Blended Learning and Teaching Program Implementation for Industrial Workers in Bekasi, West Java Province Indonesia (A Case Study in Vocational Education Program of Bina Insani College and Academies) (original) (raw)

2015, International Seminar Proceeding

This qualitative research is to describe how Bina Insani College and Academies implements a blended learning and teaching program for industrial workers in Bekasi, West Java Province, Indonesia. Blended Learning is a combination of conventional class rooms and internet based class rooms or e-learning. Data have been collected for 12 months, starting September 2014 by interviewing 7 (seven) team members who are assigned to prepare for blended learning and teaching program in Bina Insani and by observing some activities that are in line with the program implementation. Bina Insani are located in Bekasi, West Java Province, Indonesia that is surrounded by 5 (five) major industrial parks. It is estimated that there are more than 3 million workers in more or less 5000 Small Medium Enterprises and Multinational companies. They need to study in higher education for future certainty. Bina Insani leadership comes up with an idea of empowering industrial workers by setting up a blended learning and teaching program. The workers are not able to study in higher education level because of their work shift system. The system assigns them to work in different time daily, weekly or monthly. They sometimes work in the morning work shift and sometimes in evening work shift. In this situation, there is no conventional class room they are able to attend. As a result, they remain idle and stuck in production lines. Taking the idea into action makes the workers able to continue their studies to higher education. Having the program, they have a hope to study in higher education and to ensure their bright future. As research findings, here are some activities that the team has set up. Firstly, the team has done a market potential research to find out information on untapped market for the program such as the market size, product preference, affordable pricing, etc. The research has provided the team with sufficient information on marketing perspectives. The team also study government regulation concerning with online distance learning, especially the rules to obtain government permit to execute e-learning program. The next step is to formulate operational manuals for teaching staffs and students as well as supporting staff. There are some documents to fill in stating that the student candidates have to provide themselves with learning tools like Personal Computer/Notebook and Gadget as well as sufficient internet access. Furthermore, the team conducted teacher and student training on how to use e-learning web based application, to organize teleconference, and to make digital books and teaching/presentation video. The teachers then develop digital teaching materials and videos. And then, team also makes e-learning simulation to make sure that the program runs well. The simulation has been conducted in 6 (six) weeks. The simulation activities are in term of lesson delivery, quiz, assignment, and test. Finally the team report to Bina Insani management on the program preparation and implementation they have conducted before. Bina Insani management is going to follow up with manpower providing and forms and documents of government permit. Keywords: Blended learning, e-learning, conventional class room, web based application