Developing a Reflective Teacher Training Model for Character Education Implementation in Rural Vocational Schools in Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Character education has become an increasingly important concern in vocational education, particularly in preparing students to face workplace challenges that require not only technical competence but also responsibility, collaboration, discipline, and ethical awareness. Nevertheless, many vocational teachers still experience difficulties integrating character values meaningfully into classroom learning. This challenge becomes more visible in rural and underserved schools where opportunities for sustained professional development remain limited. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a reflective teacher training model for strengthening character education implementation in vocational classrooms. The research employed a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design involving 30 teachers from three vocational schools in the Amfoang region of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, namely SMKN 1 Amfoang Tengah, SMKN 2 Amfoang Selatan, and SMKN 1 Amfoang Utara. Quantitative data were collected through pre- and post-training surveys, lesson plan assessments, and classroom observations, while qualitative data were obtained through reflective journals, focus group discussions, and classroom field notes. The findings showed significant improvements in teachers’ reflective teaching practice, classroom character integration, collaborative learning facilitation, and vocational ethics instruction after participating in the training program. Qualitative findings further revealed changes in teachers’ pedagogical awareness, classroom interaction patterns, and students’ participation during learning activities. The study demonstrates that reflective and collaborative professional development can support meaningful pedagogical transformation in rural vocational education settings. The study contributes to the development of context-sensitive teacher professional development for vocational schools in geographically isolated areas.