The Development of a Training Program Based on Blended Learning for Enhancing OTOP Community Tourism Innovation Leader’s Competency on Using Information and Communication Technology

Abstract

The objectives of the research were 1) to develop training program based on blended learning for enhancing OTOP community tourism innovation leader’s competency on using ICT, 2) to study the efficiency of the developed training program, 3) to compare the potential of the community leaders under study by using ICT during and after the training, and 4) to investigate satisfaction of those participating in the training course. The samples used in the research were a total of 220 persons, that is, 10 leaders and members from 22 OTOP tourism communities. They were specifically randomized by purposive sampling. The research instruments used in the research were 1) a questionnaire on necessary potential and required training on ICT of the OTOP tourism community leaders, 2) an evaluation form on the training program, 3) a training program based on blended learning for enhancing OTOP community tourism innovation leader’s competency on using ICT, and 4) a questionnaire on the satisfaction of the participants in the program. Statistics used in the research were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, efficiency index and T-test. The research findings were as follows. 1) The quality of the developed training program was overall at a high level ( = 4.35, S.D. = 0.46). 2) The effectiveness index of the developed training program was at 0.6948. 3) The potential of OTOP community tourism innovation leaders after the training were higher than before with a statistical significance at .05. 4) The participants in the training program had a satisfaction in the training course at a high level (= 4.06, S.D. = 0.80).