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Between October and November 2008 DBE3 Aceh Utara conducted visits to two schools -- SMPN 2 Lhoksukon and SMPN 4 Lhoksukon -- to see how far the teachers could implement the skills they obtained from the workshops and trainings. The visits to SMPN 2 were conducted on October 18 and November 1, while the visits to SMPN 4 were on October 30 and November 6.
There are some points that need to be addressed from these visits. One of them is the fact that teachers are not used to being observed. To this fact, Ibu Nurjannah, a teacher of SMPN 4 said, “I felt nervous when teaching in classroom. This is the first time for me to be observed. No school supervisor or principal ever came to my classroom to see my performance. I realized that I made some mistakes (when being observed – Ed). I do hope that I will get feedback to improve my skills.”
Likewise, Bpk Dangmiftahul, a Science teacher at SMPN 2 who was also observed by DBE3 team said, “I feel like making many mistakes in
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the classroom (when being observed – Ed).” The fact that teachers are not used to being observed affects their performances in the classrooms. Years of experience do not necessarily make them comfortable when being observed. The other things that need to be paid attention to are teachers’ method which tends to be lecturing and the classroom management.
Teachers tend to arrange students in big groups, which is not very effective knowing that only a limited number of students are actively working, while the rest of them usually become passive listeners.
During the post-observation discussion DBE3 team emphasized how to conduct better teaching and more effective classroom management so that students can have more intensive discussion with each other.
The post-observation discussion really paid off. On the second visits to both schools, the team found that not only had the teachers
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improved their performance, but they had succeeded in making students more enthusiastic and interested in the subjects being taught.
Bpk. Dangmiftahul said that he performed better in the classroom after getting feedback from DBE3 team. Furthermore, he also said that he felt more confident with the method he was using.
Concurring Bpk. Dangmiftahul, Ibu Nurjannah also said that she received positive feedback and she felt that her teaching was improving.
“I can teach my students better. I can feel it. My students also get interested more in the subject I teach. But I still have to improve myself,” said Ibu Nurjannah.
The activities done by DBE3 in both SMPN 2 and 4 of Lhoksukon are parts of their efforts in improving the quality of teaching and learning in Aceh Utara. The DBE3 Aceh Utara team will continue to assist Ibu Nurjannah, Bpk. Danmiftahul and other teachers to improve their quality.
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