The Community Service Team Faculty of Cultural Studies Universitas Brawijaya (FCS UB) carried out a series of literacy development activities at YBPK Ngaglik Christian Elementary School (SDKr), Malang. In the 4th year of mentoring for the Literacy Movement at the SDKr YBPK Ngaglik, the FCS UB Community Service Team held creative writing workshops for teachers, drawing training for students, and assistance for the publication of book chapter.
FCS UB team consisting of Aris Siswanti, Melania Shinta Harendika, Anung Ariyanti, and Nindra Auliyah Avianti started this activity with a short story and poetry writing workshop on July 23, 2022, at UB Guesthouse, Malang.
Aris Siswanti and Melania Shinta Harendika, lecturers of the Study Programme of English Literature FCS UB, explained tips on creative writing, especially short stories, and poetry. Workshop materials also covered the role of teachers as agents of literacy in schools, including through writing activities. The principal, teachers, and staff of the SDKr YBPK Ngaglik were the participants in the workshop. Then, they wrote short stories and poems, which were further developed with assistance from the FCS UB Team through online class media.
While the teachers were developing their creative writings, the students of SDKr YBPK Ngaglik attended drawing training. In August and September 2022, Anung Ariyanti and Nindra Auliyah Avianti, students of the Study Programme of Fine Arts FCS UB, introduced basic drawing techniques with the theme of the school environment.
These short stories, poems, and pictures made by teachers and students were then compiled into a book chapter entitled Di Balik Gerbang Sekolah: Bunga Rampai Karya Kreatif Guru dan Siswa SDKr YBPK Ngaglik Sukun Malang (Behind the School Gate: The Book Chapter of Teachers and Students at SDKr YBPK Ngaglik Sukun Malang’s Creative Works). A series of works in this anthology implies the various experiences, hopes, and creative ideas of its contributors about the world of school and education.
At the closing event of this Community Service 2022 activity, the Principal of SDKr YBPK Ngaglik, Istuning Rahayu, said that the training activities that had been held were very useful to train and encourage teachers to be fond of writing more. Istuning revealed that she would include creative writing activities in the thematic activities for developing student skills.
“Students are very happy to participate in the training, even though the time allocated is quite short (1-hour lesson/35 minutes),” said Krismiati, one of the companion teachers in the drawing training.
The SDKr YBPK Ngaglik and the FCS UB Community Service Team hope that this collaboration in literacy development can continue, both in the form of activities involving lecturers and students of FCS UB. [dts]
