This workshop was called ‘STEM Trails with Socio-Scientific Issues’, hosted by UIII’s Faculty of Education in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), and the Math Trails Lab community. It was part of the nationwide ‘Reset Kolaborasi Indonesia (RKI)’ project, which brings together 24 PTN-BH across the country to collaborate in comprehensive research.

The idea is simple but exciting: use MathCityMap (https://mathcitymap.eu/en/), a digital tool that transforms parks, streets, and public spaces into real-life math challenges. Participants learned to design tasks based on local socio-scientific issues—that can be problems rooted in societies, so students can connect math to real life.

“This project is our way of showing that math can be fun, relevant, and tied to the real world,” said Dr. Destina Wahyu Winarti, a lecturer at UIII’s Faculty of Education and lead organizer for the Depok session. “We want students to solve problems they can actually see, not just read about in a textbook. It is like throwing one stone and getting two birds—helping them understand math better while also raising awareness about issues that matter in their own communities.”

One of the guest speakers, Adi Nurcahyo from UNNES explained that MathCityMap was developed in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2013. “It’s about taking math outdoors with the help of technology,” he said. “We’ve built the Math Trails Lab to adapt it for Indonesia, so teachers, students, and even the public can join in. You might find math problems in a city park, a museum, or even a historic building.”

The workshop was not just about theory—teachers hit the field, completing math trails themselves. Novita Andriani from SMAIT Al Haraki said, “It was fun because we had to find task points in our nearby environment. We couldn’t work alone—we debated, corrected each other, and in the end, we solved the problems together.”

For Febriyansyah, a math teacher at SMP Pesantren Cendekia Amanah, the biggest wish is for the program to grow: “It’s amazing, especially with trainers from different regions. I hope we can bring it to more places, especially remote areas in eastern Indonesia.”

By the end of the workshop, one thing was clear—math doesn’t have to be boring. With the right tools, a little creativity, and a willingness to step outside, it can feel like an adventure.

source: https://uiii.ac.id/math-meets-adventure-teachers-turn-into-math-explorers-at-stem-trails-workshop-at-uiii/

The book was edited by Dr. Zamzami Zainuddin from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia; Dr. Bambang Sumintono from Faculty of Education, UIII; and Dr. Corinne Jacqueline Perera from Shangrao Normal University, China.

The volume highlights innovative and impactful approaches to learning, showcasing how technology can make classrooms more engaging and enjoyable. Grounded in the post-pandemic education experiences of Malaysia and Indonesia, it offers empirical insights into the challenges and opportunities that emerged during COVID-19 in schools.

Serving as a practical resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers, it provides guidance on curriculum renewal, alternative assessment methods, teacher professional growth, student engagement, and inclusive pedagogies for marginalized communities, all in line with the global pursuit of sustainable education.

The book features multiple chapters authored by UIII faculty members. Dr. Bambang Sumintono co-authored “School Leadership Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Indonesian Experience”; “Islamic Leadership and School Resilience in Times of Crisis: Lessons from Indonesian Primary Schools Post-COVID-19 Pandemic” and “Reinventing Sustainable Learning in Malaysia and Indonesia: Lessons Learned from COVID-19.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Tati Lathipatud Durriyah was the lead author of “Navigating Teacher Agency: Implementing an Innovative Literacy Teaching Model in Indonesian Classrooms.”

Additionally, Supriyono also become the lead author in “School Digitalization Strategies in Non-strategic Settings: Insights from Islamic Boarding Schools in Rural Indonesia,” with contributions from two other UIII MA in Education graduates, Muhammad Numan and Muhammad Fayyaz Mumtaz. Supriyono also co-authored “Islamic Leadership and School Resilience in Times of Crisis: Lessons from Indonesian Primary Schools Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Beyond UIII, the book also includes contributions from other Indonesian Islamic higher education institutions (PTKIN), featuring four chapters written by lecturers from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and one chapter from UIN Walisongo Semarang and UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

Reflecting on the publication, Dr. Bambang Sumintono noted that this collaborative work not only documents educational resilience during COVID-19 but also offers sustainable strategies for the future. “The pandemic challenged us to rethink education. This book captures the lessons and innovations that can inspire future practices,” he said.

This Springer Nature publication reinforces UIII’s growing scholarly footprint in global education discourse and showcases Indonesia’s contributions—UIII in particular—to building more resilient and sustainable education futures.

Click to visit link of the book: Resilient and Sustainable Education Futures: Insights from Malaysia and Indonesia’s COVID-19 Experience.

Besides being Scholar in Residence at UIII’s Faculty of Educatio, Dr. Soeharto is also a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). He has published papers in leading academic journals, some of which were developed with the assistance of AI. Speaking to students and the academic community at LunchTalk #43 on July 22, 2025, he emphasized that before integrating AI into scientific writing, scholars must first understand the relevant guidelines and be transparent about their use.

“When you use AI in scientific writing, the first thing you need to know is the guideline and the ethics,” he explained. “You have to be honest about which parts of your work use AI, which parts you can improve with AI, and which parts require input from other experts. Disclosing your AI use is an important academic integrity practice.”

Referencing Springer and Elsevier guidelines on how to use AI ethically, Dr. Soeharto noted that avoiding AI entirely in today’s research landscape is unrealistic. Instead, he encouraged scholars to embrace AI as a partner that can accelerate their work. “For academic work, don’t forget to disclose any AI-related assistance. We cannot avoid AI in scientific writing. It’s better to embrace it and use it as a partner to fasten our work,” he said.

Addressing concerns some scholars have about AI, particularly issues of authorship and originality, Dr. Soeharto offered reassurance. “As humans, we make mistakes and learn from experience. If you lack certain experiences, you might need a partner. AI can help you. But you must use AI ethically, without becoming 100% dependent on it. The main actor in research is still you; AI is just a tool to help you work faster.”

As UIII continues to nurture a research culture grounded in integrity and global engagement, discussions like this LunchTalk serve as vital reminders that technology should strengthen, not compromise, scholarly values. By equipping its academic community with the knowledge to use AI responsibly, UIII reaffirms its commitment to producing research that is both innovative and ethical — ensuring that, in an era of rapid technological change, its scholars remain leaders in both integrity and impact.

source: https://uiii.ac.id/how-to-use-ai-ethically-in-academic-writing-insights-from-dr-soeharto/