Self-organized learning environment teaching strategy for ELT in Merdeka Belajar concept for high school students in Indonesia

Abstract

As the development of the industrial revolution takes place, disruptions are happening constantly in almost every major sector of the current industries. Companies and organizations complained about the competencies of the graduates entering the work force. This matter questions the readiness of the education system in preparing the students for the real world. Problems in education such as the regulations, strict policies and instructions from the government are undermining the role of the teachers to do what they think best for their students. This standardization has harmed the motivation and enthusiasm to learn, especially in English language class. Lack of motivation and English Language competency could harm students’ opportunity in accessing the vast global network of knowledge. Merdeka Belajar and SOLE are the promising alternatives in improving ELT. This article is somewhat a position paper trying to clear one side of a debatable opinion about a hot issue. It aims to persuade the reader that our opinion is valid and defensible. In doing so, we then separate the discussion into several parts regarding the analysis of concepts of Merdeka Belajar and SOLE (Self-Organized Learning Environment) related to ELT and motivation in language learning, as well as innovation in education.
 HIGHLIGHTS:
 
 SOLE (Self-Organized Learning Environment) is a concept developed by Sugata Mitra, and the researchers at the SOLE Centre in Newcastle University.
 SOLE with its highly influenced Constructivism approach lets the learners to take steer of their learning process gives them the ability to make meaning of the subject on their own.
 Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) is a new concept that needs to be tread carefully to direct the discussion objectively.

Exploring Students’ Learning Engagement in EFL Online Classroom

“…Indonesia has taken a new initiative to fix future and current employment problems (Anis & Anwar, 2020). Since the early 2000s, the Indonesian national curriculum has been considered competency-based.…”

“…Motivation is also an essential driver in language learning. The role of motivation in promoting positive affective factors to facilitate language learning is undeniable (Bley-Vroman in Anis & Anwar, 2020). Merdeka Belajar's practices can be useful in English Language Teaching to develop student motivation and engage students in learning English.…”

“…It is a new approach to English Language Teaching through the SOLE Technique. The developer of this theory, Sugata Mitra, successfully experimented with SOLE's concept within India (Anis & Anwar, 2020).…”

English Language Learning-Based Open Space (ELLBOS) for young learners in the tourism area

“…This new educational concept considers the individual cognitive abilities and uniqueness of students. The difference between this new education concept and the curriculum used previously is that students are expected to be able to demonstrate minimum abilities in terms of "literacy" and "numeracy" (Anis & Anwar, 2020). The focus is not how much students can get grades through assignments from teachers but how students can think critically using their cognitive ability.…”

“…Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia has initiated the change in the education bureaucracy where educators can innovate to determine learners' success (Anis & Anwar, 2020). Furthermore, it is said that the teaching staff starting from the elementary school level to the tertiary institutions carry out exhaustiveness on paper by spending time and energy doing all kinds of preparations under administrative demands.…”