Alfisah Oktalia, S.Pd., known to her students as Ms. Lia, never imagined that in her first year as a teacher, she would experience how to teach differently. It is different because the learning process is not conducted in school as usual. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the implementation of all kinds of activities, including education. Schools have been closed for the time being, and students are directed to study from their homes.
The policy to learn independently from home has certainly not lessened the teachers’ obligation, such as Ms. Lia, to continue teaching and guiding their students. Since the decree to study from home was first issued by the government last March, the principal of SDN Marente state elementary school in Alas subdistrict, where Ms. Lia teaches, has made a number of policies so that students can continue to study. The first policy was to distribute learning books to each student until they developed online learning models by using cellphones.
However, these efforts had limitations. There are many textbooks that cannot be obtained by all students, while the use of technology is still limited by unequal access, ability, and knowledge both among the teachers and students’ parents.
In mid-April 2020, Ms. Lia received a package of Student Worksheet (LKS), which was developed by the INOVASI program, from the school principal. SDN Marente has been a part of the INOVASI assistance program in Sumbawa regency along with dozens of other elementary schools. The Student Worksheet that she received was part of INOVASI’s quick response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.
After receiving the worksheets from the school principal, Ms. Lia immediately distributed them to the homes of several of her students. Going to each house was a challenge for Ms. Lia. She does not have her own vehicle and must rely on motorcycle taxis or her younger brother’s help to make student visits.
“Yes, not to mention that some of my students live across the river. The road conditions are not easy. And if it rains, the river is impossible to cross. So, I had to turn a long way to get to the other side. Such is the challenge here, but we still push on,” said Ms. Lia.
Ms. Lia said she was happy with the LKS. Previously, she had to set aside time to develop the problems herself, and that was quite time consuming. The existence of the LKS has eased her work. The parents gave the same positive response. When Ms. Lia visited, they told her that the LKS made it easier for them to ask their children to study.
Some parents admitted that they still had difficulty teaching on their own but that the LKS had helped. INOVASI ensured that the design of the LKS was easy to use, both for adults who still need to assist children and for children who are able to use it independently.
According to Ms. Lia, almost all her students have completed their LKS. There are some parts that the students did not have time to complete because the material has not been taught. In cases like this, Ms. Lia will usually take the time to provide some materials.
“For example, if there is an assignment in the LKS that they have not had the chance to study before, I will stay there a little longer to teach them the material,” said Ms. Lia.
During the visits to her students’ homes, Ms. Lia is not limited to teaching or checking on assignments. She also takes the time to listen to her students’ complaints and for them to pour out their hearts. There was a uniform concern among them. They yearn to return to school as they did before.
“Almost every child that I visited, they would always ask when school will start again,” said Ms. Lia.
She certainly has not been able to answer or promise anything given the current conditions. One thing she can promise is that her students can continue to study from home with the support of the LKS she received from INOVASI.
