Faculty members from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) organized a discussion and research activity focused on the resilience of high school chemistry teachers in Yogyakarta. Led by Prof. Dr. Antuni Wiyarsi, M.Sc., and Prof. Dr. Siti Irene Astuti Dwiningrum, the initiative aimed to assess the current state of teachers’ resilience within their professional environment.
International Comparative Study
As part of an international comparative study, researchers from UNY plan to visit Helsinki, Finland, to examine various approaches to enhancing teacher professionalism, specifically in personality and social competencies. According to Prof. Wiyarsi, the visit will involve interviewing local teachers. She clarified that the objective is to understand different strategies for addressing challenges in teaching rather than making direct comparisons.
Transformation of Learning and Personal Branding
Prof. Irene discussed the transformation of learning and the role of academic resilience in developing personal branding in the digital era. She underscored the significance of personal branding in acknowledging teachers’ expertise, noting the variability among chemistry educators in terms of skill development and engagement in scientific innovation.
Group Activities and Reflection
During the session, participants worked in groups on specific topics introduced by the speakers. Additionally, they were encouraged to independently reflect on significant life events, termed ‘life rivers’, which they subsequently shared within their groups. This exercise was designed to assess the participants’ levels of resilience.
Overall Initiative
Overall, the activity represents an initiative aimed at supporting teachers in enhancing their personal and social competencies, beyond traditional pedagogical and professional skills.
(Source: UNY)
