The readiness of e-learning implementation in Indonesian education institutions
E-learning has become an interesting topic to discuss this moment. Almost all education in developed countries has implemented the e-learning system to support the education by providing online material that can be visited anytime by the students. When traditional classroom based system student only heard the lecture once they attend the class and cannot revise the material. According to (Howe, 1970; Johnstone & Sue, 1994 past research in Pale et.al., 2007) students only write 52% of the important information during the lecture, and memorize 10% orally during the lecture, and it will be different result if the lecture speak fast, quite, or has foreign accent. Therefore, the e-learning will brings benefit to students in order to help them reviewing the lecture material.
Ideally the e-learning is not just delivered by digitize the lecture materials, but it is important to make those material online. Thus, e-learning web based software and PC with internet connection is recommended. When readiness is measured by the information infrastructure, the thing that we need to know is the data about the technology that we have. I will make comparison between developed countries that already implement e-learning widely. The US with population more than 300 millions with over 200 millions or 70% use the internet, based on 2007 statistical data. In Europe, Norway has become the largest internet user nation by 88% or from 4.627.926 populations, and 4.074.100 are internet user. Another example is Australia, more than 75% or 15 millions of internet users, from 20 millions population. Compare to Indonesia with more than 230 millions population, only 20 millions of internet user or less than 10%. Indonesian internet usage still much better compare to Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, and some developing countries from ex-Soviet Union. Therefore, there is no doubt that in developed countries the e-learning is fast growing and widely adopted.
The second variable is the readiness of human resources or knowledge workers. Peter Dracker states that academic professional, researcher, and teacher are include as a knowledge worker. People who works with computer and other information technology also categorized as knowledge worker (Davenport, 2005). The technology skill needed in order to support the better e-learning, because once lecturer commit to delivers the lecture online, he/she needs to prepare the material digitally, then uploaded prior the lecture commences, monitoring the discussion forum, giving feedback to any question, added some important link or multimedia. It seems that the future lecturer will have to work hard, so they will adapt with the technology changing. In my point of view, there are many intellectual lecturer but lack of technology skill especially older generation. From students perspective, the technology skill is not a big deal since they life with computer and internet, and usually the young generation is easy learner.
The third is governance or organization obligation to implement e-learning. Some of universities are already build their e-learning such as UI, UNAIR, ITS, ITB, UGM, etc, it shows the willingness to reform the traditional education system into online. The organization also realize the important to reforms the system to keep sustain in global competition.
To developed solid e-learning system there some issues that need to overcome, whereas technology infrastructure, human resources, and organization’s policy. For technology infrastructure problem especially internet, it is recommended that government working together with internet provider to provides cheap internet connection for the citizen and education institution particularly. Furthermore, government should ensure that internet also reached the rural area, not only in the city. Gives computer skill for student earlier at class. Problem with human resources, the education institution might conducted training or workshop on e-learning. The last thing, organization’s policy should support the improvement of education.
Sources:
Australia internet usage: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats6.htm
Indonesia internet usage: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm
Knowledge worker definition: (http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid11_gci212450,00.html)
Predrag Pale, Ivan Miletic, Zvonko Kostanjcar, Hrvoje Pandzic, Branko Jeren.(2007)Pyramidia-An integrative e-learning tool. TheInternational Conferenceon“ComputerasaTool” Warsaw, September9-12, 2007.
Norway internet usage: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats4.htm#europe
The US internet usage: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats14.htm
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