PAIKEM corresponds with cooperative learning. He defines PAIKEM as a
learning process that helps students connect the information or experience
that they are learning with the knowledge and experiences that they already
have. Through his work, he introduces various active and cooperative learning
methods, including ‘jigsaw’, ‘make a match’, ‘snow-ball drilling’, and ‘index
card match’.Since active learning is considered an effective teaching and learning
approach, the government provides in-service training for teachers and
school supervisors on active learning strategies, and the Ministry of Education
and Culture publishes learning materials for teachers and supervisors on
active learning. One of these is a manual titled Pembelajaran Berbasis PAIKEM,
published by the Directorate of Human Resources in Education. The book
covers models of contextual teaching and learning, integrated learning and
thematic learning.
The government has conducted various training workshops to ensure that
teachers understand the PAIKEM method and are able to implement it in
their schools. Although the government cannot facilitate training for all
teachers, PAIKEM is currently being promoted widely (Mulyatiningsih, 2010).
A challenge facing trainers is that teachers not only need to gain new skills
to implement the new method in their teaching practices, but also need to
change their paradigm of teaching. This means that some teachers need
significant time to adjust, but the process of changing their teaching habits
can be lengthy.
Making mathematics and science fun
Mathematics and science are considered very important subjects, so the
teaching of these subjects is one of the most debated issues in Indonesian
education. A number of Indonesian students have had great success in these
subjects, becoming champions at the Mathematics and Science Olympics.
Resource Person B, a teacher at Surya Institute, observed, however, that this
does not reflect the average performance of Indonesian students. Data from
a Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) showed that
in 2011 Indonesia ranked 38th in mathematics and 40th in science out of 42
countries (TIMMS, 2011). The results were alarming for many Indonesians.
Given the need for improvement, Indonesian educators have been seeking
new ways to teach mathematics and science. Prof. Johannes Surya, a Physics
expert and notable figure in Indonesian science education, has introduced