A Study on the Situations, Problems, and Needs of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education to Enhance Songwriting Skills for Children's Songs

This research aimed to explore the situations, problems, and needs of teaching in higher education with the goal of enhancing songwriting skills for children's songs. A survey research method was employed, with data collection through online questionnaires. The sample of this study consisted of 522 participants, including 19 lecturers and 503 undergraduate students majoring in Early Childhood Education and studying at universities located in the northeast of Thailand. Mean, standard deviation, percentage, and content analysis were employed to analyze the data. This study reveals that most students and educators lack a background in music. Also, teaching how to write children's songs by adapting lyrics of original songs without learning music notes is used the most. The level of problems is moderate, equally for both students and instructors. The level of needs is high, similar to that of both learners and instructors. In addition, the findings of this research provide important information to those who are involved in early childhood education programs at higher education institutions, allowing them to consider appropriate teaching strategies to meet students' and instructors' needs and to find suitable and sustainable solutions.