The Community Service (Abdimas) activity by Telkom University on Saturday, 16 November 2024 went smoothly and successfully. The program, a collaboration between Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Physics students and lecturers, ran well and drew great enthusiasm from the participating teachers. It was led by 2 lecturers and 6 students and attended by dozens of teachers and educators from Qordova Elementary, Junior High and Senior High School. The school, which is run by Yayasan Amal Insani Rabbani, is located in Rancaekek, Bandung Regency. The event, themed “Active Learning Workshop”, aimed to improve the quality of active learning in schools by sharing knowledge, various methods and live simulations on the subject.

In this program, teachers received an introduction to the importance of active learning today as a new way of learning, so that students can optimize their potential and achieve satisfying learning outcomes suited to each student’s personal characteristics. Active learning is a learning concept that involves students physically, psychologically and emotionally in the learning process. In this workshop, the lecturers and students presented various active learning techniques that can be applied in the classroom.

One of the lecturers and head of the Abdimas team, Hilman Fauzi TSP, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., presented the introduction to active learning and its benefits for teachers and students. Participating teachers were also divided into small groups and asked to share their views in group discussions, guided directly by Pak Hilman. A simulation session was also held so that teachers did not only receive the material in theory, but could see for themselves how the Quizizz, Mentimeter and Quizlet apps work and try them out. The event ran from morning to noon and was met with high enthusiasm from the participants. Some teachers who were already familiar with active learning noted that children in the digital era grow up in an environment full of technology. Teachers therefore need to adapt so they can guide students to use smartphones wisely and use them as a learning medium. This approach also makes learning more fun, interactive and varied.

The active learning method proved to have a positive impact. Students could follow lessons well, felt more enthusiastic, and understood that learning does not have to be monotonous. They also took part in preparing the lessons every day, which in turn encouraged their activeness, creativity and curiosity.

Some obstacles were still found in the field, however. One is that some elementary students are still not provided with gadgets by their parents. Students also tend to be distracted when other notifications appear on the device used during lessons.

At the end of the event, the organizing lecturers and students gave certificates to the participants in appreciation of their participation. A plaque was also presented to Yayasan Amal Insani Rabbani school as the host of the event. It is hoped that this workshop can be held sustainably, with periodic follow-up with the teachers so that it can be put into practice directly with students at the school.