The effect of teleconference class on the environmental knowledge in higher education

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led schools and universities to change their primary methods of instruction from in-classroom learning to distance learning. National and local government authorities have called for children to study from home, and UNICEF has urged school authorities to ensure that there are plans in place for remote learning options. The purpose of this research is to evaluate one current form of technology used for distance learning in higher education, using quantitative descriptive correlation. This research examines the use of the interactive features of Skype to convey environmental knowledge to bachelor and magister students of the Universitas Indraprasta PGRI Jakarta, Indonesia. The research took place from 28 March to 30 May 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak. Research showed that students were motivated to learn remotely because 73% said they preferred to attend the class using Skype and 87% perceived they would benefit from learning through Skype. High vs. low test scores were found to correlate with familiarity vs. lack of familiarity with Skype, with those who believed they would vs. would not score higher because they learned remotely, with those who believed learning remotely did or did not aid them in understanding key concepts, and with those who hoped vs. did not hope to continue with remote learning in the future.