“After joining the KREASI training on using Ruang GTK, I thought to myself—why didn’t I know how to access this platform earlier?” said Kasmawati, a teacher at a madrasah ibtidaiyah in Morotai.
Ruang Guru dan Tenaga Kependidikan (Ruang GTK) is a platform developed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as a learning space for teachers, principals, supervisors, and education staff. It provides a wide range of modules designed to strengthen teachers’ capacity in creating engaging and enjoyable learning processes.
To help teachers who were still unfamiliar with the platform, KREASI Morotai organized a training session on the use of Ruang GTK.
Kasmawati then used Ruang GTK to explore how to design a more engaging Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah (MPLS, or school orientation week) with a transition-focused approach from early childhood education (PAUD) to primary school. When applying this new MPLS method, she noticed high enthusiasm among the students.
“Some children who lived nearby even came back after going home and asked me, ‘Teacher, do we come back again tomorrow?’ To me, that’s a sign they truly enjoy being at school. With a fun atmosphere, children are not afraid, not bored, and instead, they want to keep coming back,” she explained.
Beyond MPLS, Kasmawati also used various modules on Ruang GTK to enrich her daily teaching methods.
“Previously, teaching felt monotonous. Teaching reading meant calling students one by one, opening books, and reading. Now, learning is much more exciting—it can be through songs, visual media, or games. Usually, I prepare the teaching media a day in advance using Ruang GTK,” she said.
As a KREASI master teacher for numeracy, Kasmawati realized that Ruang GTK has long offered enjoyable numeracy methods. She applied these in her first-grade class and saw children’s motivation increase. For example, she introduced numbers by letting children trace dotted outlines of digits. She also used simple media, like seashells and bottle caps, to teach number concepts by placing them into egg cartons according to the number mentioned.
“They are very enthusiastic and happy with this way of learning. For me, the most important thing is to create a joyful learning environment, because when children are happy, their curiosity will naturally grow,” said Kasmawati.
She also actively searched for fun literacy methods.
“As a first-grade teacher, I feel responsible to ensure that children aren’t shocked by the transition from PAUD to primary school. Learning shouldn’t immediately feel too serious, like just sitting and writing. That’s why I start every morning with 15 minutes of circle time. Children sit together in a circle, and we begin by checking their readiness—whether they’ve had breakfast, bathed, brushed their teeth—and then continue with daily verse memorization or storytelling. This helps them feel comfortable, ready to learn, and fosters a love for literacy,” she explained.
Through Ruang GTK, Kasmawati has rediscovered her passion for teaching and new ways to spark children’s enthusiasm for learning—small steps that answer big challenges in education.
Writer: Ayutama Putri Jordy; Editor: Andika Ramadhan
Photo: Ayutama Putri Jordy/KREASI/Stimulant Institute/Save the Children