The Application of Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning using E-learning on Elementary Linear Algebra

Abstract

Learning activities were changed from face-to-face to full-online due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2019. Online learning through WhatsApp Group (WAG) was used by a mathematics teacher in higher education program in the early 2020. However, the learning result showed that 75% of preservice teacher were unable to accomplish their elementary linear algebra material. The combination of online learning through asynchronous method and synchronous learning was an alternative solution to solve the problem and enable preservice teachers having virtual face-to-face interactions with their lecturers. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the improvement in preservice teachers' learning outcomes and responses to synchronous and asynchronous learning. The research design used was one group posttest-only with 23 subjects were selected by clustered random sampling. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis. The test results showed that learning outcomes after synchronous and asynchronous learning was effective. While the questionnaire results expressed most preservice teachers gave a positive response to both learning methods. Thus, the combination of the two methods could improve the effectiveness of online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is recommended that higher education institutions provide innovative e-learning platforms for preservice teachers in developing further online learning methods.