White House Envoy Impressed by Learning Activities at SMPN 8 Bogor

"LOOK! It's amazing. Some students explained things to their classmates. This peer teaching process is really interesting," said Mrs. Alberts when observing the students of SMPN 8 Bogor learning Mathematics. She was impressed by how the students helped their classmates to understand the lesson. Dr. Bruce Alberts, a special envoy for Science of the United States President, accompanied by his wife, visited SMPN 8 Bogor on May 17, 2010. Together with the rest of their party they observed students learning at this DBE3 partner school.

In particular they observed Science and Mathematics lessons and looked at the computer laboratory and the displays of students' work. "They are measuring the frequency of the swing," said Dr. Alberts when observing students in the science laboratory. At that time the students were using a pendulum. In each group one student stood on a chair, holding and swinging the pendulum. The other students observed the movement of the pendulum and noted down the data.

In the Biology class, the Alberts had the opportunity to ask questions to the students who were doing a photo-synthesis experiment. The students explained the experiment with great confidence. "We are monitoring the gas which is formed as a result of photosynthesis. We are also observing the three factors which influence the photosynthesis process," said one student. The students worked in groups and, besides observing the experiment, they discussed with with the other members of the group the answers the questions on their work sheet.

Besides admiring the student's work displayed in each class Dr. and Mrs. Alberts were impressed with the 'Information Wall', which included information on genetics. Dr. Alberts is a renowned reseacher in this area and congratulated the school on the way it was using the school wall as a learning resource. The walls in this school have displays of Mathematics and Science formulae and scientific terms. On one of them, there is an explanation of the cloning process, which Dr. Alberts, as an expert in genetics, found esepcially interesting.

DBE3 Showcase in Garut
Inspiration for Learning

On National Awakening Day, May 20, 2010, Garut conducted a showcase and workshop on good practices as a follow up of recent training. In this event the participants were able to visit schools and see an exhibition of work produced by teachers and students. The workshop involved students, teachers, principals, and district facilitators as speakers. Visits took place to SMP 5 and MT Al-Rahmah. At the exhibition there were ten booths presenting the work of students and teachers and presenting models of the learning environment in the ten DBE3 partner schools in Garut. The showcase was held in order to encourage teachers to apply the results of their training.