Elementary School Students enjoyed Augmented Reality Based Mobile Learning Held by the Lecturer of German Department UM

Training of academics from the State University of Malang to Students at SD Negeri Sumbersari 03 Malang online. (Photo: Doc. UM for TIMES Indonesia)

State University of Malang (UM) again held community service in the pandemic era. This time the activities carried out were the socialization and training on Augmented Reality (AR)-based mobile learning.

The socialization and training event entitled “Augmented Reality-Based Mobile Learning Application for Cultural Learning for Students at SD Negeri Sumbersari 03 Malang” was held online. This activity was carried out by three German lecturers, namely Sunarti, S.Pd., MTCSOL, Drs. Tiksno Widyatmoko, M.A, and Lukluk Ul M, S.Pd., MTCSOL.

Coordinator of the Program, Sunarti, S.Pd., MTCSOL said, during the Covid-19 period, online learning has brought various challenges. This challenge was also felt at SD Negeri Sumbersari 03 Malang. The learning method used in online learning until now is still teacher centered.

Furthermore, there has not been a form of understanding and knowledge of teachers related to learning using AR-based mobile learning applications. “The limited learning time in schools is due to the government’s policy of breaking the chain of spread of Covid-19, as well as the quality of learning, especially the mastery of culture by students,” added Sunarti. According to her, there are various kinds of challenges, so learning media is needed that can be accessed online and offline.

Therefore, she continued, this activity is designed and implemented as an Augmented Reality-based Mobile Learning Application for Cultural Learning as a learning medium. It is integrated with the modules / chapters described by the teacher, to support simulation media and Cultural learning quizzes.

This Augmented Reality-based Mobile Learning application exists through analyzing problems and needs which is followed by several stages. The first stage is the creation of a system (design, development, and testing) with an estimated implementation time of approximately 1-2 months.

The second stage, the submission and socialization of the use carried out by the proposing team and assisted by several S1 students of the Chinese Language Education Department, while the object of this training is addressed to teachers from related cooperation partners as subjects who use it.

The third stage is product evaluation from the results of using the product in the form of a product that has been carried out.

“After holding this training, I hope that Augmented Reality (AR)-based mobile learning can be used as a support for cultural learning for students at SD Negeri Sumbersari 03 Malang,” he explained. This UM lecturer added, besides that, he also hopes that next, teachers can adjust online media and learning methods, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. (*)