STUDENTS PRACTICUM DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA: AN OVERVIEW OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCES IN THE BIOLOGY PRACTICUM COURSES

Abstract

This paper aims at describing students' learning experience following Biology Practicum during the Covid-
19 Pandemic. The Practicum consists of Biology Practicum-1, Biology Practicum-2, and Science Practicum. UT students' domicile at all the Provinces of Indonesia. While this Pandemic, they conduct the practicums under their local institution's policy and regulations. Hence, the students may choose one of the three methods offered by the Program of Study, namely face-to-face, webinar tutorials, and a combination of both methods. This study is qualitative. Data collection was done through questionnaires consisting of several questions and statements that explore students' experience in carrying out biological Practicum in the pandemic. Samples of the study were obtained purposively. A sampling technique is used to collect data within several requirements, including (1) the sample is a biology education student at Universitas Terbuka;
(2) the sample is a student registered in the registration 2020.2 and 2021.1; and (3) samples are students who have taken one or two or third biology practicum courses (biology practicum 1, biology practicum 2 or practicum science). The data obtained is analyzed descriptively. From the study results on 33 selected samples, it is known that majority of the students use the method of learning practicum biology through webinar tutorials that are as much as 52%, then 27% through face-to-face and others (21%) using the blended method. The selection of learning methods is decided by several considerations such as student's time-appromante, student's learning style, student's ability, and, most importantly, consideration of risk zone status. The method of learning in biology practicum courses has its constraints. Based on the data, students who choose to follow biology through webinar tutorials and blended methods are often constrained in Internet network stability. In contrast, students who use face-to-face methods are constrained in Limitations of equipment and materials for Practicum, distance constraints. The obstacles in these three learning methods are a lack of guidance from tutors and students' internal motivation. Thus, in this study, students need additional learning resources to minimize the obstacles they face in practice learning (especially biology practicum) during the pandemic.