DUAL MODE IN-SERVICE TRAINING AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL FOR TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL (PD) IN INDONESIA

Abstract

To improve the quality of education, the Indonesian government has been launching a number of teachers’ professional development (PD) programs. These, however, brought little impact on the improvement of teaching practice and students’ achievement. This paper reports a two-year research project on a dual mode in-service training program that combines a classical in-service training and training via internet. The first year focused on identifying teachers’ professional needs while the second year focused on the development of training packages and tried out the training model. The study reveals that science teachers need training both on subject matter and pedagogy. In addition to the traditional face to face workshop, they also expect online training via internet since it allows them to have flexibility in accessing the materials as well as consultation with experts. This study suggests that participation in dual mode teachers PD improve teachers’ understanding of subject matter and pedagogy. Key words: dual mode; in-service training; professional development; science teacher