Maria Regina Jaga
(Early Childhood Education Practitioner)
About me
Welcome to my Blog! I am Maria Regina Jaga, an educator and lifelong learner dedicated to fostering early childhood education and promoting English language skill through the lenses of cultures and local contents. I hold a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University, Alabama, and Master's in English Education from Nusa Cendana University in Indonesia. and this Fall 2024, I pursue next phase of my life by starting my PhD in Curriculum Studies at Purdue University. My Academic journey has been deeply rooted in exploring innovative teaching methods, particularly through the lens of multiple intelligences, and how the local contents could be elevated as learning resources which I believe essential for effective learning.
Currently, I serve as a Lecturer at Widya Mandira Catholic University, and as a Guest Lecturer at the Christian Public Institute, in Kupang, Indonesia. I have also been actively involved in Community Outreach Programs, focusing on enhancing educational opportunities for children in underserved areas.
Through this blog, I aim to share insights, resources, and experiences related to education, language learning, and community service. I invite you to join me on this journey as we explore the transformative power of education together
Experiences
Diverse Educational Expertise: Extensive training in language teaching, including workshops on vocabulary instruction, extensive reading, and English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI).
Inclusive Education Focus: Completed courses on teaching English in inclusive classrooms and managing learners and resources, demonstrating a commitment to accessible education for all students.
International Perspective: Participated in global events such as the Istanbul Youth Summit and the International Summer Course on "Nurturing the Mindfulness of South East Asia," enhancing cross-cultural understanding in education.
Technology Integration: Trained in using educational technology tools like Pear Deck to enhance online learning experiences, showcasing adaptability in modern educational practices.
Specialized Areas of Expertise: Gained knowledge in early childhood education and indigenous knowledge through various seminars and workshops, emphasizing cultural context in teaching.
Community Engagement: Involved in community outreach programs, focusing on improving educational opportunities for children in underserved areas, reflecting a commitment to social responsibility.
Area of interest
As an educator and researcher, I am deeply passionate about exploring the intricate connections between education, culture, and local wisdom within the Indonesian educational context. My primary focus is on investigating how local folklore and cultural elements can be seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, particularly within the framework of Kurikulum Merdeka (Freedom Curriculum) for primary education. I am especially intrigued by the potential of culture-based education to create more inclusive and relevant learning experiences for students from diverse backgrounds. My research interests extend to the study of East Nusa Tenggara folktales, examining their history, language, and meaning as vehicles for incorporating local wisdom into educational practices. I am committed to addressing the gap between standardized teaching materials and the rich cultural diversity of Indonesia's regions, striving to bridge local content with national educational standards. Through my work, I aim to contribute to the development of educational approaches that empower students by connecting their cultural heritage with academic learning, ultimately fostering a sense of pride and inclusion in the school community.
My Story
The future is something that lives among us; CHILDREN
Before the implementation in school or a classroom, as a teacher of early childhood learners, I have beliefs and ideas, in regards to best practice, together shaped a philosophy. This philosophy is my faith as the designer of the class that I need to plan, implement, observe, and evaluate activities for children. It is through these activities that children learn. I believe in implementing practices that allow for the best possible learning experience of the child. Educators must care very much about the children's learning and believe that an educator's role is to plan and implement open activities ended, process-oriented, developmentally appropriate, and of interest to children. My philosophy of education that I applied in my classroom settings is Constructivism theory but combine with Multiple Intelligences Approach and traditional games. In constructivism theory, children are believing had creative, imaginative, and unique. So as an early childhood education teacher, I allow children to have endless opportunities to explore and experiment with activities so that they can learn through their many experiences. In applying traditional games for learning, I believed that children are capable and competent, have absorbent minds, and take in what they learn through their play-based experiences from their third teacher "environment." My belief is based on the fact that children are curious, full of wonder, and need to explore to discover and learn, as the essential for activities to be open-ended, process-oriented, developmentally appropriate, and relate to the children's interests. My classroom settings always focus on three general core areas objectives, methods, and evaluation.
"Melayani yang tak terjangkau, Menjangkau yang tak terlayani
(Serving the unreached, Reaching the unserved)
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