Chiang Rai News

Samsung Smart Learning Centre Opens New Worlds for Chiang Rai Students

Initiative focuses on problem-solving and study via the internet with modern tools

CHIANG RAI – Students at a Chiang Rai-based school have held weekly meetings on how to improve a main product in their hometown – ‘fermented fish’ – as a part of their study project.

Their participation in this project will not give them any extra scores on their academic result reports. But it has promised them

several other benefits. Knowledge is never limited to classrooms.

“These children will learn to work with others, to gather and study information systematically, to talk to local people, to expand their horizons, to find out more about their hometown and to acquire problem-solving skills,” said Kanjana Auksorndit, an adviser to this study project.

She is also a teacher at Thoengwittayakhom School where students have the opportunity to conduct such a study through the Samsung Smart Learning Centre initiative.

Saran Kongsin, a Mathayom 2 student, said his group was interested in fermented fish because it generates millions of baht for people in Chiang Rai’s Thoeng district each year.

Group discussions have identified topics for their study project. For example, they have addressed how many fish varieties are used, what ingredients are used in these recipes, and which methods are practical in preventing parasites.

Mathayom 3 students have served as their coach, because the more senior students have already completed one such study project. Their topic was different, though. It was about how to conserve the Ing River – considered the bloodline of local residents.

“We have gathered information on weekends. And every Friday, we have held discussions among ourselves,” Saran said.

Kanjana said students were clearly having fun with their study project partly because they also had modern IT gadgets for their project implementation.

She added that backed by the Internet and computers, they could share what they found on the world-wide web with local

villagers.

Varit Charunyanonda, senior manager-corporate marketing Thai Samsung Electronic Co, said the Samsung Smart Learning Centre supported problem-based learning.

“We have also encouraged students to communicate about what they’ve discovered and found during their study projects through digital storytelling and narrative research,” he added.

Launched last year, the Samsung Smart Learning Centre initiative offered to set up one smart classroom for each participating school.

One such classroom costs about Bt1 million. In addition, teachers at these schools have received free training from Samsung and their students will get a grant of Bt30,000 each year to work on their study projects.

Last year, more than 90 students at the Thoengwittayakhom School joined the project. This year, the number of participating students has jumped to nearly 200 – an indicator of the project’s success.

Kamonnart Chaiwong, a Mathayom 3 student, said she found the study project very useful. “It can enhance the quality of life,” she said.

The girl said this study project was also good for her personally as she had opportunities to use modern tools and hone research skills.

“I’ve also learnt about teamwork and more,” Kamonnart said.

Varit said by joining the study project, participants would learn to socialise and interact with others, no matter how shy they were.

“We have introduced a new mindset for learning. Participants have opportunities to experiment, and to learn from trial and error,” he said.

Thoengwittayakhom is one of 10 schools taking part in the Samsung Smart Learning Centre initiative since its first year.

Most of the School’s students are from poor families and many come from broken families.

“I’ve seen the better behavioural changes in students participating in the study project offered by Samsung. They have learnt to listen to others. They have become less aggressive,” Kanjana said.

Varit of Samsung said his firm had also focused on equipping children with 21st century skills.

“That’s why we have encouraged problem-based learning,” he said.

Varit added that IT was also another key.

“Samsung technologies, for example, can serve as tools to search for knowledge and create academic works,” he said, adding that users of such technologies could acquire both learning and research skills.

He said the Samsung Smart Learning Centre had created an environment suitable for learning and participatory learning process.

“Classrooms for the future must definitely integrate IT,” Varit said.

By Chularat Saengpassa

Chiang Rai News

Chiang Rai Man Kills Woman’s Infant Daughter When She Refuses His Sexual Advances

Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.

Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai

On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.

After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.

She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.

Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.

Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.

When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.

He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.

After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.

Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.

Other Chiang Rai News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Chiang Rai News

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.

On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.

His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.

According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.

They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.

The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.

The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.

In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.

They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.

Other Chiang Rai News:

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Chiang Rai News

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.

According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.

The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.

When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.

Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.

Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.

During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.

The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.