Strengthening Pedagogical Competence among Junior High School Teachers in Klaten through Interdisciplinary AI Workshops

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) demands teacher adaptation, yet existing training remains partial and lacks interdisciplinary integration. This community service activity aimed to enhance AI understanding, technical skills, and implementation readiness among junior high school teachers. Using an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach operationalized through the 5D framework (Discovery, Dream, Design, Define, Destiny), a three-week serial workshop was conducted with 39 teachers from six subject areas at Muhammadiyah junior high schools in Klaten, Indonesia. Evaluation employed observations, questionnaires, and interviews. Results showed significant improvement in conceptual understanding across all topics, with 75-96% of participants achieving independent competency on specific AI applications. Participant satisfaction was high (mean 4.41/5). However, challenges included unstable internet and limited devices. This interdisciplinary serial workshop model proved effective as a professional development approach, with potential for replication through teacher working groups. Recommendations include improved infrastructure, extended practice time, and ongoing mentoring support.