Innovative Teaching Can Stimulate Learning Passion

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Anita Lie

Educational expert Prof. Anita Lie believes elementary school teachers should change their teaching methods and be more creative in their choice of learning materials, so that elementary school students can more easily follow the learning process.

The most important thing for teachers in the classroom is to get closer to the students, so that they can find new ways of delivering the subject matter.

Whenever Anita is in Papua or plantation areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan to train teachers in remote areas, she always has this advice: "Teachers should first have an emotional bond with their students. Once the teachers have a personal bond with their students, their relationship will be closer, so that the teachers will know exactly the needs of the students," she said.

Anita added that the methods of providing the subject matter to elementary school students should be varied and include learning by playing.

According to Anita, a professor at Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya, elementary school students still like to play. Therefore, the teachers must encourage students to learn through play.

The subject matter delivered through play would be easily absorbed by students. For example, in math class, learning to count could include the use grains.

"A teacher can become creative by imitating the methods of other teachers. That is justified as long as it is beneficial to his students," she said. So, said Anita, innovation can be learned, and in an early stage, a teacher can even use the methods applied by other teachers.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Anita Lie

“There is no need to debate the origins of good teaching. Only, in the future teachers need to hone their creativity in teaching, so that students will not get bored quickly," she said.

Creativity and innovation are not limited to the way teachers instruct their students. There are other factors beyond that, such as that the teachers always pay close attention to the conditions of their students.

According to Anita, a mother with one daughter, being able to witness the dedication of teachers in educating their students in a number of regions is quite meaningful for her in promoting the learning process with her students at the university.

The teacher is a central figure in the process of education and in determining the character of the children. Especially, in early and basic education, teachers are the main role models for children. With such a strategic role, it is ironic that many people, who have worked as contract teachers for years, have not been appointed as civil servants and can only survive with honorariums ranging from Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000 per month. Some of them can survive with this condition because they have no other choice. Such teachers cannot be role models for the children, because they cannot be expected to inspire children in the joyful learning process and to motivate the children to achieve their best.

However, many teachers also survive this limitation, because they are loyal their status as educators. They teach wholeheartedly as they assume the students are their own children. Such teachers deserve awards for their dedication.

To become a great nation in the future, Indonesia needs healthy, smart and creative children of good morale and character. To get such children, Indonesia needs dedicated, intelligent, creative and competent teachers, with a national vision.

Most importantly, to get dedicated teachers, the central and local governments, as well as universities, and communities need to work together seriously and consistently to improve teacher education and teacher professionalism.