<![CDATA[This study was motivated by the suboptimal understanding of elementary school teachers regarding the Merdeka Curriculum through the deep learning approach, particularly in understanding curriculum concepts, developing learning materials, and implementing meaningful learning. This condition is presumed to be influenced by instructor competence and training methods in teacher professional development activities. This study aims to analyze the effect of instructor competence and training methods, both partially and simultaneously, on teachers’ understanding of the Merdeka Curriculum through the deep learning approach. The study employed a quantitative approach with an associative research design. The population consisted of 158 elementary school teachers in Braja Selebah District, with a sample of 46 teachers selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using validated and reliable questionnaires and analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results showed that instructor competence had a positive and significant effect (t = 4.641; p = 0.000), training methods had a positive and significant effect (t = 7.047; p = 0.000), and both variables simultaneously had a positive and significant effect (F = 40.770; p = 0.000), with R² = 0.655. The novelty lies in examining both variables simultaneously as determinants of teachers’ understanding, highlighting the importance of competent instructors and interactive, contextual, and practice-based training methods.]]>
