Page 196 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

176 OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATON IN ASIA
Good Practices from AAOU Members

To maintain the relevance and novelty, UT Learning Support Services. Tutorial is the
has the policy of revising and updating the main learning support for students. All
modules at least every five years. UT’s digital courses are accompanied by online tutorials,
learning materials can be accessed and can and each course can have more than one
be downloaded using various devices such online tutorial (known as Tuton) class.
as smart phones/tablets or laptops so that Tuton can be accessed at https://elearning.
students can read them offline. The access ut.ac.id. Several courses (especially those
and download of the digital modules can of the Bachelor Program for upgrading the
be done through the website at http:// Elementary School Teachers– S1 PGSD), due
bahanajar.ut.ac.id/ or through the “BA Digital to the spread of the students in more rural
Open University” application, which can be areas where internet infrastructure is not yet
downloaded on Google Playstore. Modules adequate, are supplemented by face-to-face
are also available in the virtual reading room tutorials (known as TTM). TTM is organized
at the university digital library at https:// by ROs in cities closed to the domicile of the
pustaka.ut.ac.id/lib/. the students. During the Covid-19 Pandemic,
all face-to-face tutorials are replaced by
Student Support Services. Students video conferencing (known as TUWEB) where
would receive support services from the students can participate with simple device
beginning of joining UT until they graduate. such as handphone.
New students would receive a package of
orientation package and a full-day face-to- Practical Works/Practicum. Some courses
face orientation programs (replaced with that require practical works or practicum.
videoconferencing during the Covid-19 Practical works or practicum allows students
pandemic). During they study at UT, they to have hands-on experiences and perform
can consult and interact with UT’s staff in the required skills. UT has established long
the RO, by either face-to-face meeting or and strong collaborations with various
online. UT also establishes a contact center institutions (universities, schools, training
known as ‘Hallo UT’ that can be contacted centers, etc) which have laboratory and
24 hours using a trackable ticket-based email workshop facilities to accommodate students
system and a telephone number at 1500024. do their practical works in their nearest
Periodically UT also organizes various location. Currently, UT has 106 courses
workshops and clinics to enhance student’s that need practical works /practicum. In
capacity and skills in conducting distance the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic,
learning. the policy that UT applies is following the
Government’s Covid-19 preventive health
protocol standards, where online practicum
(Praton) is used whenever possible.

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