This study focused on teachers’ perception for integrating educational robots into learning and the feedback of teachers and students who used an education robot prototype as a part of learning. Data were collected from 510 primary school teachers who were used in a confirmatory analysis of factor model. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated a good fit with a six-factor model in the observed data, which could be presented through six dimensions of robotic education quality, including social interaction, cognitive function, teaching method, learner characteristics, main features, and content. The prototype-testing phase was carried out using 5th grade students at a primary school in Thailand. The robot was tested for 10 hours, which included 20 students participating in the focus group. The research results showed that integrating the six dimensions of robotic education into the educational robot prototype resulted in a strong positive improvement in the focus groups learners’ behavior and supported the instructors during the learning process. In contrast, some teachers lacked experience and confidence with robots integrated with LMS, which caused challenging obstacles in teaching. The results were achieved when integrating the six-factor model into education robots to improve student learning. Future researchers should expand their studies to look into the opportunities and challenges that teachers and school administrators face in the classroom. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-SP1-09 Full Text: PDF

The objectives of this research are to find the proper measures to improve efficiency of Thai-Lao cross border transportation (R9 route) for Thai shippers and study their performance after implementing the developed measures. This research implements both quantitative and qualitative research, where the population of this research consists of shipper’s groups which transport products via the Thai Lao border located along R9 route. The research tools are questionnaire and structured interview form passed variability and reliability tests. Then the questionnaires are distributed to 3 large size firms (sample size of 316 people) and an in-depth interview with 18 people. This research analyzes gathered data using descriptive analysis, construct validity, structural equation modeling (SEM), path analysis, and content analysis for qualitative data. The analysis results reveal important findings according to each research objective as follows. For the first objective, to improve cross-border transportation, the case study firms should concentrate on three measures as: 1) transportation safety in terms of sound safety control and monitor, increasing rest areas and truck stops including those on pavement or roadside, safety monitoring during transportation, and weather conditions checking; 2) documentation procedure in terms of reducing the procedure steps, IT implementation, and procedure improvement both inbound and outbound; and 3) vehicles management in terms of appropriate resources allocation, facilities availability, and appropriate resources selection. For the second objective, the study of the case study firms’ performance after implementing the developed measures, it reveals benefits in several aspects of 1) cheaper (they can deliver items with lower costs, lower expenses, or lower price than before implementation as well as other competitors); 2) faster (better customers responsiveness, faster delivery and operating than other competitors, and lead time reduction), and 3) better (in operations with less bottlenecks, mistakes, and disruptions manifested in delivery; higher competitiveness and better service quality). To summarize, the implementation of the developed model can help the shippers to increase their capability as well as their competitiveness.

The performance plays a key role in the long-term survival of the organizations. If the performance of the organization increases, then the organization may lead in the global perspective. There are various factors that could lead to the performance. Among those, the supply chain management practices (SCMP) play an important role to increase the performance. The SCMP factors may also enhance the competitive advantage of the organizations. Furthermore, the manager support may provide insight to manage the SCM activities which could aid enhance firm performance (FP). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the SCMP and FP with the moderating and mediating effect in the chemical industry of Thailand. The data was collected from the supply chain managers by using a simple random technique. The SEM direct effect shows that SCMA had a significant and positive connection with firm performance FP. In addition, SCMP does not seem to have any significant relationship with the competitive advantage. While competitive advantage has a positive and significant effect on FP. On the other hand, the indirect effect shows that SCMP and FP relationship were partially mediated from the competitive advantage. Moreover, the manager's support did not significantly moderate the SCMP and FP relationship. The current study added literature in the extant literature in the form of empirical findings which could help the researchers explore their studies in future. The study may also provide help to owners as well as to shareholders to know about the importance of the SCMP, competitive advantage and managers' support to increase their FP.