BK Study Program together with MGBK Sukoharjo and ABKIN Sukoharjo Held a WORKSHOP “Development of IoT-Based 21st Century Counseling Teacher Skills”

This 21st century demands professional development in accordance with the times for a Guidance and Counsleing teacher/counselor to provide services to counselees (students). The counselor profession has objective parameters in recognizing its professionalism, namely in terms of academic qualifications, fulfillment of work standards and fulfillment of professional requirements. Counselors have become one of the most prestigious professions in the development of the 21st century, because the counselor profession is closely related to the problems of human development, how they deal with and act in the social environment they are in. The problems faced by humans become increasingly complex when entering the digital era with technological advances or commonly referred to as the era of globalization which makes the development of human mobility fast-paced.

This opportunity was responded by the psychoeducation and counseling research group chaired by Prof. Dr. Asrowi, M.Pd. organize training which is interpreted as a challenge and opportunity to develop 21st century skills for Counselors. The focus of developing 21st century skills for counselors in this activity are (4Cs): (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity). “As a 21st century counselor, you must be actively and fully capable of conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, extracting, and observing a problem that is obtained or created from observation, experience, communication and so on systematically. Perform effective communication, establish constructive cooperation with various parties and optimize ideas and creativity skills in innovative ways.” Prof. Asrowi said when giving material about the challenges and competencies of future Guidance and Counseling/Counselors in the 21st century Internet of Things (IoT) based counselor skills development training with the target subject of BK teachers in Sukoharjo Regency and PPG BK Daljab 1 FKIP UNS students for 4 days from 26-29 July 2021. Internet of Things (IoT) is a computing concept of everyday objects that are connected to the internet and are able to identify themselves to other devices.

The implementation of community service involves partners, namely Junior High School, Senior High School and Vocational High School counselors in Sukoharjo Regency which are accommodated in the Guidance and Counseling Teacher Consultation of approximately 150 people. The training activities were carried out 4 times online mode meetings (virtual zoom meetings) and were equivalent to 32 hours of training. The details of the activities are: the first meeting of the webinar, the second meeting of training assistance, the third meeting of guided & independent service practices, and the fourth meeting of reflection, evaluation and reporting of work results.

The scope of IoT-based 21st century counselor skills development activities are: (1) Challenges and competencies of future Guidance and Counseling/Counselors by Prof. Dr. Asrowi, M.Pd.; (2) Research and scientific publications for Guidance and Counseling Teachers by Mr. Agus Tri Susilo, S.Pd., M.Pd. (3) Mental health for Guidance and Counseling Teachers/Counselors by Mrs. Dr. Ribut Purwaningrum, M.Pd. (4) Development of Guidance and Counseling media based on Internet of Things by Mrs. Citra Tectona Suryawati, S.Pd., M.Pd. Because “a professional guidance and counseling teacher is required to continue to develop his competence in accordance with the needs, demands of society, and the times. Currently, the guidance and counseling teacher profession is not limited to only education in schools, but the wider community also needs the role and presence of qualified guidance and counseling teachers.” Said the Chairman of the Guidance and Counseling Teacher Consultation for Senior High Schools in Sukoharjo Regency, Mr. Pitoyo Ari Wibowo, S.Psi.

The educational challenges faced by teachers in the 21st century include a shift in education and learning towards the use of information technology and computers in various aspects of education. These conditions require teachers, including guidance and counseling teachers, to be able to adapt as well as answer the needs and challenges of the times. The implementation of 21st century teachers is based on 4 (four) pillars of education, namely Learning to how (learning to know), Learning to do (learning to do), Learning to be (learning to actualize oneself as an independent individual with personality) and Learning to live. together (learn to live together).