PTI UMS Collaboration for Community Service in Maluku

UMS Informatics Engineering lecturers and students partnered with Desamind Indonesia Foundation, backed by Pertamina Foundation and Bebras Indonesia Office UMS, for a community service project named “Babar Kalesang: Low-Tech Environment Laboratory for Babar Islands.”

Held from July 17 to 21, 2022, the “Babar Kalesang: Low-Tech Environment Laboratory for Babar Islands” project engaged three communities in Tepa Village: elementary and junior high school students, and students and teachers from SMA Negeri 5 Maluku Barat Daya and SMK Negeri 3 Maluku Barat Daya.

UMS Informatics Engineering lecturer Hardika Dwi Hermawan, S.Pd., M.Sc.ITE, emphasized the aim of the "Babar Kalesang" project: to enhance understanding of education, technological advancements, and technological development among communities in Tepa Village.

“The media used can be utilized effectively to support innovation and students' interest in the outermost regions to advance their region,”said Hardika.

Hardika also hoped that the government and other organizations would implement more concrete programs in remote areas with limited access to electricity and technology. He noted that the digital divide in these areas is still very high.

“The community really wants our presence to help advance their region,” added Hardika.

With limited infrastructure, Tepa Village faces challenges in accessing technology. Electricity is available for only 12 hours daily, powered by a diesel engine, and internet connectivity is unstable, relying solely on GPRS signals with sparse connections. The team had to utilize limited Wi-Fi access at select locations, such as a school with satellite internet.

The team adapted technology to suit the low-tech environment despite the limited infrastructure. They maximized offline learning applications for Android devices, incorporated offline Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality experiences, and utilized Augmented Reality-enhanced books that can function without internet access.

Workshops on Computational Thinking and the Socialization of the Merdeka Curriculum were also provided by expert trainers from PTI UMS to teachers at SMA N 5 and SMK N 3 in Southwest Maluku. Two lecturers from PTI UMS conducted the workshops, Mrs. Irma Yuliana, S.T., M.M., M.Eng, and Mr. Hardika Dwi Hermawan, S.Pd., M.Sc.ITE.

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Source: https://news.ums.ac.id/id/08/2022/pti-ums-laksanakan-kolaborasi-pengabdian-di-maluku/