PROBLEMS OF ONLINE LEARNING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN EFL CLASSROOM AND THE SOLUTION
INTRODUCTION
Corona virus Disease
2019 (Covid-19) has
spread very fast
and to almost
all countries, so the
World Health Organization
(WHO) declared this
outbreak a global pandemic in March 2020 (BBC, 2020).
All life sectors are affected. To break the chain of the spread of Covid-19,
several institutions have
implemented a new policy, namely working
from home so that there are no services at the office. Even if there are
services in the office, the number of
employees and visiting is limited, and
health protocols are strictly implemented.
Several
studies have found a phenomenon that the Covid-19 pandemic has also a major impact toward the education sector (Rahardjo
& Pertiwi, 2020). In the education sector,
the government through
the Ministry of
Education and Culture
in all countries has
implemented a learning
policy, namely learning
from home. The
learning from learning policy
allows the teaching
and learning process
to continue even
though teachers and students
do not meet
directly at school.
Teachers can still
deliver the teaching material,
and students can still receive the lesson without leaving their homes.
Learning from home
is implemented with
a distance learning
system. A study conducted by
Chun, Kern, and
Smith (2016) summarizes
that distance learning
is an education system
in which learners
are separated from
the educator and
the learning process uses
various resources through
Information and Communication
Technology (ICT). In the implementation, the distance learning system is applied through an online learning approach.
In the Covid-19
pandemic condition, this
learning method can
be a solution so that the
teaching and learning process can continue.
Online
learning is a
part of distance
education that specifically
combines electronic technology and internet-based technology or ICT in
learning. Online learning is a program
for organizing online learning
classes to reach a broad and massive group of
students. Online learning
refers to the
use of internet-based technology
features, which are highly dependent on the availability of information
technology. Dabbagh and Bannan-Ritland (2005) proposed the characteristics of
online learning as follows:
1. Constructivism
2. Social interaction
3. Inclusive community of learners
4. Computer-based Learning
5. Digital classroom
6. Interactivity
7. Independence
8. Accessibility
9. Enrichment
Online learning is a learning system without directly
face to face between teacher and
students (Allen & Seaman, 2007). The online learning requires an internet
network. The teacher and students carry
out learning together,
at the same time,
but in different places. Various
applications and platforms
can be used,
such as whatsapp,
telegram, zoom meeting, google
meet, google classroom,
edmodo, and others.
To support this online learning, the main device needed
is computer or android connected to the internet network.
Facts among the
public actually show that this online
distribution system creates several difficulties
and problems. A
study conducted by
Ahmad (2016) found
a phenomenon that EFL
learning which requires
a lot of practice
for its application
also experiences obstacles when
the learning system
is applied. In
listening session, for instance, the ICT equipment used by
teachers to train students who are in
separate and distant places is
often ineffective. Teachers
also cannot maximally
supervise students when giving
listening exams. In
speaking course with
the distance or
online learning, students also
find problems in
imitating the way
of speaking exemplified
by their teacher, and the teacher
also cannot optimally train the students to speak.
Another problem is that some students’ parents and
students do not have computer or
android device, as
found in a
research conducted by
Wahab and Iskandar
(2020). Such condition makes
them difficult in
facing the reality.
On the one
hand, there is a
demand for the
fulfillment of educational
services for students,
as mandated in the
constitution. On the other hand, they are faced with a lack of supporting
facilities.
The problem is not only in the lack of learning equipment
or facilities, but also in the
absence of the
internet quota. Providing
internet quota requires
a high cost.
This difficulty is felt by students and parents from middle to lower
class economies. They do not have adequate budget to provide the internet
network. It doesn’t stop there. Even though the internet is in their hands,
students still face difficulty
accessing the internet
network because of
the places they
live.
A research carried
out by Nashruddin, Alam, and Tanasy (2020) confirms that some students live in
remote rural areas that are not covered by the internet. In addition, their
cellular network is sometimes unstable,
due to the
geographical location which
is quite far
from the signal coverage.
This is also
a problem that
occurs in many
students who take
online learning, so the implementation is less effective.
Another
problem is the
unpreparedness of teachers
for online learning.
The transition from conventional
learning systems to
online systems occurred
suddenly because the Covid-19 pandemic was not preceded by mature preparation. A number of teachers do
not have ICT
skills so they
are unable to
adapt the change,
namely technology and information-based learning. Even though, it is
inevitable for teachers to use technology to support their teaching. Especially
during the Covid-19 pandemic, like or
not, ready or
not, ICT-based learning
must be implemented
so that the
learning process can keep running.
In essence, the
teacher’s role cannot
be replaced by
technology, however sophisticated
it is. The use of technology in education is only to facilitate the teacher in
transfer of knowledge, not on building the students’ character. In line with
what the education experts such
as Cviko, McKenney,
and Voogt (2014);
Oomen-Early and Early (2015);
and Turnage and
Goodboy (2016) reveal
that the technology
cannot replace the teacher’s position.
INFO DAN FILE LENGKAPNYA KLIK DI SINI ATAU HUB 085398507498
TERSEDIA JUGA DI CHANNEL YOU TUBE PEJUANG SKRIPSI
