Page 207 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 187

that come either from the subject matters Students
themselves or from the changing policies UT students come from various social and
set by the Directorate of Higher Education demographic backgrounds. Research topics
of Indonesia. One of the significant findings related to students affairs include learning
of researches on curriculum reveal that style (Marsinah et al., 2018, and Royandiah
UT’s curriculum need to be more updated & Majidah, 2018), learning readiness
in accordance with the latest scientific (Purwantiningsih & Sardjijo, 2019 and
developments and stakeholders’ policies such Rohmah, 2019), and personal factors which
as those suggested by Ministry of Education, could affect their study (Bintarti & Rahardjo
scientific associations or organisation, 2019 and Alwi et al., 2018). Even though UT
students, and alumnus (Lestari et al., 2016; provides tutorials for almost all courses, one
Mikdar et al., 2018; Utami et al., 2017; and of the important findings of those studies
Windrati et al., 2016). relates to the need of students for more
guidance from tutors or instructors (Setiani,
Assessment 2020). Analysis on the learning process in
Student assessment is essential for online tutorials indicated that the interactions
student’s learning process, which is to are mostly still one-way without meaningful
measure the achievement of the targeted feedback from tutors. This was felt to cause
competencies. In the last five years, the feeling of loneliness among the students.
UT has conducted research on various Therefore, UT then requires all the tutors to
development of assessment models, such respond and provide meaningful feedback
as online proctoring and question and test to student within certain time (24 hours).
interoperability (QTI) models (Suhartono, Another finding is that students also imply
2020) and test development on online exam to need more guidance in making choices of
(Santoso et al., 2018). The proctoring system their course of study, which is also responded
is used to facilitate the ease supervision by UT positively. Counselling services
during online exams, so that examinees and have been intensified in both the ROs and
exam supervisors do not have to be in the electronically through the contact center.
same place. Currently, online exam in UT
has been implemented in a semi-proctoring Learning Materials
manner, in which supervision is conducted There are two types of learning materials
online through Microsoft Teams application developed by UT: printed (bahan ajar cetak
with active web camera and microphone, or BAC) and digital (bahan ajar digital or BAD).
particularly during Covid-19 pandemic, for In the past five years, a lot of research have
several courses in selected areas or regional focused on finding the best model of learning
offices. Through this method, UT ensures that materials using a more advanced technology
students do not cheat during exams. Based such as interactive digital learning materials
on the research findings, UT is now planning (bahan ajar interaktif or BAI), which allow
to apply the online examination with full student to actively interact with the learning
online proctoring system for all students. materials (Rahardjo and Hasanuddin, 2017;

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