Using Contextual Learning to Help Students Learn

" FOR US, the national exam result is important. But KKM (Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimum - the minimum completion criteria) for each subject are just as important, " said Drs. Muslimin, M.Pd, principal of SMPN 1 Tellulimpoe, Sidrap. According to Pak Muslimin, KKM should be the standard of students' achievement. The improvement on KKM should be the reference for teachers to consider students' progress.

As principal, he always supports his teachers and encourages them to improve the KKM each semester. " If the graph of KKM moves in a positive direction, that means students make progress in learning and understand the material better. The mastering of learning material can help them in answering problems at the national exam, " said the principal. The target of KKM is determined by the teachers. However, they must be careful not to burden students with the standard. Hence, they need to make an analysis of students' competencies from their examination scores in the primary school.

They also should consider the complexity of the material before determining the standard. The increase of KKM is in line with the improvement of the quality of learning. When the target is not met, teachers should evaluate their teaching and everything related to it: learning resources, media and class supervision. The supervision is intended to see whether teacher has mastered the teaching material and is able to teach it to students.

The principal plays an important role in motivating, facilitating and supporting teachers to make innovations in learning. " I give advice to teachers to make innovations in contextual learning methods. The development of teaching methods is focused on the school MGMP, " said Pak Muslimin. It is an advantage that teachers at SMPN 1 Tellulimpoe, Sidrap, have participated in BTL2 and BTL3. " We concentrate on activities to improve teachers' professionalism and quality of education. We also provide what is needed for contextual learning, supervise our teachers, and support the development of our students through extra curricular activities, " he added.

Understanding How a Periscope Works

NUR HISHAM, S. Pd a science teacher at SMP YP PGRI Makassar teaches science in a way that makes students active and learning meaningful.

The basic competency to be achieved was to describe optical instruments and their application in everyday life. One of the indicators was that students could explain how optical equipment such as microscopes, binoculars and periscopes work. Students were also expected to be able to create and make a simple periscope. In this lesson, teachers asked the students to design and make a simple periscope. The main steps in this lesson were an introduction, group work, display and presentation, feedback and finally the students reflected on what they had learned during the lesson.

During the lesson, the teacher monitored the students making their periscopes. After finishing the periscopes, the students practiced using them. Each group reported on their periscope. They explained how they made it, the materials used, how a periscope works and what it is used for.

" I asked my students to design and make simple periscopes. After they finished working on them, I asked them to try out the periscopes, so that they understand the principle of how they work. My students were enthusiastic in doing this task, " said Ibu Nur.