Social Media Learning, Online Learning Solution for Areas with Unstable Internet Connection
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many system changes in various sectors such as; tourism, trade, transportation, and even education. This change began when the government imposed physical distancing to large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). This then ‘forces’ us to carry out activities such as work, study and even worship from home or known as Work from Home or Study from Home.
SMK Negeri 5 Merangin as one of the educational institutions has started carrying out the online learning process since the government imposed the Work from Home or Study from Home rule. The government has made every effort to provide the best quality online learning by providing several applications that can be used by educators and students to support learning activities from home, even the government provides free internet quota to be able to access some of these applications. Examples of some applications from the government that can be used are the Learning House, Our Desk, Smart Class, etc. Not only that, there are also applications from private or corporate developers such as Google Classroom, Zoom, Ruang Guru, Cisco Webex, Zenius, etc.
This is certainly a challenge for educational institutions that are not used to carrying out online learning processes, coupled with areas that have limited or even unavailable internet network access, making these applications inaccessible and hampering the online learning process. Of course, the things I stated above refer to my personal experience as an educator who must continue to teach online. The main obstacle that I faced while carrying out the online learning process was the limited internet access in the area where I teach and in the area around the student’s house so that the information I gave through the WhatsApp group was not immediately obtained by the students (late) and some did not even get the same information. very.
This problem is certainly my focus to immediately find a solution so that students still get their right to learn and educators can carry out their obligations to teach. From some observations I made regarding their online activities through social media, I found that students were more active in using Facebook and Messenger. This is because the use of Facebook and Messenger applications does not require a strong internet network, even in a weak internet network this application can still be used. In addition, students’ responses to the assignments given were quite good compared to when I used the WhatsApp group, and students were more enthusiastic in doing the assignments given because they were required to upload their work to their Facebook account. So, it occurred”Media Social Learning is a simple idea to process online learning activities through social media.
What is “ Social Media Learning ”?
Social Media Learning is an innovative learning model that utilizes Facebook and Messenger social media as an online learning solution in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and also as a solution for students in remote areas with limited internet network access. This application is very close to students, so there is no need to explain much about how to use it, and also this application can be used even in conditions of limited internet network access, making it easier for educators to provide information while making it easier for students to receive information.
How to use it technically?
Quite easy. Educators only need to install the Facebook and Messenger applications through the Play Store, then educators create group chat rooms in the Messenger application. Messenger is used as a space to share information from both teachers and students regarding the material, discussions and assignments given. Besides that, it can also be used as a space for reflection and evaluation related to the learning process that has been implemented. Then Facebook is used as a medium for publishing the work or assignments given and educators can also provide responses or feedback directly in the comments column of students’ Facebook accounts, so that students feel that their Facebook is a useful thing because they can share information they need. positive from the task given by the teacher.
Examples of Learning Activities I Have Done
The steps for learning activities using the Social Media Learning (SML) model are as follows:
- Educators deliver materials/assignments via Messenger Group
- Students understand the material/tasks related to Agricultural Product Processing
- Students make works in the form of food or beverage products
- Students upload their work in the form of product photos, processing videos and recipes on their respective Facebook accounts by marking the educator’s account in question.
- Educators provide reviews and follow-up in the form of reflection and evaluation (this can be done in the comments column of students’ Facebook accounts or in group chat rooms on Messenger.
Learning assessments can also be adjusted according to needs, examples of the assessments I did on the subject of Basic Agricultural Processing Processes are:
Product Rating
Creativity, Conformity of the process with the recipe shown, Cleanliness of product appearance.
Attitude
Neatness, Accuracy, Honesty, and Responsibility.
Skills
Through making videos of product processing processes.
Reflection on the learning model that has been done
This learning model is suitable to be used to support the online learning process, especially in areas with limited or weak network connections, however, this learning model will be more optimally used in areas with stable and strong internet connections because educators can broadcast live on their Facebook and provide material directly to students and students can respond in the comments column to the material shown, educators can also share videos related to the subject matter and ask students to discuss in the comments column related to the shows shown.
Hopefully this ” Social Media Learning ” (SML) learning model can be an alternative solution for educators and students with limited internet network access to still be able to do online learning and can be a reference material for using online learning models and at the same time can help the government run the Learning from Home program during this Covid-19 pandemic.
The RPP can be downloaded via the following link: