Professional Development of Indonesian Teachers: A Participatory Action Research (PAR) Study Investigating Teachers' Enhancement of Learning Practices, Implementation of Classroom Action Research (CAR), and Engagement in Scientific Publication

Abstract

Improving instructional practices is a crucial first step in teacher professional development. Participatory Action Research is a practical approach to teacher development. Classroom Action Research allows teachers to become researchers in their classrooms, improving the quality of education and enhancing their ability to analyze data and improve student learning outcomes. This study was conducted in two private secondary schools in Banten Province, Indonesia. Two teachers and their students were involved in the study. The first participant was a third-grade teacher who implemented improvements in her instructional practices through CAR using a cooperative learning model in mathematics. The second teacher used a direct instruction learning model in science. Each class had an observer who supervised the learning process. This study used observations, interviews, tests, and documents. The following conclusions were obtained: 1) The cooperative learning model increases student engagement and interaction, while direct instruction allows structured and focused teaching, which is very effective in conveying complex concepts; 2) the success of the learning model also depends heavily on adequate infrastructure support and effective classroom management. The limitations of learning media and unfriendly environmental conditions have hindered the learning process. 3) CAR allows teachers to find and address problems in their teaching practices systematically. In addition, participation in scientific publications improves teachers' competence as researchers and educational innovators, as well as disseminating research findings and practices; 4) Teachers face several problems in scientific writing and publication, including limitations in scientific writing, access to scientific journals, and increased training in scientific writing.