74
4.4.1.1 Thailand Unit 2009
In 2009, group work was conducted based on the project fi nding approach, which
involved intensive discussions on topic fi nding and consensus building under strict
time limits. Because of this approach, more than one student commented afterward
that consensus building at the initial phase was one of the most diffi cult and timeconsuming parts, since each person had different ideas and would not easily be persuaded to change them. There were also language barriers, and students encountered
different attitudes, dependent on culture and communication style. One student also
said that she understood that with limited resources the real situation and problems so
complex that it becomes diffi cult to prioritize the problems. From the presented
results, however, it was pointed out that the given group work tasks were suffi ciently
met and solutions for the addressed problems were clearly proposed. Thus, consensus
was made, language barriers were not fatal, and prioritization of the problems was
achieved. Furthermore, it was revealed that fi eld visits with support of comprehensive
lectures were very good materials, in combination with the project fi nding approach,
to learn practical issues and to do training on problem solving in the context of a team.
These results were presented in the 7th SEAWE. It was incorporated at the end
of the fi eld program schedule, which was the cause of strict time limits for the students to complete their projects. The presentations were successfully done through
Fig. 4.6 Scenes of fi eld activities and group work in 2011. ( a ) Water sampling of Chao Phraya
River. ( b ) Brainstorming session. ( c ) Agricultural fi eld visit. ( d ) Water quality measurement of
Chao Phraya River
T. Hoshiko and T. Akiyama
4.4.1.1 Thailand Unit 2009
In 2009, group work was conducted based on the project fi nding approach, which
involved intensive discussions on topic fi nding and consensus building under strict
time limits. Because of this approach, more than one student commented afterward
that consensus building at the initial phase was one of the most diffi cult and timeconsuming parts, since each person had different ideas and would not easily be persuaded to change them. There were also language barriers, and students encountered
different attitudes, dependent on culture and communication style. One student also
said that she understood that with limited resources the real situation and problems so
complex that it becomes diffi cult to prioritize the problems. From the presented
results, however, it was pointed out that the given group work tasks were suffi ciently
met and solutions for the addressed problems were clearly proposed. Thus, consensus
was made, language barriers were not fatal, and prioritization of the problems was
achieved. Furthermore, it was revealed that fi eld visits with support of comprehensive
lectures were very good materials, in combination with the project fi nding approach,
to learn practical issues and to do training on problem solving in the context of a team.
These results were presented in the 7th SEAWE. It was incorporated at the end
of the fi eld program schedule, which was the cause of strict time limits for the students to complete their projects. The presentations were successfully done through
Fig. 4.6 Scenes of fi eld activities and group work in 2011. ( a ) Water sampling of Chao Phraya
River. ( b ) Brainstorming session. ( c ) Agricultural fi eld visit. ( d ) Water quality measurement of
Chao Phraya River
T. Hoshiko and T. Akiyama