PYP EXHIBITION (2) - THE PROCESS

As I told you before, I am trying to give you - the readers - a clearer picture of our PYP exhibition process.

In Tunas Muda International School - Meruya Site - few months ago, the students started their PYP exhibition with a front-loading from our PYP-coordinator, Massy Sitompul. Basically, the session was a brainstorming or tuning-in session where the students discussed the concept and skill they had had. Massy was really an inspiration for the students to see all the exhibition preparation sound and alive.

The next step was the finding step. The students have set their exhibition goals. They discussed within their group about the action and product. I had a "wow" moment when one group came to me and asked whether their questions had been good enough to be presented. I looked at their paper and could not believe that it was them making all the questions. The questions were a living proof how they knew how to start critical thinking. All things in the concept-driven questions were there to name a few such as form, change, causation, connection and reflection. Then they asked me if I could join them in an interview with some sources people. Why not?

Here are some pictures when I accompanied them interviewing some experts at Binus University and C'n'S Magazine. More news to come..


Blessing,


Hugo

Credit: Thanks to Pak Suhud Widagdo and friends at C'n'S Magazine and Ibu Hardiyani at Binus Kampus Anggrek.

PYP EXHIBITION (1)

"The Primary Years Programme (PYP) exhibition represents a significant event in the life 

of a PYP school and student, synthesizing the essential elements of the PYP 

and sharing them with the whole school community".

(IB-PYP Exhibition Guideline, 2008)

For all PYP students around the world, PYP exhibition is surely a big thing. I have been doing the exhibition with my students for six years. For six years, I have seen things are growing differently. The transdisciplinary theme can be the same for two years, but the way the students approached the issues are certainly different. 

In my first year teaching in IB-PYP school, I asked myself: why should we do the exhibition? why bother? Once I jumped in, then I realized how challenging the stage was. I saw how my students applied their PYP attributes within the exhibition preparation totally. The role of the teachers as mentors only took part as a "frying pan". The students are the ingredients, the stove and the fire!

Here I describe the teachers as a "frying pan" because they only a place where the students put everything they find during their independent research. The teachers hold the findings and only the truest and genuine findings can stay within the "pan". After having a "green" light to go, then the students will turn on the stove and lit the fire!

Here also I try to copy what has been mentioned in the exhibition guideline handbook.

The PYP exhibition has a number of key purposes:

• for students to engage in an in- depth, collaborative inquiry
•  to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate independence and responsibility for their
  own learning
• to provide students with an opportunity to explore multiple perspectives
•  for students to synthesize and apply their learning of previous years and to reflect upon their journey through the PYP
•  to provide an authentic process for assessing student understanding
•  to demonstrate how students can take action as a result of their learning to unite the students, teachers, parents and other members of the school community in a collaborative
  experience that incorporates the essential elements of the PYP
• to celebrate the transition of learners from primary to middle/secondary education.

(IB-PYP The Exhibition Guideline, 2008)

  After this writing, I will provide you all with the latest process of PYP exhibition conducted by my students at my current school, Tunas Muda International School Meruya, Jakarta, Indonesia. 

blessing,

Hugo

GOOGLE SKETCHUP AND STUDENTS ACTION

In the 21st century learning environment, the use of application programs is unavoidable. Some programs have to be bought before downloaded. The good news is that a lot of programs are made freely for all users around the world.
One program out of many programs that really suits the 21st century teaching and learning is Google Sketchup. Not only teaching the students about shapes and maths application but also giving direction on how the students can take action by designing useful invention for their surroundings.

Therefore, in relation with the technology unit, my year  six students work individually in "designing" a useful technology. Surprisingly, they made things to help Jakarta as the Indonesia capital city. They dreamed to have some useful items such as "pollution house", "anti flood dam", "anti traffic", and many more. Surely, their designs were not the most detail ones as they were the experts. The way they responded on terrible things their city faces was one prove from many that the students had hearts to share with other citizens.

Some of them came to me and asked what I am making on my computer. I told them that I wanted to have a dam that able to avoid us from the flood as well as a water purifying dam. This kind of answered had triggered them to work on their design. Google sketchup really made them like experts. Here are some screen shots. Enjoy them!


blessing,


Hugo

BERBAGI ILMU

Seringkali saya mendapatkan pertanyaan, "mengapa repot-repot menulis blog?"

Mendapat dan Memberi

Buat saya pribadi, menulis di blog adalah satu kepuasan dari penularan pikiran yang tanpa harus diedit oleh pihak lain. Tulisan-tulisan yang saya tulis sendiri merupakan jejak pemikiran yang akan terekam entah sampai kapan. Disamping itu, saya juga bisa mereview pemikiran itu sendiri. Bisa jadi, apa yang saya tulis beberapa hari yang lalu ternyata adalah suatu kekeliruan atau kurang lengkap. Pada akhirnya, langkah-langkah itu mengasah saya untuk lebih maju lagi.

Selain menulis blog, saya juga aktif memberikan workshop atau seminar baik skala nasional maupun mini workshop. Tidak ada masalah bagi saya karena keduanya merupakan penularan ilmu dan juga proses berbagi dan saling mendewasakan. Banyak hal yang saya dapat dari membaca berita yang ditulis para jurnalis seperti halnya ilmu yang saya dapat juga dari teman-teman guru lainnya. Itulah mengapa, saya banyak mendorong teman-teman sejawat untuk "berani" berbagi dalam setiap kesempatan. 

Jago Tandang Bukan Jago Kandang

Seringkali kita melihat diri kita hanya berani berbicara di lingkungan yang mengenal kita. Lebih sering kita menutup diri untuk berbicara di depan mereka yang tidak mengenal kita. "Takut" adalah kata yang sering dipakai. Mengapa takut? Kita semua memiliki perasaan itu, tapi untuk berbagi ilmu dan menimba ilmu, jangan takut!

Inovasi yang kita lakukan sebagai profesional, seharusyalah dibagi. Jangan kita simpan inovasi itu, karena saat pihak lain melakukan hal yang sama, baru kita menuduh mereka "pencontek". Lebih baik kita membagikan inovasi yang kita buat sehingga pengakuan itu datang. Lebih senang, setelah itu ada yang mengembangkan inovasi yang kita ciptakan. Berarti kita telah menginspirasi teman-teman yang lain. Selamat!

Semoga sedikit celoteh saya di tulisan kesekian ini membangkitkan semangat berbagi ilmu buat para pembaca blog ini. Saya masih mencari lebih banyak ilmu dan ingin juga menciptakan inovasi baru dalam pendidikan Indonesia. Ayo!

salam,

Hugo