Known as Indonesia’s “Kota Pelajar” or City of Students, Yogyakarta continues to adapt to the challenges of modern education. Adapting to cross-generational learning has become an essential part of teaching as student characteristics continue to evolve in the post-pandemic era. In Yogyakarta, Mrs. Misiyah, S.Pd., an English teacher at a state vocational high school, is applying blended learning strategies to respond to these changes and improve classroom engagement.

According to her, the differences between students, which she identified before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, are significant and directly affect how teaching should be delivered. “The differences are very noticeable, especially before and after the pandemic. These changes influence both student character and the methods we use in teaching,” she said in an interview.

She explained that before the pandemic, students were more balanced in their learning approaches. They relied on textbooks while also beginning to use basic digital tools such as search engines and messaging platforms. During that time, students were generally more responsive to reading and speaking activities.

However, today’s students, mostly from Generation Z, are far more connected to digital technology. This shift has influenced their learning preferences and requires teachers to adapt their methods to maintain effectiveness in the classroom.

To address this, she implements blended learning, a method that combines face-to-face instruction with digital media. She believes this approach is the most suitable for current students because it integrates multiple language skills in a single learning process.

“Learning must be integrated. We cannot focus on only one skill. Speaking, listening, reading, and writing all need to be developed together to achieve the learning objectives,” she explained.

In her classroom, she applies a mix of teaching strategies, including communicative and collaborative approaches. She also uses digital tools such as videos and presentations to support learning, especially for listening and speaking activities. These methods help students stay engaged and participate more actively.

Despite its effectiveness, she acknowledged that blended learning also presents challenges. One of the main difficulties is improving students’ reading and writing skills. While students can easily follow audiovisual content, they often need more guidance when dealing with written materials.

“Students can follow videos and discussions quite easily, but reading and writing require different strategies and deeper guidance,” she added.

In addition, technology such as artificial intelligence is beginning to play a role in her teaching. She uses artificial intelligence to assist in creating learning materials and assessments but emphasizes that it must be used carefully. The content needs to be adjusted to students’ vocational fields, such as culinary or beauty programs, so that learning remains relevant and practical.

As an English teacher in a vocational school, she highlighted that language learning should support students’ professional competencies. This means English is taught not only as a subject but also as a tool that aligns with students’ future careers.

To remain effective, she believes teachers must continuously develop their skills. Participating in training programs, learning new teaching methods, and understanding curriculum updates are essential steps. She also emphasized the importance of shifting the teacher’s role in the classroom.

“Teaching is learning. The classroom should be a space where teachers and students learn together through interaction and feedback,” she said.

Her experience reflects how individual educators are adapting to the demands of cross-generational learning. By combining traditional teaching with digital innovation, she aims to create a more responsive and meaningful learning environment for today’s students.

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Tags: Blended Learning