Pada hari Rabu, 31 Januari 2024 pukul 15.00-17.00 WIB, Center for Life-Span Development (CLSD) menyelenggarakan webinar bertajuk “Children’s Voices: Well-Being for All, Building Student Well-Being through Child-led Initiatives”. Webinar ini terbuka untuk umum dan ditujukan kepada audiens yang beragam seperti siswa sekolah dasar dan menengah, guru, akademisi, praktisi, dan orang tua. Webinar dilaksanakan secara daring melalui Zoom Meeting dan diikuti oleh kurang lebih 320 peserta yang berasal dari Indonesia, Thailand, dan Filipina. Adapun tujuan webinar ini adalah memberikan kesempatan bagi peneliti muda untuk berbagi inisiatif dan hasil penelitian mereka dalam rangka meningkatkan kesadaran publik tentang pentingnya mendengarkan suara anak-anak untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan mereka.

Acara diawali dengan pembukaan, dipandu oleh MC yang merupakan siswa SD Taman Muda IP Tamansiswa – Yogyakarta, yaitu Tiffany dan Caroline. Mereka menyambut para peserta dan membuka acara dengan penuh semangat. Acara dilanjutkan dengan sambutan oleh Deputy Director (Programme Development) SEAMEO, John Arnold Siena. Beliau menyampaikan pesan dan harapannya terkait acara ini, yang mana menyoroti pentingnya penelitian dan proyek-proyek inovatif dalam dunia pendidikan. Dr. Elga Andriana selaku peneliti yang memperoleh SEAMEO-Australia Education Link Award (SAELA) 2022 dengan judul penelitian “Our (photo)Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Well-Being for All” kemudian menambahkan penjelasan mendalam mengenai penelitian yang akan dibahas dalam acara ini. 

Webinar dilanjutkan dengan penyampaian materi atau presentasi yang terbagi ke dalam tiga sesi. Presenter pertama, Ayun Septa Wibawa, siswa SMP Taman Dewasa IP  Tamansiswa – Yogyakarta, membagikan pengalaman penelitiannya yang berjudul “Small Voices, Big Impact.” Ayun berbicara tentang pengalaman menjadi peneliti muda dan hasil penelitiannya, termasuk solusi yang diusulkan dan tindakan yang diambil bersama guru dan orang tua. Selanjutnya, tiga anak dari Anak Rimba WARSI – Jambi yang bernama Melandai, Nanju, dan Becenteng, menyajikan paparan penelitian mereka yang berjudul “From Trash to Treasure“. Penelitian tersebut berfokus pada perubahan dari sampah menjadi barang berharga. Mereka berbagi pengalamannya sebagai peneliti muda dan perubahan yang telah mereka lakukan di komunitas mereka. Presenter terakhir, yaitu Dilbert Thimoty Tansania, siswa SMP Santa Maria Assumpta – Kupang, menyajikan pemikirannya dalam sesi yang berjudul “Bridging Perspectives of Friends and Parents for Student Well-being in an Inclusive“. Dilbert memaparkan proyeknya yang bertujuan untuk memahami dan merangkul siswa berkebutuhan khusus di sekolah inklusif. Ia berbicara tentang temuan dan perubahan yang dihasilkan dari proyek photovoice mereka. Pada akhir setiap sesi presentasi dilanjutkan dengan diskusi yang dipandu oleh para penanggap yaitu Dr. Elga Andriana, Dr. Indra Yohanes Kiling, dan Yohana Berliana Marpaung. Diskusi ini memberikan kesempatan kepada peserta untuk bertanya, berbagi ide, dan berkolaborasi.

Acara mencapai puncaknya pada sesi tanya jawab dengan para peserta. Pertanyaan dari peserta dijawab oleh para presenter dan penanggap dengan memperdalam pemahaman mengenai topik-topik yang telah dibahas. Pada akhir acara, Policy and Planning Specialist SEAMEO, Emiljohn Columna Sentillas, memberikan penutup yang merangkum inti dari acara tersebut. Beliau menyampaikan apresiasi kepada para pembicara, peserta, dan seluruh panitia yang telah berkontribusi dalam menyukseskan acara ini. Selain itu, beliau juga memberikan arahan untuk melanjutkan semangat kolaborasi dan inovasi dalam dunia pendidikan. Semua sesi disampaikan dalam bahasa Indonesia, dengan terjemahan bahasa Inggris yang juga disediakan oleh pihak penyelenggara.Penelitian “Our (photo)Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Wellbeing for All” memberikan kesempatan bagi anak-anak, termasuk anak-anak disabilitas dan anak-anak dari komunitas lokal, untuk berperan sebagai peneliti muda dalam memahami kesejahteraan mereka di lingkungan masing-masing. Melalui metode photovoice, peneliti muda dapat mengidentifikasi permasalahan kesejahteraan mereka serta memberikan saran rencana tindakan yang dapat diimplementasikan secara kolaboratif antara anak, guru, dan orang tua.

