ITS and Ikasmanca Equip 55 SMAN 5 Surabaya Teachers with Practical AI for the Classroom

ITS Information Technology Trains 55 SMAN 5 Surabaya Teachers to Utilize AI in Learning

SMAN 5 Surabaya, the SMAN 5 Alumni Association (Ikasmanca), and the ITS Faculty of Electrical and Intelligent Information Technology (FTEIC) ran a two-day program on September 25-26, 2025, to help teachers use AI in the classroom. The initiative brought together 55 teachers across 15 subjects and continued with two weeks of mentoring from September 27 to October 10, 2025.

Principal Sukirin Wikanto opened the event by thanking alumni and ITS for their support. Ikasmanca representative Adi Dharma called the program a concrete first step for the new board. Dean Prof. Dr. Diana Purwitasari highlighted how the activity reflects the Three Pillars of Higher Education, connecting pedagogy and AI to make learning more relevant.

Dr. R.V. Hari Ginardi, Head of the ITS Information Technology Department, received a plaque from the school and presented a partnership certificate to symbolize ongoing collaboration. He underscored a simple idea: strengthen teachers, and the impact spreads through schools and the wider community.

What Teachers Learned

Participants explored practical tools they can use right away. They worked with ChatGPT to draft materials and assessments, Wayground for learning interactions, and WordWall for engaging activities. The team also introduced SENOPATI, an open-source chatbot built by ITS lecturers and students as a safe, independent assistant for schools.

To support implementation, teachers received e-certificates, written modules, and video tutorials for later review.

Beyond the Workshop

The program didn't stop at awareness. Intensive mentoring runs for two weeks to ensure classroom adoption, troubleshoot early hurdles, and help teachers integrate AI with existing lesson plans and school routines.

Data Security Takeaways

In a Q&A, one teacher asked about data privacy when uploading files to AI platforms. Speaker Hazwan explained that many commercial services may store inputs on their servers. To reduce risk, staff should avoid uploading highly sensitive information, use official accounts with privacy controls, and consider certified secure platforms. He also noted that a local AI setup can keep data under school management.

• Avoid sharing student health data, grades, or personal identifiers in prompts.
• Use institution-managed accounts and turn off data retention where possible.
• Create a simple AI usage policy covering acceptable data, review steps, and oversight.
• Work with IT to pilot a local or on-premise AI tool for sensitive workflows.
• Train staff to review AI outputs for accuracy and bias before classroom use.

Why This Matters for Schools

Teachers are the point of execution for better learning. Equipping them with AI skills can streamline preparation, increase interactivity, and free up time for feedback. The initiative also supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) and contributes to SDG 9 through practical use of technology in learning.

Quick Actions to Replicate in Your School

• Set three clear goals (e.g., faster lesson planning, more formative checks, richer student practice).
• Start a four-week pilot with two tools: one for content (e.g., a chatbot) and one for interaction (e.g., quizzes/games).
• Adopt a privacy checklist and define "red-flag" data that must never be uploaded.
• Schedule weekly teacher huddles to share prompts, templates, and classroom results.
• Measure impact with two simple metrics: prep time saved and student engagement rates.

Collaboration in Action

The program was built through close work between the school, alumni, and the university. With continued mentoring and a shared focus on classroom outcomes, SMAN 5 Surabaya teachers are set to integrate AI where it helps most-improving learning effectiveness and sparking creativity.

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