Perceptions of Early Childhood Student Teachers towards the Online Tutorial Courses at Universitas Terbuka (UT)

Abstract

This article discusses how Universitas Terbuka (UT) has helped to change the way of teaching, especially early childhood education (ECE) student teachers learn in Indonesia, from being the passive students who were listening to the teacher in the class to be those who can learn actively and independently both face to face and online. The research was conducted in 2018 and 2019 by sending some open questions online and by interviewing some early childhood education (ECE) student teachers. The study also used the data from 2013 as comparison data. The data have been analyzed descriptively. The results showed that it is proven that UT has a role as an agent of change for the early childhood education (ECE) student teachers in Indonesia. By studying at UT, the ECE student teachers learn to explore actively and independently. Moreover, UT (Universitas Terbuka) has helped them to experience how to learn online. By participating in an online tutorial at UT, the ECE student teachers learn to use internet for learning, such as reading the learning materials online, by expressing their knowledge and posting their questions online. Thus, in UT, they learn to know and to learn how to be professional ECE student teachers.