Shizuoka, UPI
Shizuoka University issued academic and intellectual challenges to UPI research team, particularly in Curriculum and Mobile Learning Development in the field of Energy and Resources in Environmental Education subject during the presentation in front of some professors of IOWA University Fulbright graduates. We, Dr. Deni Darmawan and Dr. Asep Herry Hernawan under Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali, were already preparing for the interesting challenges. In fact, we have set up the research products as well as given the presentation on the research findings. The research was dedicated to make a significant contribution towards the renewal policy regarding the development of Curriculum and Mobile Learning Instructional Materials Development for elementary and junior high schools. This study was conducted in two cities, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia and Shizuoka City, Japan. This study was completed in two years and this year the final report is also fully completed.
On the challenging moment, UPI research team was given an opportunity to give presentations. As mapped in the research team, Dr. Asep Herry Hernawan, M.Pd., was responsible for presenting the materials on the development of Environmental Education curriculum and syllabus and Dr. Deni Darmawan, M.Sc., presented his research products in the form of development of Mobile Learning Model Learning Offline & Online and Website Mobile learning for Energy and Resources. The presentations have successfully attracted the attention of the Shizuoka University research team.
A series of research products shown to the Shizuoka University research team, led by Prof. Yoshisuke Kumano, Ph.D., and Prof. Keiko Ike Keida, PhD., Prof. Fuhimiko Sugano, Ph.D., in fact, impressed them. Through this exchange information and scholarly materials, they were provided with the new knowledge, especially regarding the analysis of the needs in the topics of the treatment, prevention and management systems and the cultural concerns towards environmental stability, particularly in urban areas. Some research products resulted in by UPI research team have been validated by Shizuoka University research team, such as (a) the curriculum syllabus of Environmental Education subject; (2) the teaching materials of Environmental Education development; (3) the Module Development of Offline and Online Mobile Learning teaching materials; (4) Learning CD containing Environmental Education materials; (5) Mobile Learning Website; (6) Article products for the International Journal Articles. Those aforementioned products are well appreciated by Prof. Kumano et al. As expected, those products will be then continuously studied and further developed. Therefore, the Indonesian teachers can use and apply those products in order to, if possible, serve the products as an international learning source publication.
The research products on Energy and Resources for the Environmental Education subject in elementary and junior high schools carried out in Bandung, have provided an inspiration to Prof. Kumano. These research products will be used as a source of discussion for the doctoral candidates at Shizuoka University. After presenting the research results, we were then invited to join with the representatives of doctoral candidates from Rwanda and Indonesia. During the event, we also shared experience in conducting and completing research in the field of Energy and Resources, especially dedicated to learning processes in the Environmental Education subject for elementary and junior high school students in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Also, we also shared on how the learning materials were organized in the form of mobile technology or Mobile Learning teaching materials. In addition, we have promoted an innovation by developing a number of mobile learning materials containing information on how students begin to learn different types of environmental vandalism and damage, solve the problems, manage the space and water environments and cultivate an awareness of environmental concerns to keep the stability in this world. We also shared the research map and results to all research team from Rwanda.
Facilitated by Prof. Kumano, we are also invited to share the research called STEM (Science, Technology and Mathematics) developed by Prof. Kumano. Through the research results, Prof. Kumano has created an important paradigm in which the collaboration should be carried out in science developments in order to confront, overcome, and manage an attempt to solve unbalance issues in the world through applied sciences, including science, technology and mathematics. This paradigm can be identified early by students at home and at school. In this case, Prof. Kumano suggested that the research carried out by UPI research team, led by Prof. Mohammad Ali can be followed up by a more tangible product.
The carried out research involved elementary and secondary teachers. This involvement aimed at cultivating the value investments of environmental concerns. In the future, this initiation will be the trend of research in order to keep the world away from the destruction as expressed by Prof. Kumano. He further said that: “No sciences, except applied sciences which can be served as a means of continuing the existence of human civilization in this world”. In response to these thoughts, UPI research team explained that as the recent research report completed, they are prepared to continue the further research. To support the to-be-carried out research financially, the team have proposed for funding to LPDP, a funding agency under Ministry of Finance. This arrangement is expected to be realized so that the research based on a real innovation can continuously be executed by all members of UPI research team.
Based on the series of presentation presented at Shizuoka University, at least there is a number of best practices obtained during our visit. As one of the best institutions, Shizuoka University initiates numerous research and academic meetings. Therefore, the majority of professors are mostly responsible for developing and guiding the research conducted by magister and doctoral candidates in almost the effective days. In the same time, they also share the research results on an international forum. In addition, in Shizuoka University, a lecturer is equipped with a large laboratory and a set of research tools. Therefore, a professor can produce a number of worldwide works. This academic policy should be adapted by professors, doctors and researchers from UPI. As a follow up of the presentation results and sharing in conducting research, the products of UPI research team covering, a curriculum of Environmental Education with special themes of the selection results during the research, module, website, and mobile learning will be registered as one of property patents UPI. Hopefully, as we return to Indonesia, the results of the presentation and sharing at Shizuoka University will be a valuable gift for UPI and all members of the research team in education. Finally we pray that may Allah SWT continue to provide us with opportunities to develop the positive values and benefits from the innovations based on research.
The original Source: Kabar UPI
Translated by Ade Abdul Munir