School Policy: All Teachers Have to Implement Active Learning

Active learning is obligatory for all teachers. Students’ potential can only be developed when teachers stimulate them through active learning. That is what principal of SMPN 1 Tellulimpoe Drs. Muslimin, M.Pd said.

Pak Muslimin has been trying to reach a common view with his teachers on implementing active learning for students in order to develop their life skills. He believes that participatory planning and policy making is a fundamental requirement in making rules and giving guidance for the implementation of active learning. School policy has been developed jointly as follows:

1) The school based MGMP (subject teachers’ working group) will take place and be organized by each subject coordinator. The activities at the MGMP should include curriculum analysis in the form of material and competence mapping, the development of learning media and the development of work sheets for each subject for the second semester of 2009/2010.

2) The quality of teaching and learning should be improved. To support this, contextual learning should be implemented: classrooms should be managed using a cooperative model, learning media should be developed and used, teachers’ assessment of students should be varied, measurable and credible.

3) Physical facilities and aids for learning should be sufficient.

The school will provides Rp. 98 million ($10,500) for learning aids, stationery, other media and implementing assessment.Monitoring and evaluation of the program is to be conducted by a team which works under the direction of the principal. This team is supported by a member of the DBE3 implemen-tation team, which is led by Budiman, S.Pd, a district facilitator who is charg-ed with assisting the teachers in implementing innovative learning.

“I realize the consequences of all of this. Before implementing active and contextual learning, I had prepared a budget of IDR 30 million for learning activities. Now it is IDR 98 million,”

Planting the School Grounds Enriches Learning Resources

“My aim is not just to create a comfortable, shady and cool school yard. More importantly I want this school yard to be used as a resource for learning,” said H. Ruttun Pakonglean, principal of SMPN 4 Duapitue Sidrap. In addition, H. Ruttun said that the planting activities in the school aim also to promote sustainability and conservation.

Having an interest in the environment and being inspired by active learning and contextual learning, H. Ruttun initiated the planting program in his school. Many trees and and other plants can be found in the school yard, which is now covered with grass that is mown regularly.

Pohon Beringin (banyan tree), pohon ketapang (almond tree), pohon mahoni (mahogany tree), pohon mangga (mango tree), pohon nangka (jack fruit tree) and assorted flowers are beautifully arranged. According to H. Ruttun, he had just ordered hundreds more seeds for the school planting program.

Now, teachers and students feel more comfortable at school. Active learning takes place in the classrooms and in the school yard. Teachers and students take advantages of the school yard as a learning resource. The school yard also helps the students in conducting experiments and observation.