Purworejo - One of the lecturers of Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR), Dr. R. Wakhid Akhdinirwanto, M.Si., became a resource person in the In House Training (IHT) activity themed "Designing Quality Learning with a Deep Learning Approach". This activity was held by SMA Negeri 5 Purworejo as part of the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar program, on Friday, June 20, 2025, in the Multipurpose Room Lt. 2 SMA Negeri 5 Purworejo.
In this activity, Dr. R. Wakhid Akhdinirwanto, M.Si, who is also a lecturer in the Physics Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education UMPWR, explained learning strategies that can develop critical, creative, collaborative, and communicative thinking skills in students, which are in line with the spirit of Merdeka Belajar.
Dr. R. Wakhid Akhdinirwanto, M.Si conveyed the meaning of deep learning approach according to Marton & Saljo, (1976), namely In Deep Learning, students are encouraged to actively engage in the learning process and dive into the topic being studied, so that students can explore more deeply and enjoy the panoramic beauty of the topic. The Deep Learning approach is a contrast to the Surface Learning approach which seeks to cover a lot of material at the expense of the learners' understanding and competence building process. Students end up being forced to memorise a lot of things without being able to interpret, own and enjoy the learning process.
‘Deep learning is not only about understanding concepts deeply, but also about how teachers are able to design meaningful, challenging and contextual learning experiences for students,’ said Dr Wakhid in the presentation session.
This activity was attended by all 32 teachers of SMA Negeri 5 Purworejo and took place interactively through discussion, simulation, and practice of designing learning tools with a deep learning approach. The participants seemed enthusiastic about the material and were active in the question and answer session.
The involvement of UMPWR lecturers in this activity shows the commitment of universities in supporting the improvement of the quality of education at the education unit level, as well as strengthening the synergy between UMPWR and schools in Purworejo Regency and surrounding areas.
