddhist Studies, all 93 novice monks (100%) expressed positive attitudes, exceeding the research hypothesis.
It can be concluded that the motivation-building curriculum for novice monks is effective and has strong potential for further expansion to other Buddhist monastic schools.