The Challenges of Online Study in a Social Studies Lesson

 The Challenges of Online Study in a Social Studies Lesson

One of the countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is Indonesia. Indonesia has been closing some schools since March 2020 for all educational degrees. The Indonesian government responded by issuing Regulation Letter No. 3, 2020, on COVID-19 disease prevention in academic units. WHO and UNESCO also recommend implementing online learning. The consequence of closing educational institutions physically and replacing them with learning from home as a government policy is a change in the teaching and learning system from offline to online. One of the subjects that must be adjusted is social studies. So far, social studies learning is carried out face-to-face, and the teacher can measure and assess performance and learning outcomes directly. Many social studies materials that are usually taught face-to-face must now be conducted online. Problems arising from online learning applications include decreased student interest because students are bored, decreased student participation in learning, and low teacher readiness.

Online learning is a learning strategy using information and communication technology that aims to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between educators and students. Online learning systems allow teachers and students to learn anywhere and anytime. This method is very flexible and allows students and teachers to find as many sources of information as possible about the subject matter. Social studies are one of the subjects that have changed during the COVID-19 period. Using online learning in the learning process certainly provides new experiences for teachers and students. In theory, online-based social studies learning can apply. Considering that social studies learning has unique characteristics that are integrated and multidisciplinary, the development of online learning for integrated social studies learning is very relevant. This is because an integrative approach to social studies learning requires a theme that combines one concept with another.

However, the use of online learning has yet to have a fully positive influence on teachers and students. The use of online learning systems in learning also has a negative side caused by the human resources of teachers and the infrastructure owned by students. Online learning is not an alternative learning process that replaces the traditional learning process holistically but only serves as a complement. The combination of the two (online learning and face-to-face learning) will produce productive synergies. Physical and face-to-face learning in schools will maintain the value of human interaction, while online learning systems will provide access to rich sources of knowledge from the internet. The process of online social studies learning causes several problems, namely a decrease in student interest in learning because students are bored, a decrease in student participation in learning due to lack of direct interaction between students and teachers, low teacher readiness in carrying out online learning, and problems with unstable internet networks in some regions.

Online learning is considered very effective, considering the existence of social media, smartphones, and laptops that are already affordable for teachers and students. However, this method is only partially effective. Various responses from teachers include learning that makes students feel bored, decreased student participation rates, teachers' incomprehension with using online media for learning, and internet access that students and teachers cannot reach. When viewed from the content of the problem, the fruitlessness of online learning in some regions is caused by the unpreparedness of teachers for online learning. It is common to find teachers who still stutter with technology in carrying out learning. In addition, it is caused by inadequate facilities and infrastructure in the form of unaffordable internet access in several parts of Indonesia. In the future, the application of online learning in schools needs much improvement, in addition to increasing the competence of teachers and students. It is also necessary to create a system managed by the academic unit regarding supporting infrastructure, learning curriculum, learning methods, and adequate resources.