UPH-Head Master Gathering: Encouraging Educators upon Using Learning Management System

The advancement of information technology is very rapid these days, generating changes in various fields. Thomas Frey, a futurist speaker said, ?by 2030 over 50% of Colleges will Collapse? (2013). This statement was conveyed by Dr. Khoe Yao Tung, M.Sc.Ed., M.Ed., a lecturer of UPH Education Master Program (M.Pd.), as the key speaker at a seminar with the topic ?Learning Management System: How to Communicate with the Millennials?, during Headmaster Gathering which was held on Friday, June 9, 2017 at the J.W. Marriot Hotel, Jakarta.

According to Frey, as quoted by Dr. Khoe, these changes are caused by ever increasing demand for online education services trend from year to year. Certainly, these education services could not be separated from the innovations in web communication and Android applications, which have been constantly growing ?innovation through innovation?. 

Dr. Khoe also quoted Andreas Schleicher (Google Education Seminar, 9-11 November 2015), who stated that today, teachers are trying to teach 21st-century children, whereas teachers from the 20th century and the school structure are still following the 19th century. Dr. Khoe also added that in general, children of the 21st century or Millennials is dependent towards gadgets, the internet, news on demand and social media.   ?Whether you want it or not, this has to be anticipated by all educators,? said Dr. Khoe to 67 participants of Master Gathering.

Dr. Khoe

In order to anticipate such a condition, Dr. Khoe explained about the importance of Learning Management System or LSM as a solution for educators in communicating with their students who are a part of the Millennials. In the education world, LSM is a software application used by educators, both in university and schools, as media for an internet-based online learning (e-learning).

?With LSM, the learning process can be done anywhere, anytime, through collaboration, real-time, interactive, multimedia and even multi-access. In conclusion, the principal of LSM is self-service, self-guided and engagement,” Dr. Khoe explained.

However, he also added that the role of teacher still plays a very important role. As he quoted from Bill Gate, ?Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” 

Dr. Khoe also asserted that Bill Gate’s statement dismissed Thomas Frey?s statement at the beginning, in which he said that 2030 over 50% of Colleges will Collapse.

Upon ending his presentation, Dr. Khoe concludes that teacher?s role will never be replaced by digital technologies.

?Teacher holds an important role as a model for students to shape their characters, whereas digital technologies only function as a tool that facilitates a successful learning process. Aside from that, technology enables a more efficient and effective teaching process. Some of the benefits of e-learning are creative, collaboration, communication and critical thinking,” he added.

To end the gathering, Dr. Khoe reminded that our society, especially our young generation, has yet to be equipped with an adequate amount of education regarding the use of information technology. Thus, teacher?s role is very important in guiding students to use gadget wisely and responsibly. (rh)