Curriculum changes in Indonesia: Teacher constraints and students of prospective teachers’ readiness in the implementation of thematic learning at low grade primary school

Abstract

This study aimed at (1) describing the teachers’ constraints in thematic learning at low level elementary school, (2) describing the readiness of prospective elementary school teachers in the implementation of thematic learning. The research used a qualitative design in which the source of the data were 60 elementary school teachers in Bali Province and 305 students of semester VI majoring in elementary school teacher education at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha. The results of the research indicated that (1) the teachers constraints were the lack understanding on the nature and the objectives of thematic learning, the lack of supporting learning factors such as facilities and infrastructure, difficulties in enhancing teaching material and connecting one material to another, difficulties in designing evaluation instruments and how to apply them. (2) The students of prospective primary school teacher felt ready in
implementing thematic learning because they already have adequate understanding about thematic learning.