Development of an IoT Smart Learning Board Innovation to Enhance IoT and Coding Skills for Sustainable Secondary Education in Thailand

Abstract

The growing demand for Internet of Things (IoT) and programming competencies in Thai secondary education necessitates accessible, hardware-based learning tools that reduce technical barriers while supporting structured skill development. This study developed and evaluated the IoT Smart Learning Board, a two-layer printed circuit board (PCB) integrating 17 electronic components — including an ESP8266 Wemos D1 mini microcontroller, HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, AHT10 temperature/humidity sensor, 0.96-inch OLED display, WS2812 NeoPixel RGB strip, and SG90 servo motor — designed around a Terminal-based Hardware Abstraction Layer architecture. Development followed a four-phase Research and Development (R&D) framework employing an iterative R&D approach with stakeholder feedback loops, producing an 18-exercise practice manual progressing from basic digital I/O to cloud-based data telemetry via Google Sheets. Evaluation involved 90 participants (17 teachers and 73 upper-secondary students, Grades 10–12) from 10 schools across southern Thailand. Knowledge was assessed using a 30-item multiple-choice instrument (KR-20 = 0.87), while satisfaction was measured using a 15-item, 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.89–0.93). Results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in mean knowledge scores from 15.76 (SD = 5.26) at pre-test to 23.50 (SD = 4.86) at post-test, representing a 25.80% gain (t(89) = 12.96, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.54). Overall participant satisfaction reached 4.77 out of 5.00 (SD = 0.42), with the highest ratings recorded for learning benefits (M = 4.81), programming skill development (M = 4.82), and project extensibility (M = 4.81). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that Terminal-based PCB architecture reduces extraneous cognitive load associated with breadboard wiring, enabling learners to focus on higher-order computational thinking and IoT system design. These findings suggest that the IoT Smart Learning Board holds promise as an accessible, affordable platform for technology education in resource-constrained secondary school contexts; however, broader applicability across Thailand and the ASEAN region warrants validation through future multi-site research with diverse school populations.