Students miss friends, teachers, and playgrounds during home learning
Friends, teachers, and playgrounds.
Day by day, they are the ones students miss as they do their home learning following the closure of schools as part of measures to prevent the further spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
Elementary students at BINUS SCHOOL Simprug in Jakarta were asked to reflect on their home learning programme, and most of them revealed that they are longing for their friends, teachers, and school playgrounds.
“What I miss most from school is that I cannot see my friends and play with them. It is not the same seeing them online or even chatting with them,” a grade 2 student wrote in her online reflection journal.
“I miss my teachers, my friends, and the time we played at the playground at school,” another student wrote.
The school playgrounds being missed by students
“The hard thing about online learning is that I cannot meet my friends. I cannot meet my teachers, and I cannot play with my friends,” an eight-year-old student quipped.
“I miss talking and playing with my friends at school,” said another primary student.
“I miss the classroom and our work which we displayed in the class and outside of the class,” a student disclosed.
One student reflected that she yearns sitting at her table. Another student mentioned that she misses asking personal help from her teachers. In addition, a student pointed out that she had been wanting to wear her school uniform.
“I miss school assemblies,” a second-grader posted in her reflection log. At BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, students in various grade levels get to perform during school assemblies. Early years and elementary students were supposed to showcase their various talents last March 4 and on April 22, but the performances this semester have been cancelled. Grade 1 students were also set to perform Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” musical play, which is related to their “How we express ourselves” and “Sharing the planet” units of inquiry, during the school assembly but had to be rescheduled.
Early Years and Elementary Assemblies
On March 14, the Jakarta administration ordered all schools in Indonesia’s capital city to be closed and students to study through distance learning. Following the announcement from Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, BINUS SCHOOL Simprug implemented home learning programme using Microsoft Teams.
To make up for their face-to-face playtime with their friends, students suggested to their teachers to create a “playground” channel on Microsoft Teams.
“The best thing about online school is there will be a playground channel,” a student wrote.
Aside from learning the use of Microsoft Teams, the home learning programme is teaching students new skills. One student wrote that she is learning to type fast. Another student pointed out that he is learning to bake bread with his family members. A grade 4 student also wrote that she is learning to make cookies and do household chores. Another student said that by staying at home, she is enjoying cleaning her bedroom and watering the garden with her brother.
Students, however, understand the reason for the implementation of the home learning programme and are taking action to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“The final term has started, and we are doing the home learning for us to be safe,” wrote one student.
“I want COVID-19 to end,” a student in grade 4 jotted down in his online reflection log.
Examples of student-initiated action
In her reflection, a 10-year-old student emphasised the importance of staying at home to “save more than one life” and not spreading fake news about COVID-19.
“We should not increase panic by posting unnecessary videos about COVID. Don’t tell lies,” the student wrote.
By: Richel Langit-Dursin
EY & EL Vice Principal and PYP Coordinator
BINUS SCHOOL Simprug
mdursin@binus.edu
PYP Dunia Blog 