MEDAN – The Faculty of Language and Art, Medan State University held a Focused Group Discussion with the theme “21st Century Pedagogical Teaching Skills: Empowering the Learner and Practitioner through Contextualized Digital Innovations and Best Practices”. The FGD presented two speakers, namely Keith Thong from University Book Store Malaysia (UBSM) and Sean Kilachand from Edusynch, United States.
Before the two speakers explained their presentation in the language and arts faculty meeting room, the two speakers were welcomed by the Unimed Rector at the Unimed Administration Central Building. There the Rector of Unimed Dr. Syamsul Gultom, accompanied by Vice Rector II Dr. Martina Restuati, Vice Rector IV Prof. Manihar Situmorang, Vice Rector III Prof. Sahat Siagian, introduced the Unimed profile to the two speakers. Also accompanied in the welcoming of the two speakers was the Head of LP2MP Dr. Isda Pramuniarti.
On the occasion, the Chancellor expressed his extraordinary appreciation for the visit of the two speakers at the FGD activities organized by the Language and Arts Faculty. “We hope that with the arrival of Mr. Keith and Mr. Sean can provide insight to the lecturers at FBS how to learn in the 21st Century. As we know that now we have entered Era 4.0, for that lecturers must be able to upgrade their knowledge, they must be able to master existing technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality. lecturers must master all of these things and then apply them in classroom learning so that the graduates produced can compete in this 4.0 era, therefore I hope that after this FGD is conducted, lecturers especially lecturers at FBS can continue to develop digital-based learning tools so that the teaching and learning process in the classroom is more interesting and can improve students’ abilities in facing the 4.0 industrial revolution era, “the Rector said.
Separately, the Dean of FBS, Dr. Abdurrahman Adisaputra, M.Hum., Who was represented by Deputy Dean I, Dr. Wahyu Triatmojo, M.Hum., Was very pleased with the presence of the two speakers. He hoped that this activity would have an impact on the paradigm of lecturers in teaching. He added that this activity would also be followed by a Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, especially by FBS lecturers.
Keith Thong as the first speaker gave a description of the Global English language Digital Education Experiences and Case Studies. He explained how Artifical Intelligence has influenced many people in learning and teaching. There have been many fundamental changes in the learning process. Students will feel more challenged and more happy if learning is done with technology-based. The teachers also find it easier to carry out their teaching assignments. Meanwhile,
The second speaker, Sean Kilachand, delivered the topic of Methodological Approaches in Teaching English Using Technology Assessments. It focuses on how the teacher can easily carry out the process of assessing student learning outcomes and giving tests. With the development of technology, online tests conducted today can save time and money. To ensure that the test taker does not commit fraud, during the test the physical test participant will be identified through a computer camera and iris movements continue to be monitored.
At the end of the activity, several points were agreed on the opportunity to collaborate not only with the two institutions they came from but also with other relevant institutions such as the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA). Possible work activities such as conducting English language skills tests by utilizing applications from UBSM and Edusynch in the language laboratory of the English Language and Literature Department. In addition, to expand the lecturer research roadmap, FGD related to research on Artificial Intelligence can be carried out as a follow-up activity. This was conveyed by Indra Hartoyo, M.Hum as Secretary of English Language FBS.
