Month: <span>September 2016</span>

In accordance with the stages of children development, the characteristics of the way children learn, the concept of learning and meaningful learning, then learning activities for elementary school students, especially in the early grades is done by Thematic Learning. Thematic Learning is learning which is designed based on a particular theme. In its discussion theme was revisited on a variety of subjects. For example, the theme of “Water” can be viewed from Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. With this model the student is able to learn the knowledge and develop basic competency among subjects in the same theme. In the other hand the understanding of the subject matter becomes more profound and memorable.   The Thematic Learning is ‘Authentic Learning’, because the competencies to be built is not only the cognitive aspect but also affective and conative (psychomotor). With this model of learning, the assessment of learning outcomes must describe the students’ competency in the three aspects.

Assessment of learning outcomes that describe the students’ competency in cognitive, affective and conative is known as the Authentic Assessment. With this assessment model students are encouraged to construct, organize, synthesize, interpret, explain and evaluate information to turn it into a new knowledge. With Authentic Assessment, evaluation of learning outcomes is not accomplished only with a written assessment (formative and summative test) but also through the assessment of Performance, Project and Portfolio. With Thematic Learning model coupled with Authentic Assessment, the learning process is no longer ‘Teacher Centered’ but ‘Student Centered’.

In the framework of the program to increase the competence of teachers, especially in implementing the Thematic Learning model coupled with Authentic Assessment, the workshop was held on Saturday, September 3 in Multifunctional Hall – Paradiso Campus.  The workshop was attended by teachers of P1 – P3 level such as Homeroom Teachers, Specialist Teachers and the Subject Heads. Despite at the expense of their holyday, the participants seemed enthusiastic attended the workshop that lasted until in the afternoon. Insha Allah, the results of this workshop will increase the professionalism of the teachers. (HP)