II. Pedagogical Contents

       1. TEACHING METHODS OF THE TEACHER

To let the students gain higher self-esteem, bridge the gaps and make the students stronger individuals as they subsequently perform higher as individuals, my teacher instructor uses the cooperative learning approach. This is an educational approach which aims to organize classroom activities into academic and social learning experiences. This helps the students to capitalize on one another’s resources and skills – asking one another for information, evaluating one another’s ideas, monitoring one another’s work, and others. In this case, the teacher’s role changes from giving information to facilitating students’ learning. This kind of method has been linked to increased levels of student satisfaction. Somehow, it makes the students more excited and more involved in the process of learning.

Also, the teachers in the school are given books which they could use and follow throughout the lessons (book-centered). This two-dimensional material already provides the learning competencies which the students should gain at the end of the lesson. The learning competencies have been arranged already and thus, the teacher is following the provided activities and tasks in the book which could inhibits creativity of both the teacher and the students. The students already know what they are going to do even if the teacher has not yet started the lesson. However, the teacher is allowed to arrange the activities according to her/his strategy. Nevertheless, in class, the teacher still encourages the students to come up with their own examples which they could share in the class and study about it.

In addition, the teacher is the one who gives the information on the subject matters (teacher-centered) which hinders the students to share their knowledge on the topic, although the teacher can provide very useful information immediately in just a short period of time. Afterwhich, the students are tasked to give examples or sentence samples on the topic. This kind of strategy let the students involved in the teaching and learning process. –

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       2. LEARNING MATERIALS AND INNOVATION

Different learning materials are found in the different learning resource centers such as in chemistry laboratory, physics laboratory, biology laboratory, language laboratory, IPS laboratory, computer laboratory, library hall, skills room, UKS room, media room, and BP/BK room.

First, in chemistry laboratory, there are safety goggles and safety equipment, beakers Erlenmeyer flasks, Florence flasks, test tubes, tongs, racks, funnels, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, droppers, pipettes, ring stands, rings, clamps, spatulas, thermometers, Bunsen burners and balances. Second, in physics laboratory, there are fume hoods, desks, tables, benches, gas, water, vacuum lines and safety equipment which include gloves, goggles, and eyewash stations. Third, in biology laboratory, there are microscopes, slides, test tubes, petri dishes, dyes and other indicators, forceps, probes and scalpels and others. Fourth, in language laboratory, there are computers, earphones, speakers and projectors. Fifth, in computer laboratory, the materials that are found in here are like of those that are found in language laboratory. Sixth, in library hall, there are wide varieties of books which can be read and be borrowed by the students. Indeed, each center/ hall has different learning materials that could help the students have their hand-on activities or direct experiences.

As for the learning materials found in the rooms, there are bulletin boards, posters, LCD projector and projector screen, speakers, earphones, computers/ laptop, whiteboard, markers, mini library in which books are found, and others. –

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       3. SOURCES OF LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY USED BY THE TEACHERS

There are over 74 teachers and school staffs in SMAN 2 Madiun who serve as mentor, coach, facilitator, or research advisers to the students. They are the ones who set the tone of their classrooms, build a warm environment so that students can learn comfortably, nurture students, and the ones who teach or share knowledge to the students.

On the other hand, the technologies or the non-human materials and facilities that can ease, encourage, improve and promote teaching and learning activities are provided through government funds and at times donation. Meanwhile, the teachers of the school can bring their own laptops when they need to use it.  –

       4. AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT USED BY THE TEACHERS

Rather than assigning the students to have multiple-choice questions all the times to test the students ability on a certain subject matter or topic, teachers in SMAN 2 Madiun allow students to demonstrate their learning in a meaningful way.

The students are tasked to display a performance. They are asked to demonstrate their competency in a more authentic setting. One example is to perform a simulation or a situation. More importantly, the situations given to the students to perform mirror the tasks and problem solving that are required in the reality outside of the school.

This kind of assessment also helps the students to know what to do when faced with the similar situations with those of the situations they have already performed. –