Armein Z.R. Langi
Since 2009, the Institut Teknologi Bandung Research Center on Information and Communication Technology (PPTIK-ITB), in collaboration with the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) developed the concept of ICT for teachers which aims to improve the professionalism of teachers in primary schools, especially in rural areas. The concept involves the use of information and communication technology services that provide collaborative learning among teachers that formed a Teacher Learning Community (TLC). In the TLC, the teachers are able to learn, share and exchange ideas even though they were not together at one place but done virtually through the utilization of ICT. One of popular ICT services in TLC that used by the teachers from Subang (West Java) and Keerom (Papua) which is two network testbed developed by PPTIK - ITB since 2009 is a chat room. Chat rooms used by the teachers to just say hello to her fellow teachers, to discuss a particular subject, or to plan for the creation of Learning Activity Plan on the implementation of Lesson Study. To do online together, the teacher uses Internet-connected computers and then access the chat room application. The application that being used is a chat application integrated within Moodle or Facebook. The biggest obstacle to be able to always access the online services is the availability of a network with the Internet is difficult to maintain in the rural area. Unstable Internet connection in the rural area are caused by the limited range of telecommunications network/Internet in the rural areas and the limited power resources that powering Internet network devices. Because of all these services depend on availability of Internet, Internet network is needed. If a teacher wants to follow the discussion on online activity together (through chat rooms) at the predetermined time while the Internet connection is unavailable, it is certain that the discussion will be missed. This research aims to apply the Smart Gateway system, which is a chat system that does not rely on the availability of Internet connection only. So it is expected any member of TLC will be able to join the discussion even though the Internet Connection is unavailable. Teachers can use a mobile device/phone to access the online discussions via Short Messaging System (SMS). The first phase of this research is to survey the location of the school to determine the condition of the network is available and know the number of teachers who will be involved. Furthermore, the Smart Gateway system from previous research will be implemented. At a later stage, testing of the features of implemented Smart Gateway will be done. The next phase is socialization and training to the teachers who will be use this service, so that teachers can take advantage of this service as well. Further testing will be done by the teacher users, in order to obtain feedback as input for the addition and improvement of features of the Smart Gateway system. From this research we will get design of used technology in the society, that is Smart Gateway that used to support the Teacher Learning Community. In addition there will be the publication of a paper in the International proceedings.
Penerapan Teknologi Tepat Guna
Unstable Internet connection in the rural area are caused by the limited range of telecommunications network/Internet in the rural areas and the limited power resources that powering Internet network devices.