The SMILE Project: Applying the Community of Inquiry Framework in Online Collaboration Classes to Enhance Thai Students’ Communicative Competence

บทคัดย่อ

This study examined the impact of the SMILE project on the communicative abilities and intercultural awareness of junior high school students in Southern Thailand through virtual collaborative learning. Specifically, it investigated how online activities, such as group presentations and language exchanges, support real-world communication, cultural exposure, and the use of English as a medium of interaction. The study involved two cohorts of Thai participants who participated in the SMILE project over two consecutive years. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with data analyzed using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework to examine the roles of Social Presence, Cognitive Presence, and Teaching Presence in fostering an inclusive digital learning environment. Findings showed that the collaborative virtual setup enhanced students’ communicative competence, comfort with English, and cultural understanding. It also helped students express genuine emotions and improved related skills that support early communication development. Results further indicated that when social, cognitive, and teaching components are consistently integrated, educators can strengthen learner engagement and create more supportive learning communities. Overall, the study concludes that well-designed online collaborative learning environments offer meaningful learning experiences and promote global perspectives among young learners.