Covid 19 Pandemic and the Paradigm Change of Online Learning

Beginning of Change

The Covid 19 pandemic happened suddenly. We never imagined that we would experience such a terrible disaster. This pandemic afflicts almost all countries in the world. It is never imagined that we must stay at home, all activities must be carried out from home, including the activity of teaching and learning. All must have realized at the beginning there was confusion, how could this be?

Online Learning, this term has been passing by for a long time, but some of us are indifferent, never want to know, in our minds we will be reminded of a single word that is "troublesome". Must understand online technology, must provide online teaching materials, must be online evaluations and so on. These things have been imagined very complicated. Most of us are comfortable with conventional face-to-face systems. Only a few want to implement the Blended learning system, a combination of face-to-face and online. But conditions force us to move and act, to move on ... To change, adapt to the current situation.

All would agree at the beginning we are still silent, ok, move but how about this? But situations that require such compulsion that makes must move to a new system. From the beginning via email or WA, switch to utilize Unud Oase, then ventured using Webex. That's what most of the  the lecturers experienced. Change does make us uncomfortable. But with the courage to ask questions, the courage to try new things, the courage to discuss each other, be open, there is the power to be able to adapt to the new system.

It can be said that there is a paradigm of the online learning systems. Where previously indifferent to be caring and dependent and comfortable with this online system. Our perspective on online learning involving IT technology has changed slowly but surely.

Over Time

The Covid 19 pandemic, unpredictably like endless. When will the situation return to normal? At the beginning we all only have superficial estimates. Ah, it must be over 2 weeks. Unexpectedly, for months. Week after week doing the teaching and learning process online, makes us innovate so that the quality of learning can be maintained, as when carrying out learning face-to-face. At the beginning we must feel very uncomfortable, constrained by internet connection, students often ask, "Can you repeat the explanation, intermittent voice?" We will repeat again with the same words. This of course is very tiring psychically and physically.

One method that can be applied and is quite effective to deal with this problem is a discussion with assessment system. Students are given the task of understanding one chapter, or one journal according to the topic of the lecture (study material to be taught) the following week. In the teaching time, each student is called one by one to explain according to the questions that have been prepared. Questions must include the student's final ability expected at the meeting. This makes students more seriously preparing for lectures. Because it is not an exam session, things that are not right from the students' answers must be corrected by the lecturer. And the lecturer ensures that other students understand it too.

This learning method is not only good for hard skills or understanding of theory but also practice soft skills, namely student communication skills. Benefits for lecturers can get to know more personally the abilities of each student. Can estimate either students who have grade A abilities or students who lack each ability. This makes it easier for lecturers to provide a final evaluation.

But there are weaknesses in the online learning system. How can supervise student work independently. Do they really work independently on every task to hone their personal abilities? Of the individual tasks given, most still have a level of similarity above 50%. Although at the beginning it was reminded to do the task independently, not to do plagiarism.

Settling Forward ...

What is the learning system going forward? Is that still a big question mark? Can we only rely on pure online learning systems? If indeed this pandemic situation is controlled enough, it should be combined between an online learning system and face-to -ace. Real interaction between lecturers and students is needed. Many of students complaints that they feel uncomfortable. In addition to internet connection constraints, boredom is also constrained because at home, there is no interaction with fellow college participants.

We must still recognize that there is still much that needs to be addressed in carrying out the learning process online. We must improve the quality of teaching materials, innovate in the learning process to make it more interesting while maintaining the student's final achievements from each lecture meeting, innovating in the assessment process to be more effective.

But certainly, the wisdom of Covid 19 Pandemic is being brave to change, dare to try something new, trying your best in even the worst situation. Keep the spirit in carrying out the task!

Fighting!