Professional Documents
Culture Documents
a
Pendidikan Guru Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta,
Indonesia;
b
Pendidikan Guru Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta,
Indonesia
Pendidikan Islam Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, IAIN Syekh Nurjati, Cirebon, Indonesia
c
d
Pendidikan Islam Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta,
Indonesia
* diah.andika@umj.ac.id
Constraints and Challenges in Online Learning During the COVID-19
Pandemic: Findings and Recommendations from Early Childhood
Education Teachers in Indonesia
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a significant shift in education, with schools
and educational institutions across the globe adopting remote learning strategies to
continue providing education to their students (Irianto et al., 2021; Murni et al., 2022).
This sudden and drastic change in learning patterns poses considerable challenges for
teachers, students, parents, and the broader educational ecosystem (Satriyana et al.,
2022; Setianingsih & Apriani, 2021; Wardani & Ayriza, 2020). Establishing the
importance of this topic as a problem to be addressed is vital for ensuring that the
quality of education remains high during these unprecedented times (Abedin et al.,
2021).
Existing research has explored various aspects of online learning, such as the
role of parents in supporting their children’s learning at home (Arini & Wiguna, 2021;
subject matter (Marliza & Hartati, 2021; Sironga et al., 2022), and the difficulty of
studies have examined the impact of insufficient internet access and technological
implementing, and evaluating online learning (Abedin et al., 2021; Ariesca et al., 2021;
those with special needs (Mudyasari & Markhamah, 2022; Tamami, 2021). Moreover,
studies have examined alternative assessment models that can support effective online
learning (Hastuti & Marzuki, 2021) and the importance of strengthening the relationship
between teachers and students through face-to-face support to optimize online learning
learners in remote learning settings, such as in Bengkulu (Satriyana et al., 2022), and
caregiving burdens during the pandemic as their children face difficulties accessing
Unstable internet connections and limited internet quotas are common obstacles
that hinder the effectiveness of online learning (Ani, 2020; Thohir et al., 2021). In light
of this, researchers like Hiroko and Rizu (2021) have found that language assessment is
vital to developing online support systems that can mitigate the impact of the COVID-
into the challenges faced by teachers when teaching online is needed. Such research is
to address the issues at hand, enabling more effective and efficient remote learning
processes.
Moreover, the findings of this research can offer valuable insights for
developers, to devise better strategies for supporting remote learning and improving the
quality of education during the pandemic and beyond. Consequently, research on the
problems teachers face in online learning can significantly enhance the educational
The current research aims to synthesize and analyze the various challenges
teachers face during online learning, as documented in previous studies. This research
aims to identify common threads and knowledge gaps in the existing literature by
examining the wide range of issues that have emerged in different educational contexts.
Furthermore, this study explores potential solutions and best practices that educators can
The significance of this study lies in its potential to inform future educational
policy and practice, both during the ongoing pandemic and in any future crises that may
institutions and policymakers can work together to develop targeted strategies and
interventions to help educators adapt to the changing teaching and learning landscape.
In turn, this can improve all students’ overall quality of education, regardless of their
background or circumstances.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many challenges for online learning
teachers, students, and parents. Despite the wealth of existing research on this topic, a
comprehensive study examining the problems teachers face during online learning is
necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the barriers they encounter and identify
potential solutions. By addressing these challenges and exploring best practices, this
research aims to improve the educational system in times of crisis and support teachers,
Methods
This study employed a survey method wherein open-ended questionnaires were
and sample of the study consisted of teachers working in early childhood education
institutions. Data collection techniques used in the study were survey methods, and the
questionnaire was developed as an instrument for gathering data (Cohen et al., 2017).
collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis, where the data were grouped
based on related themes (Creswell, 2018). The NVIVO application was employed to
assist in the data analysis process. The results of the data analysis were utilized to draw
a researcher conducting the survey, the study subjects being teachers, and informants
assisting during the research were not required. The study was conducted in various
locations in Indonesia over several months. The validity of the research findings was
ensured through various means, such as peer review, member checking, and data
triangulation (Cohen et al., 2017; Creswell, 2018). Overall, the research methodology
used in this study is comprehensive and aims to ensure the reliability and validity of the
research results.
