Lecturers from the Information Systems Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Widyatama University (UTama), conducted a Community Service (PkM) activity by providing information and sharing knowledge about the use of the Moodle platform for online learning to dozens of teachers at SDN 190 Cisaranten Kidul, Bandung.
The event was held in the hall of SDN 190 Cisaranten Kidul, located in the Riung Bandung Complex, Jalan Riung Bhakti No. 1, Cisaranten Kidul Village, Gedebage District, on Wednesday (10/3/2021).
Rozahi Istambul, a lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at UTama, who was also present, explained about online learning using the Moodle platform.
Hari Supriadi, S.T., M.Kom., from the Information Systems Study Program, also participated in presenting the material.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, UTama lecturers had already implemented this platform in online lectures for their students.
It should be noted that since 2010, UTama has been conducting hybrid lectures, namely face-to-face and online using the Moodle platform.
The purpose of this activity was to broaden the knowledge and experience of teachers at SDN 190 Cisaranten Kidul, in order to improve their ability to utilize e-learning facilities.
Principal of SDN 190 Cisaranten Kidul, Hj. Eti Rohaeti, S.Pd
“Here, we also provide facilities from the engineering faculty by providing a free Moodle platform website for SDN Cisaranten Kidul, in an effort to support online learning activities,” said Rozahi, on the sidelines of the activity.
Moodle itself, said Rozahi, is an online learning platform that is not much different from face-to-face learning.
After participating in the activity, SDN Cisaranten Kidul teachers can use the platform provided by UTama for the next year.
It can be used for virtual learning/teleconferencing, providing lesson materials, assigning tasks, conducting tests, administration, attendance, controlling student and teacher activities, assessment, and others.
“Teachers at SDN 190 Cisaranten Kidul just need to use it,” said Rozahi.
However, he did not deny that during the pandemic, many schools have been using other platforms, such as Google Classroom, Google Meet, and others.
“With this, teachers can choose how to interact with their students,” said Rozahi.
Meanwhile, Eti Rohaeti, Principal of SDN 190 Cibeunying Kidul, expressed her appreciation for the Community Service Program of the Faculty of Engineering, UTama, at the school she leads.
“I welcome this activity. To all members of Widyatama University, especially the Information Systems Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, I express my gratitude,” said Eti.
With this activity, Eti also hopes that her teachers’ mindsets will become more open and improved. This includes the information they receive, which will have an impact on their students.
“Our hope is that after this activity, our teachers will be able to digest what has been presented by the speakers. So that their hearts, minds, and eyes will be opened, because with the advancement of technology, it can be applied to their students,” said Eti.
The participants were represented by three teachers from each grade level (grades 1-6), plus subject teachers. Those who participated were required to share the material they learned with other teachers.
“This must be communicated to colleagues. Our operators are also involved, because there is a special department that handles information technology at SDN 190 Cibeunying Kidul,” said Eti.
When asked if there were any obstacles during online learning over the past year, Eti did not deny that there were. For example, obstacles such as parents who do not have Android phones or internet data.
There were also those who did not have a cell phone but did not have internet quota.
“Those who don’t have cell phones usually join their friends or are called to school,” said Eti.
“There are around 120 economically disadvantaged children in our school. They are given internet quota subsidies, funded by BOS, amounting to Rp 25,000 per student. This program ran from May to December 2020,” she explained.
As for the total number of students, there are around 1,119 students with 49 teachers.
At the end of the interview, Eti expressed her hope that the PkM UTama program would not stop at this activity but could continue in the future.
“We are delighted to receive knowledge to improve our human resources. We hope there will be more community service activities so that our teachers will become more open-minded, innovative, creative, and able to explore knowledge. This will make online learning more enjoyable,” he concluded.
(Source: majalahsora.com)
