The Covid Impacts Toward ELED

The Covid Impacts Toward ELED

     The Covid-19 pandemic, which attacks human respiratory organs easily, has already stressed out the whole world population and reaches at least 124 countries and territories including Indonesia. In dealing with this issue, the Indonesian government has established a "social-distancing" policy to prevent the increasing number of Covid-19 victims. This policy requires us to do all activities, including studying, inside our home with the help of sophisticated technology. Moreover, due to this strict policy, teaching-learning and civitas academica gathering are constrained. Let's take a look at our beloved campus, UINSA Surabaya, especially in English Language Education Department context.

     
     In obeying the "social-distancing" policy dealing with this Covid-19 issue, English Language Education Department (ELED) stakeholder suggests to ELED lecturers to conduct e-teaching learning activity. This daring, Dalam Jaringan, activity is conducted by harnessing online application platforms, such as Schoology, Google Classroom, Zoom cloud meetings, Moodle and so on. However, the implementation of it is not as good as expected. Anis Zayyana, one of the ELED students, argued "So far, I enjoy this online mode due to social distancing policy. It is hmm… interesting. However, the poor of connection inhibits online discussion and this teaching methodology can't cover all activities dealing with off-campus learning"

     Other than that, all kinds of civitas academica gatherings that HMP-PBI has planned are postponed indefinitely. The committees should set aside the time, the importance, the complicated preparation of the event. In HMP-PBI itself, two big events should be postponed due to this issue, they are International Seminar and TOEIC Preparation Test. According to the plan, the International Seminar will be held on April, 9th 2020, which about one week from now. Nevertheless, due to this issue, it will be postponed until October and hopefully, the situation will have been subsided. Anisya Septia, the chief of International Seminar, stated: "My work plan, International seminar, becomes chaotic, we have to reschedule the building loans, the speakers' presence and the other needs involved". 

     For the other event, TOEIC Preparation Test, it should be held on the 28th and 29th of March, 2020, which means it has been already conducted. Kurnia Setya, the chief of this event, agrees that this issue inhibits all activities. "I think it is very irritating, especially for organizations that their work plan nearby like me, the implementation of TOEIC is forced to be postponed following the circular from the rector that March 24th to April 1st the campus area must be sterile". This matter indeed brings so many drawbacks to the holding of this event. For instance, the committees must make an announcement containing postponement and apologies to all parties involved.

     From the article above, this Covid-19 pandemic indeed brings plentiful deficiency. However, this issue simultaneously brings several benefits to both academic and non-academic activity. The lecturer and the students may explore and experience a variety of online learning strategies. Because of this issue too, HMP-PBI may hold a well-prepared event and do a longer promotion to increase the number of participants significantly.