Result
This study discusses the problems early childhood education (ECE) teachers
face when conducting online learning. From the questionnaire, the data were analyzed
thematically by grouping the relevant themes. Table 1 shows the formed themes.
This study reveals various challenges children, parents, and teachers face during the
laziness, difficulty waking up early, disobedience to parents, and poor learning moods.
learning media, less effective learning, lack of direct instruction, suboptimal teacher
excessive internet usage, insufficient quotas, and weak signals, also pose problems.
Specifically, children in Java face more incredible boredom and poor learning
moods than those in other regions. Children in Kalimantan often experience boredom
and laziness; in Nusa Tenggara and Papua, they may also face boredom. On the other
hand, children in Sulawesi and Sumatra do not encounter challenges related to the
Parents’ challenges also differ across regions. Parents in Java, for example,
cooperation. In Kalimantan, parents face more challenges related to working and not
having a mobile phone. In Nusa Tenggara and Papua, parents struggle primarily with
not having a mobile phone. In Sulawesi, the most common challenge faced by parents is
technological illiteracy. In Sumatra, parents face suboptimal reporting of children’s
Learning challenges also vary across regions. In Java, the most common
Kalimantan, the most common challenges are suboptimal teacher observation and lack
of direct instruction. The most common challenges in Nusa Tenggara and Papua are
limited learning media and ineffective assessment. In Sulawesi, the most common
Internet quota challenges are experienced in all regions, with some differences.
In Java, the most common challenges are excessive internet usage and weak signals. In
Kalimantan, the most common challenge is excessive internet usage. The most common
challenges in Nusa Tenggara and Papua are weak signals and insufficient internet
Nevertheless, the results of this study can serve as a foundation for finding solutions and
addressing the challenges faced in children’s learning assessment and evaluation during
the pandemic.
Figure 1. Map of Online Learning Assessment and Evaluation Challenges Based on
Region of Origin
during the pandemic found several aspects that provide support during the process. One
aspect identified was support from teachers’ families, with significant differences in
support across provinces. Teachers’ family support is highest in Java, while support is
pandemic is peer support for teachers. The study found that peer support is relatively
high in all provinces but with significant differences in the level of support. Peer
support for teachers is highest in Java, while support is relatively low in Kalimantan,
teacher creativity among provinces, with Sulawesi having a relatively low number of
creative teachers.
children’s learning evaluation during the pandemic. Significant differences exist in the
amount of moral support and teacher encouragement among provinces. Java has the
highest levels of moral support and encouragement from teachers, while support is
media for teachers also provides essential support. There are significant differences in
learning media support for teachers among provinces, with Java having the highest
levels of learning media support. Furthermore, receiving quota assistance also provides
the pandemic. There are significant differences in the level of parental support among
provinces, with the highest levels of support found in Java and Kalimantan. However, it
should be noted that parents in all provinces provide maximum support in reporting
children’s assignments.
Supporting Factors in the Assessment and Evaluation of Online Learning for
Children
This study identified several solutions for addressing the challenges of children’s
learning assessment and evaluation during the pandemic in various regions in Indonesia.
Based on the table above, there are significant differences in the strategies employed
among the regions. In Java, the most frequently employed strategy is maintaining
Java consider it essential to establish a good relationship with students’ parents to gain
respondents. It may be due to the need to catch up on the delayed curriculum during the
pandemic.
