Online Social Learning Platform vs E-Learning for Higher Vocational Education in Purpose to English Test Preparation

摘要

The purpose of this research intended to compare two tools used for teaching and learning in the process of English test preparation for vocational higher education students. Online social learning platform as the tool for experimental group and e-learning for the other group. This intention happened based on the need analysis in internal environment of State Polytechnic of Batam. The researcher found the urgency of English certificate as diploma supplement which is determined by Indonesian government, in this case the institution implemented TOEIC certificate. Most of the students still cannot meet very well the standard of graduation from vocational higher education, about 49.23% of students are still included into intermediate level and the rest are elementary and novice level. Online social learning platform was funded by the institution, it was suggested as the alternative for the lecturer to prepare the students in English test and also can be accessed by the students independently. This research involved 4 groups of students from Informatics Department with 2 levels of class namely intermediate and elementary level. In intermediate level, the results showed that there was significantly increased with value was smaller than 0.05 meant that experimental group had better score than control group. In contrast, for elementary level, it was found that there was no significant difference between the students who were taught by using e-learning and online social learning platform.