Preventing the Increase of Covid-19 Cases, the Eco Warrior are Learning at Home

The increasing number of Omicron-type Covid-19 cases in Indonesia required that learning at home be reinstated. Following an appeal from the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the results of coordination with the Village Head of Melinggih Kelod, Begawan Learning Centre decided to close the centre temporarily and switch to using distance learning. Begawan distance learning lasted for 2 weeks from 7 to 18 February 2022.

Begawan realises that distance learning has its own challenges for students and facilitators. Students are vulnerable to feeling bored and constrained by limited learning support facilities. Begawan strives to continue to provide meaningful and relevant learning to students’ everyday life. Therefore, the education facilitator in Begawan compiled and modified several parts of the Bees and Butterflies thematic program so that it could be easily applied by students at home.

One of the ‘active’ activities carried out by students was to observe the flowers around the house that bees like. Students reported that there were various flowers around their houses, some said there were mini sunflowers, margot, butterfly pea, hibiscus, orchids, and roses. Students then took part in hand pollination to assist in flower reproduction. In the video sent by students in the communication group between Begawan and students, students can be seen wiping the pollen with a cotton bud slowly and transferring the pollen to the pistil of another flower. The practice of hand pollination has previously been studied at the Learning Centre, now was the time for students to apply it at home.

In addition to hand pollination, students also experimented with making hexagon bubbles which could give students an idea of why natural beehives are hexagonal in shape. This experiment was quite challenging, some bubbles burst easily if left too long, so students had to be agile in making bubbles and putting them together to form a hexagon, replacing the bubbles that burst.

To maintain student motivation, learning activities at home are also fun for students. Students drew symbols and wrote the meaning of the symbols. Dewa Ayu Ari, a first grade student, drew some bees flying around the hive. She explained that the meaning of the symbol is that the bee is a hard-working animal and likes to work together with other bees. The meaning of the symbol is interesting and hopefully we can all imitate the good nature of the bee.

In addition to drawing, in online learning students also watched short videos about bees and read fables that gave ideas for students to help each other, being invited to play crossword puzzles and trivia quizzes through the Kahoot application. 

On 18 February 2022, Begawan Learning Centre reopened and now continues to provide a free, meaningful and fun learning experience for students. Stay healthy! (Ketut Desy)