At Starfish Education, Dr. Nanthaporn Janchalia Seributra or Dr. Prae is on a mission to revolutionise education, where inclusivity is at the heart of learning.
Education in Thailand faces challenges that affect its development and accessibility for all children. Despite significant investments, disparities still exist, particularly in rural areas where resources and qualified teachers are limited. As a result, many children may not receive the quality education they need, leading to gaps in their knowledge and skills.
Inspired by Loren Eisley’s short story The Star Thrower, it reminds us that great changes often start with small actions close to home, and everyone can begin this journey on their own. With this vision, Starfish Education emerges as a beacon of hope for transforming the educational landscape.
Igniting Stars: Education for All
“My inspiration for starting Starfish Education programmes came from wanting to address the educational inequalities I saw, particularly in marginalised communities.”
Dr. Prae founded Starfish Education’s solutions to create meaningful change. She aimed to create a system that addresses educational gaps and prepares learners for the future by fostering skills like creativity, critical thinking and collaboration, helping them navigate and succeed in an increasingly complex and dynamic world.
“The vision is to use innovation and technology to make learning more accessible and effective, helping learners, educators and parents develop the skills they need to succeed in a changing world.”
Innovative Learning for All Learners
“The Starfish ecosystem is designed to provide holistic support across multiple dimensions of learning.”
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
The journey begins with Starfish Academy, where Dr. Prae and the team focuses on teachers by offering a professional development platform to help them integrate new teaching practices that fit in with today’s society like Project-Based Learning and the STEAM Design Process. Given that education is not easily accessible to all children, training teachers is key to spreading information effectively.
“A teacher from our class implemented the STEAM Design Process in her classroom, and it turned out that students who were previously disengaged became enthusiastic about learning.”
Starfish Academy has become a successful space for teachers to explore their teaching practices. Their students engage in hands-on projects that allow them to explore their interests and connect with real-world issues. As a result, many teachers discover their students’ hidden skills and passions. This has led to more meaningful and joyful learning experiences, as teachers witness a shift in student engagement, with learners becoming more confident, creative and curious.
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
The next key platform, Starfish Labz, is an online resource designed for anyone eager to learn—whether it’s teachers seeking better teaching tools, parents wanting to learn how to care for their young ones, or children delving into their favourite subjects. This digital learning and community hub supports educators, parents, students and lifelong learners by offering free and accessible resources that promote growth and skill development at every stage of life.
Starfish Class, meanwhile, is dedicated to transforming classrooms into engaging spaces that promote hands-on, student-centred learning. Starfish School serves as a pilot site for innovations, allowing for the learning, refinement and scaling of successful practices to other schools.
“Our initiatives have had a profound impact, reaching over 7.3 million beneficiaries.”
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
With Dr. Prae’s motivation in creating an interactive learning environment, the number of people who are interested is increasing. Teachers trust in them as their teaching methods find success, fostering a more active and engaged reaction from students whether they are teaching in urban schools or in schools along the borders. The outcomes have also been well-received by parents, with students developing essential future skills like problem-solving, collaboration and creativity. This approach has empowered communities by creating a more relevant and dynamic educational experience.
Overcoming the Challenges
“We encountered significant challenges in establishing Starfish Education, with factors like technological disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic adding to the difficulties.”
Like the rest of the world, COVID-19 and the pandemic affected Thai society. The educational environment needed to rapidly adapt to meet the evolving needs of students and educators. To address these challenges, the organisation relied on resilience and flexibility, emphasising the importance of staying connected to the communities it serves. Building partnerships with similar organisations helped enhance its impact. Starting with small projects and gradually expanding as trust grew allowed the organisation to build credibility and strengthen community relationships.
“Adaptability is central to our mission.”
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
The ongoing process of collecting feedback from teachers, students and parents ensures that educational offerings remain relevant and effective. For example, Starfish Labz is designed to be flexible, allowing for the introduction of new content and tools based on the latest educational research and global trends. This adaptability enables the programme to evolve alongside changes in the educational landscape.
Bridging Knowledge and Real-World Skills
“We support an interdisciplinary approach that allows learners to connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications.”
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
The organisation promotes an interdisciplinary approach to education that helps learners connect theoretical knowledge with practical applications. By incorporating hands-on agricultural practices, students learn about sustainability and food security while also exploring how these skills can be applied in entrepreneurial ways. The programmes are further enhanced by innovative design and cultural exploration, promoting a sense of identity and creativity among learners. This approach addresses real-world challenges and helps students develop important skills like leadership, empathy and critical thinking.
The Starfish Learning Hub seeks to gain a thorough understanding of educational effectiveness and ensure that learners are developing valuable skills. Success is evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative data, including traditional assessments, student engagement, teacher feedback and the real-world application of skills.
More Than Just A Classroom
“We are driving positive change in education through advocacy and collaboration.”
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
Starfish Education collaborates with policymakers, educational leaders and international organisations to advocate for reforms that prioritise learner-centred and technology-enhanced educational models. By showcasing the success of their initiatives, Starfish Education aims to demonstrate that innovation can lead to meaningful improvements in education. Starfish Labz is crucial in this effort, as it provides scalable and accessible resources that can be tailored to different educational contexts.
“Don’t hesitate to challenge traditional methods if they aren’t effective, and always prioritise the learners and the skills they will need for the future.”
Photo courtesy of Starfish Education
Inclusivity is central to the learning process, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. Dr. Prae started by thoroughly understanding the community’s needs, as successful programmes are developed in collaboration with those who will benefit from them. The concept of sustainability is also stressed; these programmes should be designed to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring they remain relevant over time. Lastly, encourage a culture of collaboration and innovation within your team. By working together and remaining dedicated to the vision, meaningful change can be achieved, benefiting all learners and promoting an inclusive educational environment.
