Bambang Sumintono

Becoming a principal in Indonesia: possibility, pitfalls and potential

The preparation and development of school leaders is now considered to be fundamental to school and system improvement. In the pursuit of educational change and reform, the leadership of the principal is deemed to be of critical importance. This qualitative study is part of a large scale research project that is exploring principal preparation and development in seven different countries. In particular, this article focuses on how public secondary school principals in Indonesia are prepared, developed and selected for their role. Disappointingly little is known from the empirical literature about being a principal in Indonesia or about principal preparation and development. Therefore this contemporary, descriptive, non-experimental qualitative study focused on a purposive sample of 18 public secondary school principals in four different provinces in Indonesia. The initial findings reveal that even though principal training has been standardized in Indonesia and is now a compulsory part of a principal certification process, micro-political influences still currently govern the appointment of school principals.

A Framework for Assessing High School Students' Statistical Reasoning

Based on a synthesis of literature, earlier studies, analyses and observations on high school students, this study developed an initial framework for assessing students’ statistical reasoning about descriptive statistics. Framework descriptors were established across five levels of statistical reasoning and four key constructs. The former consisted of idiosyncratic reasoning, verbal reasoning, transitional reasoning, procedural reasoning, and integrated process reasoning. The latter include describing data, organizing and reducing data, representing data, and analyzing and interpreting data. In contrast to earlier studies, this initial framework formulated a complete and coherent statistical reasoning framework. A statistical reasoning assessment tool was then constructed from this initial framework. The tool was administered to 10 tenth-grade students in a task-based interview. The initial framework was refined, and the statistical reasoning assessment tool was revised. The ten students then participated in the second task-based interview, and the data obtained were used to validate the framework. The findings showed that the students’ statistical reasoning levels were consistent across the four constructs, and this result confirmed the framework’s cohesion. Developed to contribute to statistics education, this newly developed statistical reasoning framework provides a guide for planning learning goals and designing instruction and assessments.

Rasch Model Measurements as Tools in Assesment for Learning

Assessment for learning means to provide good information for teachers to help students learning better. Besides tools from the Classical Test Theory (CTT) approach that usually used by teacher, other approach which is called as objective measurement that based on probability is an alternative that can give more precise measurement. Rasch model providing psychometrics analysis techniques can be used by teachers to develop test items as well as an essential tool that can serve relevant information regard to student assessment for learning. Keywords— Model Measurements, Assesment for learning

Batik Artisans’ Judgment of Batik Wax Quality and Its Criteria: An Application of the Many-Facets Rasch Model

Batik is a traditional dyeing technique that uses hot melted wax on natural fabric. The wax is applied to the fabric, left to dry, then the fabric is dyed using cold water dyes. Wax quality is central to the batik process and, in the Indonesia region, there are ten standard criteria used to measure the batik wax quality. This study used five batik wax samples tested by twenty batik artisans according to those standard evaluation criteria, and the ensuing data were analyzed using the many-facets Rasch Model. The study found that one criterion, the cost of wax making is regarded as the most difficult item for the batik artisans to endorse. Two criteria for judging batik wax quality, namely ‘easy to set’ and ‘not sticky’ are two items that elicited unexpected responses from raters.