HOW THE PERSPECTIVE ON STEM EDUCATION OF TEACHERS OF ISLAMIC SCHOOLS DIFFER FROM THOSE OF GENERAL SCHOOLS? Salamah Agung, Dila Fairusi, Umi Khoerunnisa, Ponty Mira Santika
UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta
Abstract
In Indonesia, Islamic schools are one of the biggest religious schools. Yet, most schools are called as general schools. STEM education has been widely well known in Indonesian schools, both Islamic and general schools. However, many research has found that implementing STEM education is quite challenging, especially when teachers do not acquire sufficient understanding on STEM. This study aims at exploring chemistry teachers^ perspective on STEM and further identifying the different perspective of teachers of Islamic schools and general schools on the STEM education. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, this research found that in general teachers have positive perspective on STEM. Teachers of the Islamic schools perceive STEM more on the theoretical approach while teachers of the general schools concern on the need to implement the STEM education. The results of this study suggest that while STEM education has been perceived positively by the teachers, further actions need to be taken seriously as to how the STEM can be implemented in teaching and learning process. Further study is needed to develop a model of STEM learning that can be applied in both schooling systems.
Keywords: STEM Education, Islamic Schools, Indonesian schools, Chemistry teachers
