The Challenges of Open and Distance Learning in Managing Practicums/Practical Courses during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Universitas Terbuka Case Study

Yunus, Mohamad and Yuliana, Ernik (2020) The Challenges of Open and Distance Learning in Managing Practicums/Practical Courses during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Universitas Terbuka Case Study. ASEAN Journal of Open and Distance Learning, 12 (2).

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Abstract

Practicums and practical courses are among the most challenging issues in open and distance learning practices. Various learning strategies have been utilised for these purposes, but they still present substantial problems. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the challenges are even greater as practicums and practical courses have to rely only on independent and online learning. This study aimed to analyse the management of practicums/practical courses during the Covid-19 pandemic based on the evaluation of the practicums/practical courses before said pandemic. The study was conducted using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods, and adopted the Context, Input, Process, Product model for evaluation. Data were collected through interviews, surveys, and observations to evaluate the programme from five Universitas Terbuka Regional Offices involving 100 students and 12 instructors. These data were analysed using a Context, Input, Process, Product educational evaluation model. For policy management of practicums/practical courses during the Covid-19 pandemic, data were derived from a secondary source in the form of the students’ registration profiles. Research results indicated that existing policies on practicums/practical courses during the Covid-19 pandemic have been adopted into quality control procedures. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the practicums/practical courses had been conducted in dual modes simultaneously, i.e. face-to-face and online. During the Covid-19 pandemic, practicums/practical courses have to be conducted entirely online due to physical distancing restriction policy. Online practicums/practical courses for diploma and undergraduate students in 2020 generally worked well, although a number of students encountered difficulties. However, the proportion of students who successfully completed the practicums/practical courses online were considerably high at about 90.63% (Semester I) and 97.04% (Semester II).

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