Watching the Series "Class of Champions" Can Motivate Students to Learn

Lately, both the real and the online world have been abuzz about a series currently being aired and sponsored by one of Indonesia's online learning apps. The series "Class of Champion" has become one of the lively and eagerly awaited shows for many people, especially among teenagers and students. The show is inspired by the Korean series “University War”, inviting top students from various universities there. They are challenged to solve difficult and even extremely intricate problems in every round. The contest of agility and accuracy in solving problems is a thrilling yet entertaining sensation for viewers. With a concept that combines academic competition, physical challenges, and entertainment segments, the show is not only interesting to watch but also offers a number of significant benefits for students' learning motivation. However, its impact on learning motivation is not always clear and calls for critical analysis.

The series "Class of Champion" manages to present entertainment wrapped in educational elements. The competition in the show often involves intellectual challenges that push participants to think critically and creatively. For example, there are segments that test logic, general knowledge, memory, and problem-solving skills. Students who watch the show may feel inspired by the participants' intelligence and abilities, encouraging them to study harder in order to achieve similar accomplishments. However, there is an argument that watching a show like this provides mere entertainment without a long-term influence on learning motivation. Watching this series, even though it is an educational programme, may be only a passive activity if it is not followed by real action. Therefore, it is important to see to what extent "Class of Champion" is able to change students' attitudes and behaviour towards learning.

One important factor of "Class of Champion" is the presence of participants who often become role models for young viewers. When students see peers or people slightly older than them perform and compete with broad knowledge and high skill, they may feel driven to emulate them. Studies show that having positive role models can increase students' aspirations and motivation to learn. However, we must also be critical about this impact. Not all students will respond in the same way. Some may feel inferior or insecure because of other people's achievements and actually become less confident. It is important to ensure that the message conveyed by the show is that everyone has the potential to achieve through effort and perseverance, not only those who appear on television.

The series also offers contextual learning, in which students can see the practical application of what they learn at school. For example, the science and mathematics challenges in the show often require participants to use their knowledge in real-world situations. This can help students understand that school lessons are not merely abstract theory but have real practical applications. On the other hand, however, the challenges in the show are sometimes excessive or unrealistic, which can make students feel that such achievements are beyond their reach. To overcome this, educators and parents need to invite students to discuss how those challenges can be simplified and applied in their daily lives.

The competition in "Class of Champion" can foster a healthy competitive spirit among students. Competition can be a strong motivator if managed well, driving students to reach their best potential. Through the show, students can learn about the importance of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. However, we must also consider the negative effects of excessive competition. The pressure to achieve can become a heavy psychological burden for some students. It is important to emphasise that the main purpose of competition is to develop oneself and learn from experience, not merely to win.

The role and advancement of technology are also not to be overlooked as supporting factors for learning. What makes the show more interesting is its participants: in fact, the majority of those who advance to the next round are students from overseas universities with advanced technology, and some come from campuses in cities with supportive technology. The show can motivate students to learn more about science and technology. Moreover, students who will continue to higher education will surely be motivated to study harder so that they can be accepted at the best campus.  This can be a push to pursue a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Nevertheless, the series "Class of Champion" offers much potential to increase students' learning motivation through educational entertainment, inspiring role models, contextual learning, a healthy competitive spirit, and the use of technology. However, its impact is not always positive and depends on how students and their environment respond. Therefore, it is important for educators, parents, and students themselves to critically evaluate the influence of this show and take steps to maximise its benefits. With the right approach, "Class of Champion" can become an effective programme for increasing students' learning motivation and helping them reach their full potential.