UNS – The Research Group (RG) Team for Early Childhood Education Management (PAUD) of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta conducted a research on the topic of Project Based Learning Management (PjBL), or Project Based Learning, in the independent curriculum in PAUD. This research was carried out for eight months at the Al Khoir Excellence Islamic Kindergarten Surakarta and the Al-Qur’an Terpadu Bintangku Kindergarten starting from April 2023 to November 2023.
Led by Dr. Upik Elok Endang Rasmani, M.Pd., UNS PAUD Management RG Team consisted of Dr. Siti Wahyuningsih, M.Pd.; Dr. Bambang Winarji, M.Pd.; Jumiatmoko, S.Pd., M.Pd.; Anjar Fitrianingtyas, S.Pd., M.Pd.; and Nurul Shofiatin Zuhro, S.Pd., M.Pd. There were also research assistants, namely Yuanita Kristiani Wahyu Widiastuti, Milla Diah Putri Nazidah, Nabilla Ayu Sekar Prashanti and Putri Agustina.
Dr. Upik as Team Leader said that research in the field of education focuses on Management of Early Childhood Education (PAUD Management). PAUD management is an effort to manage, organize, or direct educational interactive processes in an orderly, planned, and systematic way to achieve the goals set so that the quality of PAUD can increase.
“The main focus of this research is to identify components, obstacles, and good practices (Best Practices) in the implementation of Project Based Learning (PjBL) management in the independent curriculum in PAUD,” Dr. Upik said.
Dr. Upik added that the independent curriculum has been implemented in some PAUD institutions. One of the main pillars of the independent curriculum is learning that is carried out as PjBL, better known as Project-Based Learning. However, the results of analysis from various literature and empirical studies found that studies related to the identification of project learning management in the independent curriculum are still rarely carried out, so this topic is a new thing for research.
“Meanwhile, the urgency of project learning management is that management cannot be learned only in a classroom environment, management is not a science, a profession, or a combination of functions. Management is a practice that must be explored through experience. Thus, this topic is important to explore project learning management in the independent curriculum at PAUD institutions,” she explained.
Furthermore, the results of this research are targeted to produce seven outputs, in the form of article manuscripts consisting of one manuscript of a reputable International Journal article and six manuscripts of National Journal articles Accredited by Sinta 2. Meanwhile, additional outputs are in the form of Research Results Books with ISBN and HKI.
“We hope that all of these outputs can provide benefits to all parties, both academics, practitioners, and society regarding the concept and practice of implementing project learning management in the independent curriculum at PAUD institutions,” she explained.
On the other hand, Dr. Upik and the team hope that from the research conducted, it can be broken down into two main points. The first is to obtain best practices for PjBL management in the independent curriculum in PAUD.
“Then the second is to analyze the obstacles and weaknesses of each PjBL management component in the independent curriculum in PAUD. In that way, analysis and evaluation can be carried out regarding follow-up plans to overcome existing obstacles and weaknesses, ” she concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Lina Khoirun Nisa
Editor: Dwi Hastuti