The middleground between lecturers and students in the digital age
Written by Yohanna Belinda | Read in Indonesian
In an era where the metaverse is a hot topic of discussion, the design education system must also keep up with the times. Lecturers have to adapt to a more modern system so that students can keep up with the constant developing job market.
According to Sampoerna University Head of Visual Communication Design (New Media) Study Program Tombak Matahari, preparing students for the world in the future is crucial in order to allow them to adapt faster.
“When I took the visual communication design school in 1998, we learned to draw, make logos, posters and editing. But now it is about the digital world. Now, at the university where I teach, there is new media technology, where I teach coding [and] design,” he said.
Implementing technology with adequate facilities
Technology plays an important role, especially in facing a more competitive situation. Competition does not only occur on a national scale but also globally, according to "The Role of Technology in Education in the Era of Globalization" written by Sudarsri Lestari.
According to Tombak, technology is what makes schools in the past and today very different. “For this year, we have classes for virtual and augmented reality. There is also an experimental art and design class, so that our students can catch up with the existing technology,” he said.
Facilities must be adequate to support the learning process. Tombak explained that Sampoerna University has provided green screen and motion capture studio facilities which can be used by students to learn about digital photography, visual effects (VFX) and the motion recording process for making videos, animations, or games.
"The most important thing is that students understand what they have to do when they get a project. Therefore, it is very important that the existing facilities are provided by the school," said Tombak.
Image: Green screen and motion capture studio at Sampoerna University
Collaborate with the industry
Lecturers or universities must keep updated with the developments in the industry and collaborate with the industry players. “I always cooperate with the industry. For example, to design a mobile app, I provide guest lecturers who have experience in designing applications.”
Understand human’s behaviour
Lecturers also have to understand the mindset and behaviour of students nowadays because they are much more critical. University students adapt more quickly to existing technology. Lecturers really need to have work experience that can be shared with their students.
For him, teaching self-confidence is also very important in the era where people are spending more of their free time on social media. Citing the journal "The Effect of Self Image and Social Acceptance on the Confidence of Adolescents Who Upload Selfies on Instagram" by Selviana Sari Yulinar, which was published in 2022, social acceptance contributed 62.3% to the self-confidence of teenagers who uploaded selfie on Instagram. These results were taken from 108 samples.
However, there are many other factors.
One of them is hustle culture, a culture of hard work pushing oneself beyond one's ability to achieve capitalist goals, such as wealth, prosperity and success, as quickly as possible, as cited from Sampoernauniversity.ac.id. It all comes back to oneself, because many have understood the impact of social media on their personality.
"Have done it, and often. Honestly, sometimes I feel insecure because people who are of the same age or even younger than me can achieve so much. Fear of missing out (FOMO) undoubtedly exists, really, and I think it's natural. But to say burdened, I don't think so, because again, people's abilities and ways of life are different,” said one student from Sampoerna University.
Even so, as a lecturer, Tombak strives to create a class that has more interaction between students. For example, work in groups to learn to present their ideas in order to deal with future clients.
“Freshmen are usually insecure or not confident, therefore we also encourage students to be brave in presenting. Through this process, students learn to share their ideas,” said Tombak.
However, in an interview with TFR, two students said that they did not have to compare their achievements with others.
“People's achievements are different, so as long as we've done the best we can, that's enough. If there is someone my age who has achieved various highs, comparing me with that person will see no end,” said one student. For them, trying to make the future much better is more important than looking at other people.
Asides from academics, experiential learning can also improve intrapersonal skills. Through experiential learning, students can exchange ideas which is also very important in building their self-confidence.
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