On October 2, 2023, our young researchers presented their impactful findings to school authorities, uncovering concerns shared by both special needs and typical students. The issues ranged from bullying to the desire for more extracurricular activities. Aligned with the young researchers’ insights, teachers acknowledged the need for action. A month later, on December 18, 2023, the school initiated training for the new student council, focusing on organizational skills and discipline. Inspired by the young researchers, the school took a stand against bullying by imposing sanctions. On December 20, 2023, the young researchers received psychoeducation on sexual harassment prevention, proactively sharing information through booklets and wall magazines to foster a safer and healthier school environment.

On September 22, 2023, our child researchers from Yogyakarta presented their research findings in front of their teachers and school foundation officials. During the presentation, the child researchers emphasized statements from special needs students who conveyed discomfort with the presence of their parents or family members as shadow teachers during class activities. This prompted a discussion involving the child researchers, mentors, and school authorities on the most effective practices to address the issue.

Derived from the outcomes of the discussion, the school authorities then amended school regulations regarding the accompaniment of family members in the school setting. Beginning in October 2023, the revised regulation prohibited higher-grade students (grades 4-6) from being accompanied by parents or family members during class activities.

On January 2, 2024, which was three months after the implementation of the new regulation, our child researchers conducted a follow-up assessment to inquire about the impact of the regulation on the students through simple interviews. The results have shown positive outcomes. Students have shared that they experience heightened happiness and comfort in the modified learning environment. The newfound independence has empowered them to explore and learn autonomously. Significantly, students have expressed a strong desire for the ongoing implementation of this regulatory adjustment in the future.

As the data collection and analysis phase concluded, a pivotal discussion unfolded with Prof. David Evans from The University of Sydney. On July 5, 2023, the Faculty of Psychology was privileged to host Prof. Evans for a transformative consultation session. Mentors from Yogyakarta and Kupang seized the opportunity to present their initial research findings, entering into a meaningful exchange with Prof. Evans, who offered valuable insights. The session expanded beyond results, delving into a discourse on the challenges of inclusive education observed during the research. Collaboratively, they explored potential avenues for future development. Prof. Evans’ visit not only enriched the ongoing project but also ignited contemplation on the dynamic landscape of inclusive education. As mentors and Prof. Evans collectively shaped the research’s trajectory, the session catalyzed inspiration, nurturing a shared commitment to advancing inclusive practices and deepening the understanding of student wellbeing in the realm of education.

During this phase, the primary school research team conducted mentoring sessions for child researchers, which were divided into three separate sessions. These sessions occurred at different times, including regular class activities, break times, and art performance rehearsals. In each session, child researchers received the following instruction: “You are allowed to explore the school environment for 5-10 minutes [adjusted]. During this time, capture images that depict happiness, joy, and cheerfulness, as well as issues, sadness, and difficulties within the school. The images can include anything – people, objects, situations, or places.” Following this activity, child researchers engaged in individual interviews and group discussions to share insights into the photos they had taken. Additionally, collaborative analyses were conducted to comprehend the findings obtained from both the images and interviews.

In contrast, the mentoring sessions for junior high school students occurred three to four times, with each photo-taking session lasting 15-20 minutes. Subsequently, individual interviews were conducted to elicit detailed descriptions of each photo, organized in turn by the students. Participants were granted the freedom to explore the school environment during the photo-taking process, capturing moments of happiness and sadness during their time at school. Interview sessions were scheduled separately based on the students’ availability and class time to minimize disruption to their learning process. This photovoice phase unfolded from April to May 2023, followed by a focus group discussion (FGD) in May. During the FGD, students deliberated on the most frequently captured photos, addressed concerns, and explored interesting images that were not selected during the individual interview sessions.

