DBE3 and GOI Using Technology to Increase Access to Teacher Training Programs
E learning can be an effective way to make professional development opportunities available to teachers who can not make it to a conventional training workshop. One of the main benefits is that learning is individualized. It can take place at any time, any place and at any pace.
For the past 10 months, DBE3 in partnership with SEAMOLEC have been working to increase access to learning opportunities for teachers across Indonesia by re-purposing the DBE3 teacher training module Better Teaching and Learning from a face to face conventional training program to an e-learning course which would enable any teacher in Indonesia to engage in learning beyond the conventional training room.
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This has not been easy. The nature, focus and methods of e learning and conventional training are quite different and this posed many design challenges.
Conventional training materials include structured activities completed in restricted time frames. DBE3 had to re-design the activities for the e-module for independent, self managed learning
The facilitator keeps learners engaged, motivated and on task in conventional training programs, whereas the computer program itself would have to keep learners intrigued and awake in the e-module!
The main methodologies used in DBE3 conventional training workshops depended on social interaction, group work and discussions whereas in e learning cannot depend on learners’ collaboration and therefore, needs to also cater for individual learners.
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DBE3 and SEAMOLEC worked hard to find ways to address these challenges and by the end of January 2010 had completed the Better Teaching and Learning e learning course, which included:
Virtual facilitators and resource persons such as Pak Dewa (below) to help learners work through the module
Interactivity such as pop up, roll over, text entry boxes and animation to keep learners engaged in the learning
Individual and group activities so learners have a choice to work alone or together
- Clear and clean presentation and simple navigation tools so even teachers who are slightly technophobic would not find it too hard to complete the module.
The module was presented to representatives of the Government of Indonesia and other donors in February and was very well received. DBE3 and SEAMOLEC are now engaged in post production activities with PMPTK and it is expected that the module will be launched on line in March 2010 and will also be made available to teachers across Indonesia who do not have access to internet on stored CD ROM from April 2010.
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Innovation in Learning is Desperately Needed!
Replication of DBE3 programs in non target districts
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Gunungkidul and Batang district in Central Java, are not target districts of DBE. However, after seeing the results achieved in DBE3 partner schools, they asked to take part in training.
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Students discussing their work very seriously!
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The title above is taken from some comments made by teachers of private religious junior secondary schools (MTs) in Gunungkidul district, after they had participated in BTL2 training conducted by DBE3 in cooperation with the local branch of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) in mid January 2010.
According teachers of Mathematics, Bahasa Indonesia and English, although it is difficult to change old habits in teaching from being teacher-centered to being student-centered, necessity dictates that teachers must be more innovative and varied in their teaching. Fortunately, they realize that, in order to become professional, they have to introduce innovations to make sure that students receive a better education.
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Sharing Innovation in Junior Secondary Education
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Edition 05/February 2010
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