As we know the Ministry of Higher Education was introduce the TikTok Challenge among University Students during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there are many parties that are not agree with this. Here, I am sharing a thought from one of Academican, Dr Af-.
Quote:We have witnessed a massive backlash on the recent action of putting a traction of exposure to an app called TikTok among our students in the institutions of higher learning. Personally, I’m not a fan of this app as I can’t see any benefit for me as an academician. But, I also aware that some of the students are likely to attract to whatever this app may offer to them.
Hence, let me share my thoughts on the values that may impact especially to our young students in the universities.
1. The value of academic leadership in promoting this app may give negative perception from the public. The ministry will be viewed as not putting priority to the development of the talents in terms of their education. Maybe the entire idea was to develop essential skills (i.e communication, entrepreneurship etc) among the students. But, we need to measure of how far this app will able to let our students to be outstanding, esp in the fields of their studies. To make thing worst, on how this had been promoted, the ministry had been visibly looked as the one that leading this program.
2. The value of developing our students to be the first class leaders. When talking about this, I would rather emphasize on our students’ attitudes. Few days before we have been frantically informed on how some of our students, that we were hoping to lead this country one day, reflecting themselve to the supports given during the on-campus MCO. This showed that the public is concerned about the spirit of gratefullness, which they have failed to show yet. This is an issue of maturity. As adults, we should already understand that maturity needs time and we need to show them the right ways. Does this TikTok competition can ensure that we can produce graduates who matured enough to face the reality later in their life? What are the roles models (those influencers selected to be the “mentors” in that program) may contribute to help us on this?
3. The value of teaching and learning in the institutions of higher learning. Currently, the universities are strunggling to make sure our teaching & learning can be best implemented during this hard time. We also aware that there are a number of students who cannot reach the contents we’re providing through online, due to some difficulties like infrastructure etc. That’s mean we put our focus and efforts to make the contents more reachable. Personally, I believe in innovation in delivering my teaching so that my students, who happen to belong to the new generations, can learn more effectively. If we can proof that the implementations of TikTok will able to let our students to learn better, that’s would be very helpful.
By far, these are my thoughts on this issue. As a disclamer, my thoughts doesn’t represent to the university that I’m serving now, but wholely only comes from my personally opinions as an educator.
Thanks!