due to limited access to the internet and technology, making online learning less than
optimal. In Sulawesi, one respondent chose in-person learning, possibly due to limited
access to the internet and technology in the region. This research indicates that teachers
pandemic in each region. Therefore, further analysis is needed to find appropriate and
Discussion
The literature offers invaluable insight into the vital roles played by parents during the
pandemic as they facilitate their children’s online learning experiences. Parents have
been recognized as essential motivators, facilitators, and mentors in their children’s
learning journey (Arini & Wiguna, 2021; Irianto et al., 2021). However, they encounter
numerous obstacles that impede their ability to support their children effectively. These
challenges include difficulty comprehending the course material (Hartati, 2021), lack of
facilities, time constraints, and the herculean task of nurturing children’s interest in
learning (Petrus et al., 2022). Additionally, issues such as exorbitant internet costs,
subpar network services, and difficulties in operating gadgets have been identified as
significant challenges faced by parents during this time (Putra et al., 2021; Simanjuntak et
al., 2023; Wardani & Ayriza, 2020). Furthermore, balancing their work commitments with
their children’s learning needs has proven to be a considerable struggle for parents
during home-based education (Irianto et al., 2021; Pardede et al., 2020; Setianingsih &
can improve the quality of online learning for children during the pandemic.
Recent research has interestingly revealed that parents have been more involved
in their children’s online learning than previously thought, taking on multiple roles such
various challenges parents faced (Arini & Wiguna, 2021; Kusumaningrum et al., 2020).
Additionally, these findings emphasize that issues with internet quotas, such as
excessive usage and weak signals, are prevalent across all regions, contradicting
connections (Ferdianita & Mulianingsih, 2021; Makmur et al., 2021; Simanjuntak et al., 2023) .
These inconsistencies underscore the diverse levels of support and challenges teachers,
pandemic.
The study also supports the idea that parents play a significant role in accompanying
their children’s learning during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of parental
becomes essential to devise strategies and policies that address the myriad challenges
teachers, parents, and students face during online learning during the pandemic.
support for parents and teachers in using digital learning tools, and developing engaging
and interactive learning content to maintain student motivation and interest (Abedin et
al., 2021; Hastuti & Marzuki, 2021; Sun’iyah, 2020b; Tamami, 2021; Tarigan, 2021) .
communication channels with parents and provide the necessary resources and guidance
to support their roles as facilitators and mentors in their children’s learning. Schools can
also offer workshops or training sessions for parents to understand online platforms and
efforts to identify and address gaps in resources and support for underprivileged
families, helping to create a more equitable educational environment for all children.
the challenges posed by the pandemic and ensuring a successful online learning
implemented for various groups affected by the pandemic, including children with
(Satriyana et al., 2022), and children with diverse language backgrounds (Sawada & Inoue,
teacher training, and additional support from therapists or specialists. The increased
burden on mothers caring for children with disabilities during the pandemic highlights
the need for extra support and resources for these families (Hearst et al., 2021).
can help to address the unique challenges faced by children with disabilities, ensuring
that they receive the necessary support to thrive during these difficult times.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health, including those
should be considered (Korczak et al., 2022). Parents of children with celiac disease have
reported increased appetite and anxiety in their children during the lockdown (Bükülmez
et al., 2021). Mental health professionals, educators, and parents should collaborate to
should be implemented. It may involve providing mental health support services and
resources to children and their families and tailored interventions for children with
programs into their curricula, helping students develop resilience, coping strategies, and
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the education landscape, with
online learning becoming the new norm for many students. As a result, parents have had
to adapt and take on new roles to facilitate their children’s learning experience, often
facing numerous challenges. In order to improve the overall quality of online learning
during the pandemic, it is essential to address these challenges and provide support for
communities, combined with targeted interventions and support systems, will help
ensure that children continue to thrive academically and emotionally during these
inclusive, and adaptive educational environment that fosters the continued success of all
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study has discovered that the online learning process during the
COVID-19 pandemic presents various challenges children, parents, and teachers face in
assessing and evaluating children’s learning. However, several aspects provide crucial
support in evaluating children’s learning, such as backing from the teachers’ families,
peer educators, teachers, and learning media for instructors, institutions, and parents.
This research can offer valuable information for stakeholders, such as educational
supporting remote learning and improving the quality of education during the pandemic
and in the future. Nonetheless, this study has limitations regarding the research variables
or topics discussed, which could be considered in subsequent research. For instance, this
children’s learning. Future studies may examine the psychological and social support
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