Optimization of Online Learning Method Application through Google Classroom

1 Abstract. This research aims to describe the optimization of online learning method through the application of Google Classroom to the students and to find out their responses after using Google Classroom as online learning method. This research had taken participant from English Education Department undergraduate students of 2017 and 2018 which consist of 4 classes that never experienced online learning method before, specifically 101 participants. This research used descriptive qualitative method with data source triangulation which are observation, documentation and questionnaire. Technique of collecting data used in this research is through observation and questionnaire. The result of this research shows that after applying Google Classroom to the students in sharing information or materials, communicating and discussing, submitting assignment, quiz and mid-test, researcher found out that majority of the students in English Education department of Sulawesi Barat University were helped and satisfied with Google Classroom application as online learning method specifically, in assignment submission which were considered simple and paperless.


INTRODUCTION
The era of globalization requires various systems to adapt to the changing times where technology has a very significant role in advancing the effectiveness and efficiency of system performance. One sector which system must adapt to technological developments is the education sector, especially universities. In order to have competitiveness, universities should have the integration of technology in their systems, both administrative and teaching.
Although, conventional learning methods are also important, the lack of technology application in learning at the level of study programs can be an obstacle to the development of the education system in work units. This could the cause of students or lecturers' lack of fluency in using other media besides conventional media, in this case internet technology media for online learning or e-learning that perhaps could result to obstruction in producing competent graduates that master technology and have competitiveness in work environment. Therefore, Indonesia needs to improve the quality of workforce  (Parray, 2017) Learning strategy is one of the factors influencing the achievement of graduate competencies. Twenty first century skill as well as variety kinds of technology should be applied in classroom teaching (Yustanti &Novita, 2019) The current learning strategy has evolved along with advances in information and communication technology (ICT). The world of education is one of the fields that has had a significant impact on the development of ICT thus, a teacher or lecturer should plan innovative and creative teaching method by using Computer Assisted Instruction (Kristiawan, 2014). Through ICT-based learning, students can obtain learning materials from various sources quickly and inexpensively.
One alternative for developing learning methods is online learning methods, which is a learning process where the delivery of material, discussions, and lecture activities is done through online or electronic/digital media. Almost all educational institutions in the world have utilized online learning in the teaching and learning process.
Online learning has several advantages including: very high flexibility, can be accessed from anywhere, standardization of teaching, and the distribution of teaching materials is very easy.
The term of online learning itself has many other names, such as, it was mentioned above e-learning, some people also used 'distance learning', 'virtual learning' and other. The word e-learning consists of two parts such as 'e' which means 'electronic' and 'learning', thus, e-learning could be defined as learning system that uses electronic device as its learning media (Rahmasari & Rismiati, 2013). Some experts tried to define online learning or e-learning, it is said that e-learning is any learning that involves internet or intranet (Fee, 2005), another expert even said that e-learning should not stand for electronic learning rather than evolving, enhanced, everywhere, every time and everybody (Masters, 2009). Nowadays, internet becomes important need that is used by everybody from every generation. It is inevitable to integrate it with our lifestyle including education. Thus, in the process of teaching and learning involving technology or in this case online learning (in the network) will meet the needs of today's millennial students who want the efficiency of time, energy, space and money due to e-learning benefits which gave flexibility, interactivity, speed, visualization through benefits of each media (Sujana, Gristinawati & Yulia, 2005)) The application of online learning methods in the learning process itself can use online learning applications that can be used in a variety of platforms both, computer or smartphone. One application that can be used in online learning methods is Google Classroom. Google classroom is an application created by Google that aims to help lecturers and students in class organization and communication without having to be tied to class schedules in class physically.
Online learning or e-learning through Google Classroom had been discussed in many studies before, one of them is Google Classroom: as a Media of Learning History (Fitriningtiyas, Umamah, & Sumardi, 2019)

METHOD
This research is a descriptive research with a qualitative approach that aims to find out the optimization of the implementation or application of online learning method through Google Classroom and to find out students response about Google Classroom application in their learning process.
The researcher used triangulation data source, they are questionnaire, field notes and observation. The researcher who was also the lecturer share information on 'stream' about schedule, materials, homework and deadlines. Every students can download the material easily and without any charges, and they can conveniently save it on their gadgets and read it afterward or anytime they want. The information sharing did not have to be through the chairperson of the class, it can directly be sent to each student with notifications about the information.

Communicating and Discussing
Every information or materials that had been shared on Google Classroom had comment section where students can discuss or ask questions. The researcher used the comment section as a forum for discussion about materials where everyone can participate. The researcher asked one group to share their presentation material on 'stream' and let other student to learn the material, the researcher asked them to ask questions and afterward, the presenting group had to answer their classmates questions, thus, discussion conducted on the comment section. Physical interaction is unnecessary during this activity, they just type on the comment section for the interaction and discussion, with students excellent typing skill and good connection, effective discussion would be built.

Submitting assignment
The researcher also used Google Classroom as a media where students can submit their Google form and many more, which most of the time are more efficient specifically on four main activities mentioned above considering time, space and money that are less spent. Therefore, based on the Google Classroom application to the student participants, the researcher believe that online learning method by sharing information or materials, communicating and discussion, submitting assignments and quiz/mid test can be the form of online learning optimization activities through Google classroom After several times the researcher applied Google Classroom to the students, the researcher shared more questionnaire through Google Classroom for the students about their response in using Google Classroom in their learning process to find out whether students think learning method through Google Classroom useful, effective, easy to use and learn, or satisfied in general. The questionnaire consisted of seven questions that required yes-no answer only, such as (1) Was this Google Classroom application useful? (2) Is the application effective and productive so that it can save time and energy when you use it? (3) Is this application easy to use? (4) Is the application of Google Classroom easy to learn quickly? (5) Do you think the application of Google Classroom helps the learning process? (6) Is the application of Google Classroom learning comfortable and fun to use? (7) Was Google Classroom application as you expected? The researcher also put additional question in the questionnaire about advantages, obstacle and suggestion in using Google Classroom in the learning process from the participants.
Data obtained through questionnaire can be seen on the table below: According to data obtained from the students through questionnaire as it was shown above, researcher observed, more than 88% of students answered 'yes' to every question. In Detail, students who thought Google Classroom application was useful are 99 students (98.01%), and there were only 2 students (1.99%) who answered 'no'. There were 98 students (97.02%) who think Google Application effective and productive and there were 3 students (2.98%) who thought otherwise.
For question about the ease in using application Google classroom, 99 students (98.01%) voted 'yes' and 3 students (1.99%) student voted the opposite. For additional question on the questionnaire about the advantages of Google Classroom for the students, majority of the students answered its practicality in submitting assignment without having to meet their lecture physically and its efficiency in sending the assignment considering it is paperless and free. As for the obstacle, almost every student English education lecturers should try to apply online learning methods in class to train and familiarize themselves and students involve technology and information in order to increase mastery of technology and information in science in accordance with the study program's mission to produce competent graduates who master the branches of science and technology. As for the faculty and university who should be more supportive in applying online learning method in the learning environment, specifically in improving internet network or connection, many students and lecturers would be interested if the access was well-provided.