A teacher is a figure or uswatun hasanah for his students and environment. He plays role to transfer values, morals, sciences and technology to the next generation. Thus, it is necessary for a teacher to enhance his skills through action research (PTK). The significance of action research for a teacher is to coin a professional teacher. The more a teacher’s learning skill lifts, the more personal, social and professional competences elevates. Additionally, it would also assist government to increase educational quality in Indonesia.

To create a professional teacher, there are several steps to carry out. One of them is organizing a workshop of action research for coaching and counseling teachers of vocational schools (SMK) across Bantul. It was held on Wednesday (29/4) in a Theater Hall, Floor 4, Building Postgraduate Program of UMY. It was organized owing to the cooperation between Master of Islamic Studies of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) and Coaching and Counseling Teacher Association (MGBK) of SMK across Bantul Regency. It was told by Dr. Arif Budi Raharjo, M.Si. on his remark.

Dr. Nawari Ismail, M.Ag., a speaker of the workshop, conveyed that a teacher possesses vast roles. A functional position of a teacher demands that he ought to be able to write scientific articles, learning modules, and research. “Those three aspects have a continuous cycle. In fact, a BK teacher owes a lot of roles regarding students’ attitudes and behaviors at school,” he elucidated.

Merits of PTK would be perceived by teachers and students. “We could gain many advantages from PTK. It could yield a scientific article and learning module. The article could be sent to media to be published as a book and the fund could be proposed to government. However, PTK needs implementing so that it would be developed,” asserted Nawari.

It is necessary to acknowledge several aspects to conduct PTK in order that it could be applied and valuable. “There are three characteristics of PTK. First, it is caused by practical issues. Second, it aims at improving teaching practically. Last, carrying out the research requires collaboration between teachers and researchers. Finding issues for PTK is very easy, but the essential aspect is that the purpose should be expanding learning system as focusing on students’ activeness, interest, and attention toward certain subjects,” explained Dr. Akif Khilmiyah, M.Ag. as the other speaker.

Dr. Akif continued that undertaking PTK needs coaching so that it could run well. “Indeed, if higher education collaborates with schools, there would be a lot of aspects to enhance. Hence, we could do charity through conducting research,” he uttered.

Dr. Akif and Dr. Nawawi expected participants would reveal ideas to research after the workshop. Then, the ideas were written and would result a scientific writing which absolutely could be published as a book or a journal, or sent to media.