Indonesia Research Update #11: Traditional Games as Learning Media of Mathematics by Eka Puspita Sari

Computer games are one of powerful mathematics learning tools that can enhance students’ motivation and has a vast majority of learning materials.

There are many research papers that study the utilization of modern computer games to support learning. However, none of those games are related to traditional games.

Indonesian folk games are prone to be forgotten due to the limitedness of resources about Indonesian folk games.

Addressing this issue, Eka Puspita Sari’s research will investigate the development of mathematics learning media, based on the folk games of Indonesia for Elementary school level.

Her study aims to provide a learning media whose function enhances motivational and learning outcomes, adds educational literature that suits the latest Indonesian curriculum and introduces one of Indonesia’s cultural aspect to students.

Her study will be implemented in one of Elementary School in Batam city. The participants of this study are students from grade one to six.

The study uses research and development method. The study has started by analysing mathematics learning media of an elementary school in Indonesia and developing a new learning media, based on the traditional games of Indonesia.

Therefore, the computer learning media as the product of this research will be used as a supplement material in teaching mathematics in Indonesia following expert analysis and students trial.

Further information could be accessed by contacting Eka in A1722607@student.adelaide.edu.au

 

Eka Puspita Sari is a postgraduate student in Master of Education program, the University of Adelaide, with support of scholarship from Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).

 

Indonesia Research Update is an initiative by GoLive Indonesia that aims to promote and disseminate knowledge and information obtained through research completed by Indonesian students outside of Indonesia.

We sincerely thank Eka and wish the best for her future endeavours in career and life.

Indonesia Research Update #10: Cultural Representation in an English Textbook by Soni Ariawan

A nation’s cultural representation in an English textbook is vital to help student understand the learning content contextually.

Motivated to improve knowledge on this issue, Soni Ariawan, founder of Gelora Education Centre in Lombok, Indonesia whom also a Master of Education student in The University of Adelaide, conducted a research specifically in Indonesia context.

His study investigates cultural representation in an English textbook prescribed for senior high school in Indonesia which is officially published by Ministry of Education and Culture in 2017.

The research aims to explore cultural dimensions and cultural categories revealed in the textbook by employing Byram’s checklist of cultural dimensions and Cortazzi and Jin’s categories of culture as the theoretical frameworks.

The data for analysis is selected from the textbook which includes conversations, reading texts and visual elements. The findings show that stereotypes and national identity dominate the cultural dimensions with 28.05% of the total dimensions.

The indications are disseminated in various forms including artefacts, popular people and popular places. The inclusion of national identity is pivotal for learners since the textbook is prescribed for senior high school students who are tremendously curious to determine their own characters.

Hence, presenting popular people who have many achievements or have made many contributions might be useful for them and may give them good role models. This idea is also aligned with the main aim of 2013 curriculum to facilitate the development of students with good character, good behaviour and strong nationality.

Regarding cultural categories, source culture or Indonesian culture is the most prominent with 61.2%, while target culture and international target culture achieve 19.8% and 14.9% respectively.

The presence of source culture encompasses social interaction, school and family environment, national identity and national history as well as national geography. Where the target culture is concerned, the United States of America is the most highly represented inner circle country’s culture in the textbook, while India and Japan are the countries primarily represented in the international target culture category.

It is concluded that English textbook in Indonesia is on the way to its perfection in terms of proportionally represented cultural aspects. However, the presence of various cultural aspects of source culture, target culture and international target culture is also important to help students develop multicultural awareness and a certain level of respects as well as tolerance for others.

More information could be accessed by contacting Soni in ariawansoni@gmail.com

 

Soni Ariawan is a postgraduate student in Master of Education program, the University of Adelaide, with support of scholarship from Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP)

He is the founder of Gelora Education Centre which is a language and education center to develop children quality in reading, language skill and reading to be the better generation.

 

Indonesia Research Update is an initiative by GoLive Indonesia that aims to promote and disseminate knowledge and information obtained through research completed by Indonesian students outside of Indonesia.

We sincerely thank Soni and wish the best for his future endeavours in career and life.

GoLive Indonesia Discussion Series: “The Importance of New Learning Experience for International Students”

GoLive Indonesia together with School of Education – The University of Adelaide are back with the discussion series event for this upcoming July 2017. We are proudly bringing to the table the experience of Dr. Barry Elsey and Dr. Amina Omarova from the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre (ECIC), University of Adelaide South Australia, in delivering a double degree master program, co-partnered with Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) Indonesia.

