USE OF WORDWALL APPLICATIONS IN THE DIFFERENTIATION LEARNING PROCESS
With : Nur Hilmi Daulay, S.S.
(UPT SDN teacher 067245 Medan Selayang/ Force Mobilization Teacher 5 Medan City)
A. Early
Students are God's creatures who have their own uniqueness, they are born with different interests and talents. But the truth is, Often we teachers educate as if we are only educating one student, without paying too much attention to the needs of each individual student with all the uniqueness they have.
We assume that all students have a way of learning, talent interests, profile, the same advantages and disadvantages. So often the learning process is monotonous, less fun, teacher-centered, limited space for students to explore themselves because of instruction, content, process, and learning products provided – stiff and unidirectional (teacher-centered). Students do not feel they have the freedom to choose the activities or assignment products they like, Students are confined to the protocols created by the teacher. So that the output resulting from the learning process carried out is also not optimal.
B. CHALLENGE
Ki Hajar Dewantara (KHD) reminded that the purpose of education is to guide all the natures that exist in children so that they can achieve the highest safety and happiness both as humans and as members of society.
As one of the spearheads of education, as a teacher, I feel I have a responsibility to meet the needs of these students. I should continue the process of exploring knowledge and potential, recognize various learning strategies that continue to develop.
The curriculum changes dynamically. One approach to the learning process in the Independent Curriculum is Differentiated Learning. Differentiated learning is a series of sensible decisions (common sense) made by teachers who are oriented to student needs (Tomlinson, 2001).
Differentiated learning is a way for teachers to meet the needs of each student so that students can learn subject matter according to their abilities, what you like, and their respective needs so that they do not get frustrated and feel like they have failed in their learning experience (Breaux dan Magee, 2010; Fox & Hoffman, 2011).
In carrying out a differentiated learning process, I started by doing a diagnostic test in class, both cognitive and non-cognitive diagnostic tests. The tests carried out were very helpful in mapping students from the cognitive domain, learning style, student profile, level of independence, morality, and others. So that the steps and learning process that I plan are more directed.
In the differentiated learning process, I have to consider students' learning readiness, learning style, as well as his interests and talents. Three things that must be considered in a differentiated learning approach are content differentiation, process and product.
One of the supporting media in this learning process is by using an application called Wordwall. Wordwall is a learning media containing 18 A template that is very interesting and makes it easier for teachers in the learning process. This media can be easily designed and edited according to needs. This media can be used to increase study group activities and also involve students in active learning.
C. ACTION
The process of implementing differentiated learning using the wordwall application is carried out at UPT SD Negeri 067245 done through the following steps :
1. The initial process carried out at the school was that I coordinated with the Principal to conduct training for teachers regarding the use and utilization of the Wordwall application as a learning medium through training., This is also the agenda of the Fun Teaching Teacher Community (COLLECT) those at school. So, The school also held a workshop with material on the Implementation of the Independent Curriculum and asked me as a resource person to convey some essential material on the introduction of the Independent Curriculum which also discussed differentiated learning..
2. Implementation of Good Practices using the wordwall application in the differentiated learning process. Teachers take advantage of infocus, school wifi connection, chromebook in the process of implementation. Teachers can also provide assignments by sharing assignment links to be shared through parent student association groups so that students can carry them out at home using their parents' cellphones or laptops..
In the differentiated learning process using the wordwall application, Teachers can carry out interactive and fun learning. For visual students, teachers can load more pictures on the questions that will be given on the application. For students with an auditory learning style, Teachers can embed audio to complete the existing questions, especially English. This application also contains accompanying music according to the theme, This is certainly an encouragement for students in the process. Teachers can also divide groups to accommodate students with kinesthetic learning styles.
3. Teachers can use the questions in the wordwall application and use them as a question bank. Teachers can create their own questions or adopt questions from other teachers and edit them as needed. All questions that students work on will be recorded automatically and can be accessed by the teacher. The questions have also been corrected automatically. Student grades, True and false questions will also appear in the "My results" column in the teacher's account. This is certainly very useful because it makes it easier for teachers to efficiently correct and analyze question items. If necessary, Questions can also be printed for offline student assessment needs.
4. Teachers and students reflect, tell the experience about the meaningful learning process experienced, provide positive input to achieve better learning outcomes and a fun and enjoyable learning process.
D. CHANGE
By utilizing the wordwall application in the differentiated learning process in the classroom, the changes felt are certainly very significant. Students understand the material taught better, Students are also more enthusiastic in learning because the learning process is more fun and enjoyable. Students are more active and enthusiastic because they feel involved in activities and feel appreciated and their learning needs are met.