Teachers refresh teaching methods

Thu, 09/04/2008 10:14 AM | The Archipelago

TARAKAN, East Kalimantan: Fourty six educators from the province have been chosen to partake in a workshop designed to enrich the teaching experience of teachers in isolated regions.

The five-day program, which ended Friday in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, brought together teachers and principles from 18 elementary and five junior high schools in Nunukan, Malinau, Tana Tidung and Bulungan regencies.

During the workshop they were briefed on "cooperative learning" techniques and encouraged to develop creativity and self-confidence to, among other things, prepare their own teaching curriculum under the guidance of a team led by Anita Lie, a professor at Widya Mandala University in Surabaya.

The workshop is the first part of a three step program.

Anita and her team plans to visit the individual schools of the teachers three months from now as part of the second stage of the program, which will be closed by another gathering to review the implemented programs.

Dian Lestari, head of communications from Tanoto Foundation who along with local pulp company PT. Adindo Hutani Lestari sponsored the training sessions, said the program was designed to be a sustainable endeavor.