UNS — The General Lecture held by Master Program in Biology Education Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta discussed the integration of science and art in the learning method. The online lecture was held through the Zoom Cloud Meeting platform on Friday (29/10/2021), inviting Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haniza Hanim binti Mohd Zain from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Malaysia.
The general lecture was led by Meika Apriyani and Dr. Baskoro Adi Prayitno as moderators and was opened with an opening remark from Prof. Dr. Slamet Subiyantoro, M.Si., Vice-Dean for Academic, Research, and Student Affairs, followed by an opening remark from Dr. Bowo Sugiharto, M.Pd., as the Head of Master Program in Biology Education UNS.
In the general lecture, Prof. Haniza shared her experiences in teaching science using various methods that were rarely applied by other science lecturers. One of the methods applied by Prof. Haniza is a play assignment for her students that is integrated into anatomy and histology materials in the Biology course. Song and Lyrics is another method employed by Prof. Haniza, in which students were asked to create a song based on Biology course materials.
Collaboration between science and arts is proven to create exciting learning methods. The contradictory characteristics between arts and science create harmony in attracting students’ interest to participate in science-related courses and facilitate students’ comprehension. The combination was inspired by Prof. Haniza’s experience as a science student in which arts helped her to comprehend science materials that she thought were difficult. Such integration is also a solution for students’ boredom in learning, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic that limits people’s mobility.
“With exciting learning situations, students will be happier to participate in the learning process,” Prof. Haniza stated.
Arts assignments are also still possible to complete for students even though they need to be extra creative in conducting distanced collaboration among them. Continuous assessment, through essay, mind mapping, bridge maps, self-learning module, virtual lab, and virtual field work could also be incorporated to reduce students who cheat in examination. Prof. Haniza also gives her students assignments with strict deadlines in the Myguru app as a form of the monitoring process. Prof. Haniza’s explanation could become examples and options to be implemented by other educational practitioners in creating exciting learning programs for their students. Humas UNS
Reporter: Rangga P.A.
Editor: Dwi Hastuti