Diponegoro University (Undip), through the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), held an Early Childhood Education Outing and Seminar in the context of Community Service Undip Cares for (Early Childhood Education) PAUD Teachers on March 2-3, 2024, in Yogyakarta. This event was attended by 166 teachers from 81 PAUD in the Tembalang and Banyumanik District areas. In this activity, LPPM Undip invited two speakers, namely Dr. Eko Setiawan, S.Pd.I., M.Pd. from the Islamic University of Malang and Dr. Ika Febrian, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist. from the Faculty of Psychology, Diponegoro University, who trained seminar participants in self-development and PAUD education programs.
In his remarks, the Rector of Diponegoro University, Prof. Dr. Yos Johan Utama, S.H., M.Hum., would like to thank the PAUD teachers who sincerely and patiently educated children. Prof. Yos really appreciates the services of PAUD teachers who teach knowledge and character to children who will later become the nation’s next generation. “Every letter and number that you teach your students, every piece of writing that supports their future life is a reward for you, teachers. Ladies and gentlemen are all people of patience and integrity. Undip is grateful to be able to share happiness with all of you,” said Prof. Yos.
In his introduction, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Suherman, S.T., M.T., Chair of LPPM Undip, said that this event was a community service specifically held for PAUD teachers around the Undip Tembalang campus. “The activities consist of training material and motivation. Hopefully, it will be useful and refreshing for the participants,” he said.
The chairman of the Tembalang District PAUD Post Forum, Rihar Diana, S.Pd., as the representative of PAUD teachers, expressed happiness and gratitude for the opportunity to take part in this event. She stated, “Hopefully, we all continue to be enthusiastic about being teachers with character to produce students with good character.”
As the first resource person, Dr. Eko Setiawan, S.Pd.I., M.Pd. explained the material “Character Strengthening for PAUD Teachers according to P5 Values” where PAUD teachers must have character, fun and communicative with an attitude of “peace, love, happy, power, pure.” Eko said that every child is a star; no child is stupid because all children are the best creations of Allah SWT. “Therefore, teaching requires commitment, including being on time, no cell phone & no chatting, active learning, wholehearted learning, and progressive,” he said.
Next, Dr. Ika Febrian, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist, led a discussion of “Fun & Meaningful Learning in PAUD.” Early childhood children aged 0-8 are in the play phase, so she gave tips on teaching and playing with PAUD children who must have the characteristics of fun play, intrinsic motivation, flexibility in the rules, communicative, process-oriented, and meaningful.
The character development program for PAUD teachers as a form of Undip community service was previously carried out in 2023 at the Early Childhood Character Education Seminar for PAUD Teachers at the Prof. Soedarto SH Building, Undip Tembalang and the news can be accessed on the official Undip website (https://www.undip.ac.id/post/28375/undip-mengapresiasi-peran-guru-paud-dengan-meningkatkan-keterampilan-dan-pemahaman-pendidikan-karakter-untuk-anak-usia-dini.html). (Titis ed. Ut-Public Relations)
