Singaraja– Changes to the Merdeka Curriculum with an emphasis on the Pancasila Student Profile concept are a challenge for teachers in Indonesia. The teachers of mentally retarded students at SLB N 1 Gianyar are no exception. The challenge faced lies in the collaboration of material for planting the Pancasila Student Profile with the changes in attitudes and behavior that have been shown during offline schools. So, there needs to be a collaboration between the teacher’s skills and the harmony of the material to be able to attract students’ interest in learning so they can focus on learning again.
In terms of the pedagogical aspect, the teachers know that providing learning media through animated videos can attract mentally retarded students’ learning interest. However, limited skills prevent teachers from being able to produce more interactive video-based learning media.
University of Ganesha Education (Undiksha) students who are members of the Community Service Student Creativity Program (PKM-PM), consisting of Ni Luh Dian Kesumawati, Putu Nado Swastika, Putu Paundra Ananda from the Pancasila and Citizenship Education Study Program, Anak Agung’s wife Callysta Athalia from The Information Systems Undergraduate Study Program, as well as Luh Tusna Putri Darmayanti from the Accounting Undergraduate Study Program are trying to participate in providing solutions to these challenges. Under the supervision, of Dr. Dewa Bagus Sanjaya M.Sc. a program entitled “Coaching and mentoring Pancasila Character Education Based on Powtoon for SLB N 1 Gianyar Teachers for the Character Development of Mentally Disabled Children.
According to the Team Leader, Dian Kesumawati, this program, which has been prepared since the beginning of 2022, is a real form of the team’s concern for mentally retarded students through the helping hands of the teachers so that they can improve the quality of education in this country. This program was also successfully funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek).
Currently, the team is preparing for the PKM Implementation Progress Assessment (PKP2) by the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs. The form of carrying out offline activities is through observation agendas, the introduction of activities to partners, presentation of socialization materials, training, and mentoring as well as evaluation of activities involving 16 mentally retarded student teachers as partners,” explained Dian Kesumawati, Thursday (8/9/2022).
Hopefully, this program can help teachers use Powtoon as a means of making learning animated videos combined, especially with the principle of Strengthening Pancasila Student Profile Characters.
The head of SLB N 1 Gianyar, I Gede Cakra, S.Pd., M.Pd., expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the continuation of this program. He hopes that this type of activity can continue while promoting creative ideas. (rls/hms)