UNAIR NEWS – The Covid-19 pandemic has had some impacts in various areas of life, including the learning system of Airlangga University (UNAIR) which has changed to an online system or blended learning. The entire academic community is required to adapt to these conditions to prevent the spread of the virus.
For almost a year of studying during the Covid-19 pandemic, here are the impressions and stories of UNAIR students from various classes and departments when contacted by UNAIR News on Monday, December 28, 2020.
Experience of Blended Learning
Ratna Aulia Dewi Ananto, Three year vocational program student of Occupational Health and Safety at Faculty of Vocational Studies, or Ratna, feels that she is required to adapt to blended learning. One of the things that impressed her was that several courses which are more ‘hands-on’ had to be postponed and even omitted.
Moreover, what made Ratna quite overwhelmed were the lecturers who gave more assignments than the usual face-to-face lectures.
“Attending lectures during Covid-19 pandemic with new methods and with all its limitations has never been thought of before,” said the class of 2018 student.
For several courses that have to be done offline, Ratna feels that the health protocols are implemented properly, from the distribution of practical class sessions, the obligation to use masks, the obligation to use latex gloves when handling certain tools, and on several occasions also being asked to wear hazmat suits.
Different from Ratna, Rifda, Epidemiology undergraduate students in Faculty of Public Health feels that with blended learning, they get advantages as they can learn everywhere. In addition, lectures recordings can be requested for review.
Meanwhile, the drawback, according to Rifda, there is no opportunity to meet face to face with lecturers and colleagues, so social life in lectures becomes more tenuous.
“Another drawback is that the practicum assignment is replaced with a simulation video that is difficult to understand, difficult to focus, and disturbances are around which make the learning process challenging,” she explained.
When doing offline practicum, the class of 2017 student felt that the health protocol was implemented well. However, protocols related to maintaining distance are still difficult to implement, especially for students.
Making DIY mannequin for online practicum
Meanwhile, Ayik Rochyatul Jannah, a medical student class of 2017, felt that offline lectures made her understand the material presented by the lecturer more easily than when online lecture. According to her, difficulties are faced by medical students during practicum courses.
“During the online practicum , apart from not really understanding the lesson when it was explained by the lecturer, we also had limited mannequins, so we had to make our own with existing materials and modified them to match the original,” said Ayik.
The mannequin, according to Ayik, is used for practicum in Clinical Comprehensive Skill (CCS) and Medical Skill courses. In addition to making mannequins, Ayik and her classmates must use other similar equipment to replace the use of original tool so they can do the practicum.
Such as the use of large markers as a substitute for 50cc syringe, ballpoint pen as a penlight, USB cable as a substitute for a gastric tube, to clothespins instead of pulse oximeter.
Because she is going to be a co-assistant in the next semester, Ayik hoped that lectures can be carried out offline because at that time, medical students are required to use their knowledge directly to patients.
“For next semester, my friends and I , God willing, are assisting, so hopefully we can learn offline even if it’s only for a short period of time because this is the right time for us to learn directly from patients, “said Ayik. (*)
Author: Galuh Mega Kurnia
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
