The Analysis of Students’ Experience And Preference for Online and Offline Thesis Supervision

Abstract

Today, the choice of doing learning activities including thesis supervision has been offered in online and offline modes. Both have stories, obstacles, and efforts. The objective of this research is to attain an overview of the experience and preference of post graduate students in thesis supervision carried out in online and offline modes.  The research involved 50 students who were taking a thesis course (KI003/6 SKS) in Masters Programs of Post Graduate Schools at Lancang Kuning University. Data was collected by questionnaire and interview to obtain in-depth information related to students’experience and preference in doing thesis consultation. The study used quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques to obtain the tendency and percentages of students’ experience and preference  and obtained  the pattern of guidance desired by the students as well. It is expected  to become future recommendation for the activities of the thesis guidance process.  The  study found that Postgraduate students prefer to choose online supervision (58.8%) rather than offline (41.2%),  the most preference media used was zoom (70%) as compared to social media platfom such as WhatsApp (20%), and email (10%), students have good understanding (50%) although it was done online.  Several students’ problems were found during conducted thesis supervision. It needs a number of efforts to be considered to reach the success of doing thesis  supervision. In short, Postgraduate School Universitas Lancang Kuning needs to deliberate policies for supervisors and students effectively both for online and offline mode for thesis supervision.