Still related to our past discussion series on May 2017, Dr. Elsey and Dr. Omarova will discuss on how international students ought to be challenged to learn in a new and different way.

The double degree master program require a cohort of Indonesian students, early-career employees of the Ministry of Industry to undertake a different kind of applied research experience, based on case study and interpretive methodology.

The analysis of these students’ learning experiences were conducted in four main ways. These will be briefly reported.

This July Discussion Series will be enriching the experience and knowledge of those who are international students, and those interested in higher education and applied research project.

Mark your calendar and RSVP via this link http://bit.ly/2sKYpDJ

Dinner with The University of Adelaide and Bogor Agricultural University

On December 4^th, 2014, a networking dinner between the University of Adelaide and Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) was held at the IPB International Convention Centre, Bogor, Indonesia. This event aimed to strengthen the cooperation and collaboration between University of Adelaide and IPB. This dinner also provides opportunity for new Indonesian students at the University of Adelaide to network with fellow students studying in IPB and University of Adelaide.

The event was attended by the IPB official staffs and faculty members, such as Prof. Anas Miftah Fauzi ( vice rector for research and cooperation), Prof. Dr. Ir. Yonny Koesmaryono, MS (Vice Rector For Academic And Student Affairs), Prof. Dr. Ir. Nastiti Siswi Indrasti, MSi (Head of Agroindustrial Technology Department), Dr. Nunung Nuryartono (Director of International Centre for Applied Finance and Economics (InterCAFE)); University of Adelaide official staff and faculty members, including Associate Professor Veronica Soebarto (Associate Professor at School of Architecture & Built Environment), Dr. Elisa Palazzo (Senior Lecturer at School of Architecture & Built Environment), Nicole Rizzo-Gray (Partnership and Student Support Officer); Students of double degree program IPB – University of Adelaide, and some alumni of University of Adelaide.

Prof. Anas M. Fauzi in his welcome speech stated that IPB and UoA have agreed on a long-run collaboration framework by promoting double-degree programs, research collaboration and joint publications between researchers in University of Adelaide and IPB. IPB and Faculty of Profession University of Adelaide have set up & organized double degree program for Master of Applied Economics and Master of Applied Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Both programs have been implemented and still ongoing, involving students from the Ministry of Trade officers and Ministry of Industry officers. Prof. Anas also notified that IPB and UoA offer the Executive Programs with duration 2 weeks – 2 months for government officers to improve their competencies by taking short courses & comparative study in Adelaide.

Chrisia Iskandar, In-country Representative of University of Adelaide for Indonesia, highlighted the importance of mutual cooperation between these two leading higher education Institutions. According to Chrisia, University of Adelaide wishes to enhance the collaboration with IPB beyond the Faculty of Professions. Currently, the two parties are preparingto set up the double degree program between the Faculty of Animal Science (IPB) and School Animal and Veterinary Sciences (UoA); and double degree program between Department of Landscape Architecture (IPB) and School of Architecture & Built Environment (UoA).

The academic collaboration and cooperation between IPB and UoA is indeed a positive contribution to the relationship between the two countries, Indonesia and Australia.

Jokowi plans to set up a new Ministry of Research and Higher Education

President elect Joko Widodo recently spoke to the media about his plan to merge Research and Development (R&D) agencies in differing ministries into a new Ministry of Research and Higher Education (Link: Vivanews 16 September 2014).

His reason is clear- that is to improve efficiency, transparency and research impacts’ ‘measurability’.

He explained that at the moment each of these current R&D agencies have their own budgets but unfortunately their research findings have not been integrated and made transparent to public.

Jokowi therefore viewed that it is important to set up a new Ministry of Research and Higher Education which will not only improve the cost-effectiveness of research budgets but also make research more transparent and credible.

He emphasised that research impacts must be ‘measurable’.

This plan signals some challenges as well as opportunities. Whilst mergers will help Indonesia achieve economies of scale in R&D, the newly set-up Ministry is challenged to perform efficiently managing concentrated-budget and define and develop relationships with other stakeholders including universities and the existing Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) as well as wider research communities.

Also important is to make the research projects being conducted transparent and credible. This is a very positive initiative and crucial but the devil is in the detail. What would be the criteria of transparency and quality of research?; who would assess the criteria?; do we have a strategic pathway which consists of short-term as well as long-term programs and objectives so that we achieve our goals; what is our goal?; etc.

To address those issues, mergers might be one of the starting points but longer-term planning and capacity building programs should remain two of the focus programs.