Implementation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) Platform in Learning German as a Foreign Language in Indonesia
Dr. Edy Hidayat, M.Hum.
MOOC is an acronym for Massive Open Online Course, which means online courses are open on a large scale. MOOC also refers to the notion that the concept of learning is entirely online and designed to support the participation of an unlimited number of students in a course. Top universities worldwide, including in Germany, offer many MOOC programs to improve one’s skills and academic qualifications. MOOC is an online-based course that is open and free, so this course can be followed by anyone interested in increasing their knowledge in their field. Indeed, some doubt the benefits of the MOOC program for education, as Bali conveyed that MOOCs’ revolutionary potential has been met with much scepticism, particularly regarding the quality of learning offered (Maha, 2014).
For students of UM’s German Department, the MOOC program, especially those using German as the language of instruction, can be used to improve German language skills. In addition, the MOOC program is usually not carried out only at a particular time but over time so that course participants can adjust to the time they have. Many benefits can be taken from the MOOC program. However, not many students can take advantage of the MOOC program because of their ignorance of this program.
Lecture activities are carried out asynchronously from April to July 2021. The steps are as follows: 1) determining the MOOC Digistudi material with foreign partners, in this case, from the University of Graz, Austria. 2) One theme is determined, related to digital competence presented in German. 3) Provide information about MOOC Digistudi to German Language Education Study Program students. 4) Students explore/follow the MOOC Digistudi materials provided by foreign collaborators. This activity was carried out for approximately two months, from May to July 2021.
From the study results, it can be concluded that 1) German department students of UM are pretty good in their language level, which is indicated by 94 per cent of students getting certificates at the end of the activity. 2) students’ digital competence level can also be said to be very good, with the acquisition of correct answers above 70 per cent. 3) Understanding things related to the digital world is beneficial for students in answering questions. From the questionnaire results, it can also be concluded that the digital competence of German department students of UM students is quite adequate, marked by a high level of answer completion, which is 49 out of 52.