Optimizing Online Learning

ANTARA/IRSAN MULYADI

A child studies at home with his mother’s guidance, watching a television program on Monday (13/4/2020) in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. The Education and Culture Ministry, in cooperation with state broadcaster TVRI, started broadcasting a three-month learning series on 13 April for all students from preschool to senior high, as part of the government’s study-at-home COVID-19 emergency policy.

The online learning policy for schools that has been implemented for more than a month must be optimized. A number of problems still hamper the implementation of the online learning system.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Even though the policy has been implemented for more than a month, online learning is still being hampered a number of problems. School administrators, teachers, and students in a number of regions have complained about technological limitations, including poor internet connections and mobile data quotas. Solutions are needed to address these problems.

The government implemented the online learning (PJJ) policy as part of its social restrictions policy to halt the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus that causes COVID-19. The PJJ was imposed under Education and Culture Minister Circular No. 4/2020, which was issued as part of the government’s COVID-19 emergency measures. However, the policy’s implementation has met with a number of problems in the field.

Alos read: Effectiveness of Learning at Home

A number of schools from elementary to senior high school across number of regions in Indonesia are facing difficulties implementing the policy. One major challenge concerns the capability of teachers. Not all teachers have been able to adopt online technology and switch immediately to online teaching methods.

Khairuddin, the northern Sumatra vice chairman for regional development at the Indonesian Teachers Association (IGI), revealed on Wednesday when contacted from Jakarta that a number of IGI members had attended a training program on online learning. However, most were facing difficulties applying their training.

"When the PJJ started on 16 March, almost all teachers were shocked. They have different technological capabilities. They also have to address the heterogeneity of their students and families. Students and parents were never been prepared for the PJJ," he said.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Ahmad Rafa, 7, does his math homework on Thursday (16/4/2020). After he finishes, Rafa must take photos of his work and send them to his teacher through a messaging app.

Another problem was that students from underprivileged families do not have the smartphones needed for online learning. Their parents cannot afford to buy mobile phones for their children, because their priority is basic needs like staple foods. Without these devices, the PJJ cannot be implemented optimally.

Vice principal Sumadi of SMK Negeri 2 vocational high school in Yogyakarta acknowledged that some of the school’s students came from poor families. "There are a number of children who do not have tablets for [online] learning activities," he said.

Internet connection

Problems have also arisen in implementing the PJJ because of the poor internet connection in rural areas. In East Kalimantan’s Mahakam Ulu regency, most of the 64 elementary, junior high, and senior high schools in the five subdistricts in the regency do not have internet network coverage, especially Long Hubung, Long Pahangai, Laham, and Long Apari.

"Here, internet access is not available. It is available only in the village office, and it is very slow. Parents must step in as teachers so their children can understand the material their teachers have provided," said Murdini, 55, whose child attends SDN 003 elementary school in Long Tuyoq vilage, Long Pahangai district. Long Tuyoq is located in the upstream, forested area of the Mahakam River. From the provincial capital of Samarinda, the village is reached by traveling 27 hours on the Mahakam River using a motorized boat.

They must climb to the top of a tree or descend to the river to get a signal.

A number of schools in South Sumatra are also experiencing similar conditions. Endang Saputra, an English language teacher at SMP Negeri 1 junior high school in Ujan Mas, Muara Enim regency, said that five of her students lived in areas with poor internet connection, in the villages of Guci and Ulak Bandung in Ujan Mas district. They must climb to the top of a tree or descend to the river to get a signal.

"It is bothersome, but it must be done so that teaching and learning can continue," he said.

KOMPAS/EDDY HASBY

A postgraduate student attends an online lecture on Monday (27/04/2020) from her house in Depok, West Java.

According to South Sumatra Education Office head Riza Pahlevi, Muara Enim is not the only area with poor internet connection, with the condition also affecting several other regions in South Sumatra. Schools could not prepare effectively for online learning because the COVID-19 outbreak emerged suddenly.

Students often encounter internet connectivity problems. The internet is often down, not to mention using Wi-Fi.

Internet connectivity problems are even affecting urban schools in provincial capitals, such as Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Meri Aryani, a teacher at SMAN 1 senior high school in Mataram, said that the school was relying on Google Classroom, WhatsApp, or Zoom for online learning activities. "Students often encounter internet connectivity problems. The internet is often down, not to mention using Wi-Fi. An error can occur suddenly while using Google Forms,” she said.

Even when students have smartphones and an internet connection, they still have other problems. Some students do not have enough money to purchase mobile data quota. In fact, the variety of online learning applications uses a lot of data.

Home visits

To ensure that the teaching-learning process can continue, some schools are sending their teachers out to make home visits for students experiencing problems. Two of these is Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) junior high school and Madrasah Aliyah (MA) Plus Al Hidayah senior high school in Karangrayung of Grobogan regency, Central Java. Ahmad Zaki, the 42-year-old headmaster of the school, said that the two campuses’ teachers were going house to a house to help their students experiencing difficulties with online learning. The teachers make these home visits once a week, teaching their students one-on-one for 30 minutes to an hour. A teacher can teach three to four students in a single day.

"We focus on subjects that need additional explanation, such as mathematics and the natural sciences," said Zaki.

Praptono, the director for secondary and special education teachers and administrators at the Education and Culture Ministry, hopes that the regional education offices will help implement the PJJ in accordance with the Education and Culture Minister’s Circular No. 4/2020. "We hope that schools and students\' families will be serious in implementing the social restrictions. Because only through this way [will] the COVID-19 pandemic be overcome," he said.

Kompas/Priyombodo

A second grader of Al Bayan Islamic elementary school takes their final exam online from home on Wednesday (29/4/2020) in Tangerang municipality, Banten. The final exam was conducted online because of the government’s Covid-19 social restriction policies, which has been extended to 1 June 2020.

Education expert Muchlas Samani said that the decision to implement the PJJ was taken due to the health emergency, which made face-to-face activities not possible for the time being. The teachers and students were not optimally prepared. "The PJJ is only for a state of emergency. An emergency curriculum can be developed, but it is more urgent that teachers and facilities are prepared,” he said. (MED/DNA/SON/CIP/NDU/ZAK/RAM/DIT/NC/EGI)