Online Learning Experience

Posted on October 2, 2021 Updated on October 2, 2021

The COVID 19 pandemic is still taking a toll on many aspects, including education. Last academic year, we had to conduct full online teaching and learning, and we made it!

It seems like, after a whole year, teachers and students are already used to doing virtual teaching and learning. Still, undeniably there is this longing of going back to school and seeing each other in person again.

When I asked my students whether they prefer online or face-to-face learning, they were all divided on their opinions! One of the students who preferred face-to-face learning blurted out an interesting opinion: “Miss, I have never seen you in person!” Indeed, that was what caught my attention, too. These students had never seen their homeroom teachers and some of their subject teachers in person.

Teacher-student relationship is truly vital. On our last day of meeting last academic year, some students cried because they were about to part with their homeroom teachers. I thought it was amazing given only seeing each other virtually.

We are now also used to having our pictures taken in squares. Oh, how we miss taking pictures in person again!

In term 1 of this academic year (2021-2022), we continued with our Home Learning Programme. However, as per Indonesian government regulations, we are obliged to begin Blended Learning Programme soon, and this means we will get to experience new things!

Another benefit from doing online teaching is the opportunity to learn how to use all these interactive teaching platforms that fulfill the needs of online learning. They make teaching purposeful with the interactive tools, resources, and content teachers need. Most of these platforms are also real-time, which make it easier for the teachers to check on their students’ engagement. Some of these platforms are Nearpod, Mentimeter, Classkick and Pear Deck to name a few. Others offer interactive and interesting games and quizzes such as Kahoot! and Quizizz, which are the students’ all-time favourites.

While others still prefer offline learning or face-to-face learning, it is undeniable that some students already take preference to online learning mainly for its flexibility of time and place, accessibility and probably for the habituation of it.

Despite the current circumstances, we are all experiencing the new way of teaching and learning. The Covid-19 pandemic has surely changed the face of education all over the world, and it gives evidence that we can all be capable of change!

By: Devi Godri

English as a Foreign Language Teacher

BINUS School Simprug

dgodri@binus.edu