"TARO" partnered with the Central Library of Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) to hold a workshop for new-trend teachers from 100 schools across the country, creating innovative board games for modern learning that meet the comprehensive development needs of Gen Alpha children.
On 30 Mar 2024 GMT+7, Ms. Rungnapa Deepayungsak, Deputy Managing Director of Business Development and Marketing at Premier Marketing Public Company Limited, said that TARO, a leading healthy snack brand, is committed to creating innovative snacks.snacks.Made from genuine sea fish with nutritional value, TARO has consistently conducted activities that combine benefits and fun for children. It continues to develop various skills in children and youth alongside promoting good health. Recently, TARO collaborated with the Central Library of Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) to launch the project "Board Game: Skill-Enhancing Innovation, Fun Teaching for New-Trend Teachers." Teachers from schools nationwide showed great interest, filling the quota of 100 schools within three hours, reflecting the importance of developing modern classrooms in the form of Edutainment to create an enjoyable learning process aligned with the development of children in the digital age.The importance of developmentof modern classrooms using Edutainment to create enjoyable learning processes that align with the development of children in the digital era.
Amid rapidly advancing technology, children today may spend excessive time on gadgets, leading to scenes of kids staring at mobile phones or tablets and lacking interaction with those around them. This results in eye health problems and increasing attention deficit issues daily. Board games serve as a tool to transform difficult or boring lessons into enjoyable and easily understandable experiences, making teaching more engaging and simultaneously bridging the gap between teachers and students.
Ms. Rungnapa added that TARO has also extended its mission in environmental conservation through the activity “TARO Loves the Earth with the 3R Card Game: Pairing to Save the World with TARO.” This promotes learning about the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) using card games as an easy-to-understand, fun educational medium that encourages proper waste management behaviors. This helps reduce waste problems, creates additional value from waste, reduces global warming, and sustainably lowers pollution. The board games are developed and designed as Edutainment tools that are both entertaining and educational, stimulating children to observe, think critically, analyze, plan, and play as a team. TARO is confident this project will provide new-trend teachers with effective, enjoyable teaching tools that are not limited to basic content but also enhance Thai children's comprehensive skills, preparing them for a rapidly changing world.
Ms. Jiraporn Saengarun, Marketing Manager of Premier Marketing Public Company Limited, said that good health comes from choosing nutritious food in appropriate amounts. The key content in the developed board game "Nutrition Pathway" integrates essential nutrients for the body, linking their benefits to repair and strengthen various organs. This supports making proper nutritional food choices in suitable quantities to foster children's healthy development, reinforcing TARO's commitment to promoting good health among consumers.
Assistant Professor Dr. Woraphon Aramrassameekul, Director of the Central Library at SWU, said that the Green Library at SWU serves as a hub for numerous e-books, allowing students easy access to knowledge sources, reducing paper use and maintenance costs. The library environment is a Green Library powered by solar cells covering various areas, with zoning for multimedia including Netflix, games, karaoke rooms for relaxation, co-space zones for meetings and group work, and various board game zones. Today, the Central Library is a safe zone for students.gamesto play, karaoke rooms for relaxation, co-space areas for meetings and group work, and many types of board games. The Central Library today thus serves as a safe zone for students.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chitsanupong Intharakasem, Deputy Director of Administration and Strategy at the Central Library, SWU, said that amid rapid technological growth and the digital upbringing of Gen Alpha children, new-trend teachers must adapt their roles in developing teaching and learning by finding effective tools and aids that promote a fun and meaningful learning society (Our Edutainment Community). This helps children learn enjoyably, understand teamwork, and engage actively in class.Consistentwith the approach to developing children and youth in four areas: physical, intellectual, emotional,and social development. The Central Library of SWUserves as a high-level academic and professional institution aiming to be a learning university for society. It also prioritizes sustainable development through projects and activities focused on environmental management and energy conservation, implementing measures such as waste management by promoting waste separation behaviors among faculty, students, and staff. This aligns with TARO's mission “TARO Loves the Earth,” which has long supported environmental initiatives. Therefore, it is confidentthat the cooperation between TARO and the Central Libraryof SWU will be a creative approach to delivering positive contributions to society by fostering knowledge and understanding of health and the environment among the new generation, who are key to sustainable development.
The project "Board Game: Skill-Enhancing Innovation, Fun Teaching for New-Trend Teachers" was held at the Central Library, SWU (Prasarnmit campus), with teachers from 100 schools nationwide participating, includingTriam Udom Suksa Nomklao School,Surasakmontri School, Hua Hin Wittaya School, Sarakham Kindergarten,Saint Joseph Rayong School,and others. They joined the workshop on teaching media through board games and card games in a fun learning atmosphere, engaging in thinking and hands-on play. Participants received certificates jointly certified by TARO and the Central Library, SWU. Additionally, all schools received educational board game media to immediately implement in their classrooms.
The event also featured a special panel discussion on "Learning through Educational Board Game Innovations" to exchange ideas and experiences between the education and private sectors about using board games as learning media to develop 21st-century skills. The discussion was honored by Assistant Professor Dr. Woraphon Aramrassameekul, Director of the Central Library, SWU; Dr. Chitsanupong Intharakasem, Deputy Director of Administration and Strategy, Central Library, SWU; and included a special lecture titled "Preparing for the World of Educational Board Games" by Dr. Trai Anyapoth, a faculty member of the Curriculum and Instruction Department, Faculty of Education, Srinakharinwirot University, who shared insights on the concept of educational board games and techniques for using games as learning tools for participating teachers to apply in future teaching activities.Teaching activitieswere also supported by Ms. Rungnapa Deepayungsak, Deputy Managing Director of Business Development and Marketing, and Ms. Jiraporn Saengarun, Marketing Manager, Premier Marketing Public Company Limited, representing the private sector sponsors of this project.