Training on Educational Games Based on Game-Based Learning: A Collaboration Between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and Unsri

This initiative was launched by a core team of Unsri faculty members, including Ruth Helen Simarmata, Danny Matthew Saputra, and Sarmayanta Sembiring, along with students from the Computer Systems and Mathematics Education programs. 

“We have conducted a training and mentoring program on the development of educational games based on game-based learning. This initiative supports numeracy and digital literacy at Advent Junior High School in Palembang,” said Ruth Helen Simarmata along with her team. 

This program is designed to strengthen students’ numeracy and digital literacy skills while enhancing teachers’ competencies in utilizing game-based learning technology. 

The program was implemented in a phased and structured manner. The pre-activity phase took place in May 2025 through coordination with the school principal and teachers to assess the partner school’s baseline conditions. 

Next, the program began with an orientation and pretest in June 2025. This was followed by training in numeracy and game-based learning from June through August 2025. The core training sessions were held every Friday in September and October 2025 at Palembang Advent Junior High School and the Multimedia Laboratory of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Sriwijaya University.

The event opened at 10:00 a.m. WIB, followed by remarks from the foundation’s representative, Dr. Simon Tarmidi, Ed.D., M.A.Ed., M.P.Th., as well as remarks from the principal of Palembang Advent Junior High School, Mawar Megasari Siahaan, S.Pd. 

“The next phase consists of intensive mentoring in November 2025. Monitoring activities will take place from December 2025 through early March 2026. A total of 21 teachers and 45 students are participating in this program,” he explained. 

In addition to promoting improved learning outcomes, this program also strengthens the digital learning ecosystem at the school. During the sustainability phase, monitoring results through March 2026 indicate that activities did not end at the training stage but continued with efforts to strengthen the school’s ecosystem. 

The hope is that SMP Advent Palembang will be able to build a learning culture that is more innovative, interactive, and relevant to the needs of the times. “The development of educational games based on Game-Based Learning is not only a solution to low numeracy and digital literacy. It is also a strategic step toward building a stronger and more sustainable digital learning ecosystem within the school environment,” concluded Ruth.