The Biggest Distance-Learning Experiment In This Decade

On 16^th March 2020, Anies Baswedan, the Governor of Jakarta, released a statement about closing schools for 2 weeks in response to the massive spread of Coronavirus, but it seems like 2 weeks isn’t enough. A few days ago, Penabur Jakarta released a statement about closing the school for a couple of weeks longer. Students can go to school again on 13^th April 2020.

Thus in this time, not only Indonesia but the world also, is participating in the biggest Home-Learning experiment that has ever been done. Study apps such as Google Classroom, Ruang Guru, Zenius and many more, showed up as a solution for schools to give lessons for their students. Some school and courses even uses Video-Call Apps, for example, Hangouts, Skype and Zoom to conduct an online face-to-face study session. Jakarta Province Education Department has released a special app called Wekiddo SMK Bisa to connect students, teacher and parents in the learning process. Some of Indonesia’s popular network providers, such as XL, Telkomsel, Smartfren, and IM3 are giving free internet quota for students to access these learning apps.

SMAK 5 Penabur choose Google Classroom to conduct the learning activities. Every session is held for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Break-time is held for 1 hour after every session. Students are given videos, homework, and essays to work with. Next week starting from April 1^st, the lessons will be held through Zoom to conduct a face-to-face learning process.

It is unlikely that students will go to school to continue their usual learning process, given the fact that the number of people infected Corona Virus is increasing each day.  Researchers at the Center for Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) predicts that Indonesia’s coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic peak will happen at the end of March and eventually end in mid-April. The government already made their move to prevent the virus from spreading contagiously by addressing people to stay at home and avoid large crowds. Rapid tests to detect Coronavirus in one’s body is also conducted in a few areas in Indonesia. Of course, we all hope that this pandemic will be over soon so we can continue our normal situation – where we can work and go outside without any fear of being infected by the virus. 

For more information about Coronavirus and simple things that you can do to prevent from being infected, check out OSISBID10 English Corner highlight in Instagram or check our previous article!

Written by: Margareta (XIA1)