Training of Inquiry-Based Learning for Elementary School Teachers on 7 – 11 October 2013 in Ambon

SEAMEO QITEP in Science collaborated with Education Office of Ambon District, Maluku Province, held the Training of Inquiry-Based Learning for Elementary School Teachers on 7 – 11 October 2013 in Ambon. The targeted participant were 30 persons, but because of high interest of schools in Ambon to know about inquiry, Ambon Education Office added the participants up to 41 persons. All of participant came from 41 different elementary schools from 5 subdistricts in Ambon. The Education Office wanted to select and and prepare the participants to be the core teachers in modelling and disseminating the inquiry-based learning in provincial level.
The topics in this training delivered in inquiry model, thus the participants could experience, understand and plan on how to implement the inquiry in their own class. There were also a peer-teaching session in the training to evaluate the participants’ understanding about the inquiry-based learning by simulating the teaching on a certain science topic.
The Head of Education Office of Ambon opened the training officially, and made visit while the training is conducted. As the inquiry-based learning is in line with the latest national curriculum of Indonesia, the government of Ambon and SEAMEO QITEP in Science plan to conduct trainings on inquiry-based science education next year, collaborating with Pattimura University, Ambon. The scope will be broadened to science teachers in lower and higher secondary school levels.
The National Television of Indonesia for Maluku and North Maluku Province broadcasted the training twice, based on requests from Maluku and North Maluku viewers who wanted to know and follow the collaboration scheme between SEAMEO QITEP in Science and the government of Ambon to conduct this kind of training.