Since March 2023, 31 child and young researchers from Yogyakarta, Kupang, and Jambi have been actively involved in various stages of action research as part of the “Our (photo) Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Wellbeing for All” project. Through this project, these child and young researchers are driven to amplify their own voices and those of their peers by sharing insights into the psychological well-being of students in their schools. One of the ways they’re doing this is by showcasing their research findings in this virtual exhibition.

This virtual exhibition features over 30 images accompanied by explanations provided by our child and young researchers. Within each image, they vividly portray their experiences with inclusive education at school and shed light on the factors, both supportive and detrimental, affecting their psychological well-being in the school environment.

This virtual exhibition is open to the public and accessible at any time. We invite you to visit and immerse yourself in the voices of our young researchers!

https://www.artsteps.com/view/64ef2c058b8b54d2b4f08616

On Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023, Dr. Annie Gowing hosted a public seminar for the Youth Research Collective at the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne. During this seminar, Dr. Elga Andriana presented the SAELA 2022 project. The project involved teams of child researchers who investigated student wellbeing using the photovoice method in three different locations: Yogyakarta, Kupang, and a jungle child community in Jambi.

Dr. Andriana presented several findings from the study. These included the understanding of well-being as self-acceptance, personal growth, having a sense of purpose, positive interpersonal relationships, and enjoyment of learning. However, there were also concerning findings, such as students being tired of writing tasks, experiencing sexual harassment, and problems arising from ‘jam kosong’ or teachers’ absenteeism leaving the students to study independently. This has caused issues such as bullying towards students with disabilities.

The audience provided insightful feedback, emphasizing the importance of researchers ethically supporting the community to solve problems and the need for models on how research responds to issues found.

On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, nine students from SMP Taman Muda Ibu Pawiyatan Tamansiswa participated in training as young researchers. Zata Wafy and Ukhtina Duhi Anindita I., co-researchers in the Our (photo) Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Wellbeing for All project, led the training. The project’s goal was to investigate the psychological well-being of students with disabilities and typical students in inclusive schools through the eyes of child and young researchers, so the training was designed to familiarize the students with the Photovoice method that will be used in the research.

The training was divided into two sessions, with the first at 8 a.m. for four grade 7 students and the second at 10 a.m. for five grade 8 students. According to one of the co-researchers, Zata, all of the students were eager to be trained as young researchers. Because both sessions were conducted in a relaxed and cheerful manner, all students were eager to participate actively in the training, allowing them to grasp all of the important points that were presented throughout the sessions. It is hoped that through this training, the students will be able to perform successfully as young researchers in the actual project.

On Tuesday, 20 June 2023, 5 child researchers visited the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada to conduct a data analysis session. The session was led by co-researcher of Our (photo) Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Wellbeing for All project, Mlathi Anggayuh Jati and assisted by another co-researcher and three research interns. Dr. Elga Andriana was also there to attend the data analysis session.

The 5 child researchers were given a colorful worksheet, the worksheets were different from one another. Each worksheet consisted of several narrations of their previous photovoices, and they were asked to give comments on what the narration is saying, and their feelings towards the narration. Overall, the researchers were able to finish all of the worksheets, for students with difficulty in reading, the narrations were read by the research assistants. After the worksheet, the researchers were given quizzes, the co-researcher were saying one word and the child researchers were asked to answer with anything that they think associated with the word given. 

After the data analysis session, we did a campus tour around Gadjah Mada University and had lunch together at the university’s Wisdom Park. Overall, the sessions were a lot of fun and the child researcher said that they were very happy. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 4 and 5 April 2023, co-researchers from Our (photo) Voice: Children and Young People’s Joint Action Research on Student Wellbeing for All project, Mlathi Anggayuh Jati and Nawang Chrismangesti, conducted research training sessions for child researcher at Taman Muda Ibu Pawiyatan Tamansiswa (elementary school). The purpose of this training session is to prepare the child researchers prior to joining the actual photovoice research project. 

During the training sessions, our co-researchers introduce 3 core materials to our child researchers: introduction to general research, the photovoice method, and discussion regarding psychological well-being. In total, there are 5 students from grade 4 and 5 who attended the sessions. Even though the materials were relatively new to students their age, they were very enthusiastic throughout the sessions and attracted the younger students who didn’t participate in the program to also participate in practicing the photovoice method. Overall, the training for our child researchers received positive feedback from the child researchers themselves and the school as a whole.