Students to enjoy e-learning

Dyah Apsari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Living in Jakarta amid tight competition has created a need for university students to do a lot more than just attend classes.

Some students may increase their skills by taking informal courses while others may seek out part-time work experience.

Recognizing the ever-changing lifestyle of students, Bina Nusantara University is allowing students to adjust their class schedules with other activities.

On Monday, the university launched a new learning management system called Bee Lifestyle, which allows for the involvement of both students and parents in its new e-learning system.

The system gives students access to class materials, exam results and administration announcements as well as campus calendar events with just a click on its official website.

Through the website, students can discuss class materials with lecturers or simply chat with classmates.

They are not required to always attend classes, since they can access materials and ask their instructors or classmates questions via the system.

Distance learning has been available since 2003 through the university's three Jakarta campuses, but it was only recent that the university developed its own software that enables students to use free, wireless Internet connections on campus and within a one kilometer radius from the campus.

"Many of our students live in boardinghouses around the campuses ... We surveyed 100 boardinghouses with the idea of giving free access to our website this year," said the university's manager of Information Technology Development, Eddy Santosa.