OLC4TPD: Learning Community Across Borders
May 3rd, 2012I translated this article, which was written by one of the OLC4TPD members, Asep Sapa’at, a Teacher Trainer at the Education Division Dompet Dhuafa on Republika Online.
November 2009,
Heavy rains flushed the city of Bogor. In one corner of the room, armed with a laptop that is connected to the Internet network, I was involved in an interesting cross-border discussion.
This discussion forum was attended by a variety of backgrounds of participants who are members of the community OLC4TPD. There is a lecturer, teacher, education practitioners, education observer, researcher, and a few others who have similar interests in discussing current issues in education.
OLC4TPD is an independent online learning community for teachers, teacher educators, researchers, trainers, who have a passion to expand the quality of education in Indonesia by improving professional skills of its members.
If the quiz Who Wants to be A Millionaire got the term ‘hot seat’, this community also has a term OLC4TPD Hot Seat Speaker, which means a person who are invited to share their knowledge in discussion sessions. Hot Seat Speaker will only speak of there is an online discussion sessions (online meetings).
My heart pounded at the first when I received an invitation to share knowledge and experience in online discussion sessions. I am grateful to finish it well. It was a valuable experience that fosters self-confidence and enthusiasm to continue learning.
Impossible turns into I’m possible. I’ve become a hot seat at the session’s first speaker OLC4TPD (13 November 2009). I was side by side with Paul Newhouse (Australia) to discuss the matter authentic assessment and ICT (February 19, 2012), even also did an online discussion in the middle of a presentation in an international conference on education at a University in Brunei Darussalam (May 25, 2011).
Many things have changed my way of thinking since joining in OLC4TPD. Initially I did not understand the sophistication of communications & information technology that can be used for useful things like what the world of education. When I joined this community, I had to learn to use the Skype program (from start to install to use Skype) to conduct remote discussions. Facebook and Twitter were also used to share various issues in education. The OLC4TPD website (www.eduatecu.wetpaint.com) is often used as a means to exchange ideas and problems faced by individual members.
OLC4TPD is part of the history of my life. I have a community that ‘forces’ me to improve English language skills. The speakers at most online discussion sessions are educational experts and practitioners from Indonesia, Australia and China. If I do not master the English language, definitely there are a lot of things that I would not understand.
I realize this is a call for me to continue to improve English language skills, not just to pass the English test. On the other hand, I also participate in this community to contribute through writing. The most memorable to this day, I never participated in the essay writing competition OLC4TPD. I was finally declared as the winner of one of the best three participants who got the gift to join an education conference in Bandung.
Some people say that learning knows no limits. Learning can be done anywhere and anytime. We own the right to decide whether we want to learn or not. Learning is not an obligation, but the rights of every human being. We can not force other people to learn because of their compulsion that could shape the perception that learning is an obligation to incriminate themselves. OLC4TPD helped me build self-awareness that learning is my right. Every person with whom I discuss, that’s my teacher, as long as people teach kindness.
Interestingly from this community, every member has a common perception of the meaning and importance of learning in community for mutual support the growth of knowledge and professional skills among members OLC4TPD. Although initially we just met and communicate in the online world, now, we can hold discussions face to face (face to face) on several occasions in Ponorogo (East Java), Bandung (West Java), Bogor (West Java). The meeting agenda for face-to-face discussion seemed to be a reunion of old friends whom we never see face-to-face. Imagine, in 2009 one was introduced in the online world, the next 2 to 3 years later they finally could meet face to face. The is the uniqueness and attraction provided by OLC4TPD community.
Let’s look at some of the testimonials shared by several OLC4TPD members about the existence of various programs served by OLC4TPD:
“OLC4TPD is an important model of learning community to reach out our in-service teachers in remote areas in Indonesia” (A Dean of Teacher Training University, Indonesia)
“Improv OLC4TPD our competencies. We Become more self-confident, receive a lot of new information & feel accepted” (A Teacher Educator, Indonesia)
“It was genuine honor to engage in discussions with teachers from another country” (A Senior Lecturer, Australia)
“I can widen my horizon and my improve my teaching & learning practice .. I also feel supported by the community” (A Math Teacher from Rural Secondary School)
No words can express my gratitude and happiness in joining this community. There are many professional achievements reached in my professional life through OLC4TPD community. I was the person who is learning, I do not have any master and doctorate titles, my English skills have not been so good, the ability of academic writing and researching I am far from qualified. OLC4TPD is present to accompany people like me to move forward and grow with all the limitations.
Keep learning because the learning would allow something that is not possible in our lives. If I, you, and we are experiencing difficulty in learning, I have always remembered with a large board on display in front of Universiti Brunei Darussalam library that reads, “You’ll never walk alone in your studies”. Keep learning with your learning community.
Eunice SariUser Experience Designer & Education Consultant with interest in online community, e-Learning, HCI, mobile and wireless technology
