As the number of Covid-19 cases surge, and the nation goes into another round of lockdown, teachers and students all over the country have returned to home-based learning.
In the absence of face-to-face learning, both students and teachers have found creative ways to continue the teaching and learning process from the comfort of their own homes.
One such way, teachers say, was through DidikTV KPM, a dedicated education television channel with specially-tailored digital content for schoolgoing children.
Kaladevi Arumugam, a teacher from SMK Engku Husain in Semenyih, Selangor, said DidikTV KPM enables her to reach out to more students especially since almost every home owns a television.
"I have conducted five DidikTV KPM sessions, and it has been a wonderful experience.
"I believe that DidikTV KPM is an important platform for students to revise and learn for free, because almost everyone has access to a television at home," she said.
Kaladevi, who teaches Moral Education, said she plans her content for her DidikTV KPM sessions based on academic content required by the syllabus.
She also uses games and specially-developed techniques to help students better understand 'nilai-nilai murni' or moral values.
"This way, we keep students interested in learning, and sometimes get parents to watch, too.
"When parents tune in to DidikTV KPM, they also understand what their children are learning and even keep themselves updated on the tasks that these students need to complete.
"Students, on the other hand, take the tasks that they complete from DidikTV KPM and check with their school teachers to see if they've answered them correctly."
Kaladevi said this educational channel not only benefited students, but could benefit school teachers as well.
"Teachers can take whatever educators on DidikTV KPM have presented and use it in their own teaching sessions, and use the same techniques to teach their class."
She pointed out DidikTV KPM provided her a platform to teach Moral Education in a more relaxed and informal manner, while ensuring that her lessons were presented effectively.
DidikTV KPM, she added, was the best tool to complement their daily learning activities, and said the programmes on the educational channel greatly benefitted students as it would touch on even the most minute of topics.
"The subjects being presented on DidikTV KPM are entertaining, and it excites students.
"I even had a parent who recognised me while I was out buying my breakfast, and said to me that her children really enjoyed my sessions," she said.
Lee Xi Jun, a 17-year-old student from SMK Engku Husain described DidikTV KPM as a "reliable and very convenient" learning source which had helped him improve both his knowledge in Moral Education, and even his language proficiency.
He said DidikTV KPM had been playing a very important role in his daily learning, adding that the programmes on the show also teaches him the correct format and technique to answer Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam questions.
"I have been tuning in to Moral Education, English and Bahasa Melayu sessions on DidikTV KPM which are essential subjects for me.
"I would say that the Moral Education programme is my favourite subject to learn on the channel, as a lot of experienced teachers help clarify the definitions and moral values in an entertaining and informative way.
"At the same time, students during the DidikTV KPM live shows also shared their answers for us to refer and learn from as well," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Lee said the seasoned teachers being invited on DidikTV KPM could help other students like him, who did not attend extra tuition classes outside of school.
He added that the government made a right decision by introducing DidikTV KPM, to provide students from all backgrounds access to education.
Meanwhile, chemistry teacher Nurul Hanim Ismail said she had a pleasant experience recording her first DidikTV KPM session yesterday morning.
The teacher at SMK Taman Dato Harun in Petaling Jaya, Selangor said the channel could attract the interest of students while facilitating lessons at the same time.
"DidikTV KPM uses games and activities to help students understand the subject.
"For instance, yesterday while teaching chemistry formulas, I used building blocks to explain to students about charge numbers and ions."
She said it was important to pick the right topics to explain on DidikTV KPM, adding that she chose chemistry formulas as her first topic because students commonly make mistakes in this area, despite it being one of the foundations of chemistry.
Nurul, who teaches chemistry to Form 4 and Form 5 students, said she hoped DidikTV KPM could be expanded and continued, adding that it was a significant platform for all students.
"I hope that there could be more promotion on DidikTV KPM, because it has excellent content with very experienced teachers who deliver lessons in interesting ways," she added.
DidikTV KPM airs from 7am to midnight daily on channels 107 on MyTV, 147 on Astro, and ntv7 on TV Unifi.