Biology FMIPA UI Holds Webinar and Workshop to Improve Easy, Cheap, and Applicable Aseptic Literacy and Practices for Teachers

Being a teacher is not only required to master the subject matter that will be delivered to students, but more than that. Teachers must have varied skills to present a more effective and quality learning process.

For teachers in the field of Natural Sciences (IPA), it has its own challenges. They are required to have skills in conducting learning using a scientific approach that is not only in the form of theoretical teaching methods in the classroom, but also practice in the laboratory.

Both of these things are very important because they will influence students' interest in choosing the field of science they will pursue in the world of campus, which of course will be related to their future career.

Realizing this, the community service team of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) consisting of lecturers from the Department of Biology held a Webinar and also a Workshop to increase the knowledge and experience of high school teachers.

The activity entitled "High School Learning Materials Enhancement Week" was divided into two sessions, namely a webinar session held online on Tuesday (16/8/2022), and a workshop held offline at FMIPA UI on Friday (19/8/2022).

The webinar session focused on improving teacher literacy in delivering simple and innovative teaching materials, especially those based on microbiology, molecular biology and tissue culture. The activity was attended by more than 100 participants consisting of high school teachers from various regions in Indonesia.

"Biology is a subject that is loved by high school students. Therefore, we must increase this interest so that more students are interested in studying and developing Biology in Indonesia, so that strong resources are created in the field of life science," said the Head of the Biology Department, FMIPA UI, Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D. in his opening remarks.

The webinar activity was filled with presentations from three Biology lecturers who are experts in their fields, namely Wellyzar Sjamsuridzal, Ph.D., a microbiology expert, Dr. Andi Salamah, a molecular biology expert, and Dr. Windri Handayani, a plant tissue culture expert.

The second session was a workshop that focused on improving teacher skills in conducting experiments independently with aseptic techniques, both experiments in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology, and tissue culture. The workshop participants consisted of 15 people who were representatives of the Biology Subject Teachers' Deliberation Forum (MGMP) for Senior High Schools in Depok.

"It is hoped that through the implementation of aseptic techniques during this workshop, teachers will be able to apply them to students in their respective schools," said Anom.

Unlike the webinar session, the workshop session was held face-to-face at the Center of Excellence Biology Resources-Genome Study (CoE IBR-GS) laboratory, FMIPA UI. The activity is an implementation of the material provided in the previous webinar session.

The chair of the event, Dr. Fitrianingsih, said that in addition to literacy skills and aseptic experiments in the laboratory, the important thing emphasized in this event was the use of relatively cheap and easily obtained materials to support practical activities in schools.

"After participants hear the theoretical explanation during the webinar, in this workshop, participants can practice directly," explained Dr. Fitrianingsih as the chief executive.

The person in charge of the workshop session, Fadhillah, PhD. also said that biotechnology-related practicums are always identical with expensive tools and materials, making them very difficult to implement at the Elementary and Secondary Education levels.

"However, in this workshop, we try to provide basic techniques for DNA isolation and tissue culture using tools and materials that are easily found around us. Thus, it is hoped that teachers can provide experimental alternatives to students in schools, so that students can be more interested in studying biotechnology in the future," said Fadhillah on the sidelines of the workshop.

Meanwhile, R. Sinta Dewi Sekarwati, S.Pd., M.T, as the head of the Depok City Biology MGMP stated that high school biology teachers need to be given periodic material refreshers to help strengthen concepts and refresh the material that can be given to their students.

"This workshop is very interesting and extraordinary. After finishing this workshop, we went home with a happy feeling because adrenaline secretion increased rapidly during the workshop. Hopefully when our hunger for knowledge arises, the Biology Department of FMIPA UI can satisfy us again," concluded Sinta while showing her high appreciation for this community service activity.

News source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/