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News from the Provinces
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Page 16
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Learning about Biotechnology for My Future
By Angga Subastian, Grade 9 student at MTsN Tlasih Kabupaten Sidoarjo
“This type of learning helps me not only to learn science, but also can be applied in social studies to prepare me for the future.”
SINCE Ibu Endang Mujiati, the science teacher at my school, has used more varied teaching methods, learning in her classes is no longer boring.
One occasion that impressed me the most was when the teacher asked us to produce Nata de Coco. We were really interested in doing this lesson, because apparently making Nata de Coco is not that difficult.
During practical lesson, we had different tasks. Some students brought coconut water, prepared sterile trays, sterile bottles and sterile newspapers. The equipment and materials used were as follows: stove, pan, strainer, spoon, sugar, urea, vinegar, citric acid, mineral and a bacterial agent Acetobacter Xilynum. They were already available at the laboratory. After all the equipment and materials were ready, we started the production process.
There are two phases in the production process, preparing the liquid medium and processing. First, the preparing of the liquid medium starts with boiling 5 liters of coconut water, then adding 250 grams of sugar and one tablespoon of urea.
After that we added vinegar so that we reached a pH of 3 or 4. Then we added one teaspoon of citric acid and a little bit of tea. We waited till it boiled.
The liquid was then poured into a sterile tray and left to cool down. We covered it using sterile paper, which was a piece of newspaper, which has been ironed. When the liquid had cooled down, we put the Acetobacter xylinium agent into the liquid. Then we covered it with a piece of paper. We had to leave it for 7 to 8 days until it was ready.
The second phase, the processing, follows after the growing phase. You have to wash the Nata de Coco and then soak it in water for two or three days. During this process, the water must be replaced regularly. After that you cut Nata de Coco into any size you like. Boil it in water and rinse. Now, Nata de Coco is ready to be consumed.
Ibu Endang suggested that we put our Nata de Coco in attractive packaging and that we should try to sell it through the school shop. This suggestion broadened our knowledge about entrepreneurship. This way of learning not only teaches me about science, it also allows me to apply my social studies knowledge for my future.
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Writing Descriptive Text using PICWORD
By Samsul Huda, S.Pd., English teacher at MTs Salafiyah Merakurak, Tuban
LEARNING in our school is gradually getting more interesting, enjoyable, active and innovative., thanks to the training and guidance from DBE3, that started with BTL 1, then BTL 2, and BTL 3.
After the training, I always try to apply what I learn from the training in my lessons. One of the things that I have applied was using PICWORDS (Picture and Words) as learning media to help students learn how to write, especially how to write descriptive text.
A lot of students used not to find this interesting when I taught them to write both descriptive and narrative writing – they thought it was difficult. But when I tried using PICWORDS as a media to teach writing. The result was great! Students, who are usually lazy and don’t care, enjoyed it and felt that it was easier to learn how to write a descriptive text. When learning about public services, students were first introduced to symbols representing hotels. The different classes of hotels, facilities, locations and different kinds of transportation available to reach the hotels were also introduced.
When the students were familiar with the symbols, they wrote a description of the hotels and their facilities. The students’ ability to write descriptive text improved considerably.
Students’ learning reflections showed that they like it. A student, Maratus Sholihatur, said this way of learning that it is enjoyable because it uses interesting media. Another student, Liulin Nuha, said: “It (learning) was enjoyable, made sense and it helped me in writing descriptive texts. It was fun too!”
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Students’ work on writing descriptive text using PICWORDS
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Sharing Innovation in Junior Secondary Education
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Edition 06/May 2010
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