JAKARTA, Aug 11 (NNN-ANTARA) – “One of the biggest challenges of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is the emotional connection between students and teachers,” said Sierah Jota, an English and Sociology teacher, at a private school in Bogor city, West Java province.
“A number of students, especially with confidence issues, need face-to-face guidance. Video calls are convenient, but some students need side-by-side supervision to feel at ease,” Jota said.
The Indonesian government’s decision to extend public activity restrictions, known locally as PPKM, in Java and Bali, until Aug 16, and regions outside the two islands until Aug 23, means that, many students in the country have to continue their new academic year behind computer screens.
Without extracurricular activities, schools in PPKM Levels 1 and 2 regions of the nation are allowed to welcome back students, albeit with a 50 percent classroom capacity limit, and they shall close all canteens.
Jota also explained that, since there is no way to directly monitor students now, some pupils in her e-classroom have been distracted by online games, due to the fact that they can keep multiple tabs open on the browser’s search engine, while a virtual class is being held.
This condition resulted in some of the students lagging behind, she added.
Educational institutions have made efforts to make the virtual learning process as interactive as possible, in order to get more enthusiasm from the students.
As a teacher, Jota and many others have been encouraged to use numerous interactive platforms online, as a way of keeping classes lively. She utilises a digital whiteboard application on her computer, to draw illustrations and diagrams to her students, who respond via teleconference.
Meanwhile, Jota’s school conducts examinations via teleconference and outsources the process to a third party digital exam provider.
“It’s easy to cheat in virtual exams, here and there. For example, a student can put a cheat sheet beside his laptop, out of the webcam’s reach,” adds Jota.
In contrast, Rehan Gunawan, a third-year student at a private university in Bandung city, West Java province, explained that, his university has a procedure for virtual exams that must always be followed.
“For essays, each student needs a laptop and two smartphones. The laptop is used to scroll through the questions, while one phone is used to join the teleconference call and the other one is positioned beside the student with a camera on, to ensure that there’s no cheating,” said Gunawan.
Personally, Gunawan stated that, he prefers going to campus versus attending online, because he was tired of looking at the screen for lengthy hours.
Scheduled to graduate in Aug next year, Gunawan hoped that his graduation ceremony would be conducted traditionally on campus grounds. “If the situation keeps getting better, by Aug next year, it should be held on campus,” he added.
Meanwhile, Julia Tamalo, owner and headmaster of an English language school in South Tangerang city, Banten province, has been forced to move all the classes online, following the extension of PPKM Level 4 in the city.
When asked how well her students have adapted to fully digital learning, Tamalo said that, there was a dip in some of the students’ motivation.
“Some of the students’ grades were better before the PPKM restrictions, when attending classes was still possible, as opposed to the virtual sessions now.”
Tamalo also stated that her school had decided to postpone all exams until they can be held in classes again, substituting tests with more classroom exercises.
To date, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Indonesia increased to 3.68 million, with 108,571 deaths.– NNN-ANTARA
