Optimising Education in the Pandemic Era Through Technology for School and University Students

The Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia began to spread in mid-March 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic limited human activity outside the home in order to break the chain of its spread, so working, studying and worshipping were done from home. After the pandemic broke out, the government worked hard to make new policies on the conduct of teaching and learning during the pandemic. The policy temporarily suspended direct face-to-face learning at school and replaced it with distance learning online. This policy was applied nationally, so it affected not only the affected regions but also all regions not yet affected. The policy was also implemented in the administration of national education through the issuing of Circular of the Minister of Education and Culture Number 3 of 2020 on the Prevention of Covid-19 in Education Units, and Circular Number 4 of 2020 on the Implementation of Education Policy During the Emergency Period of the Spread of Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19). These steps were taken to suppress and minimise the number of patients exposed to the virus.

            Distance learning policies were applied not only at the Elementary School/Madrasah Ibtidaiyah level. Junior High School/Madrasah Tsanawiyah, Senior High School/Madrasah Aliyah, and even Higher Education also applied the policy. Yet not all school and university students were used to studying online. As a result of this outbreak, they were required to become accustomed to online-based learning.

            Online learning (daring) is a form of learning that can make students  independent of other people. This is because through online learning, students focus on their device screens to complete assignments or take part in ongoing discussions. There will be no unnecessary or unimportant interaction or talk. Everything discussed is important for completing the competencies to be achieved. Therefore, online learning is expected to make students independent in constructing knowledge.

            Implementing distance learning requires media that can distribute knowledge or serve as a venue for the teaching and learning process. The media now used as a means of distance learning use the internet, also called online learning, which can provide connectivity to all corners of the world. The internet, which is not limited by distance and time, allows learning to take place anytime and anywhere. Using the internet as a learning tool can have a positive impact, provided educators play a role in managing it so that learning can be carried out effectively. Learning media are a combination of learning materials and learning tools and are part of the learning resources used to convey messages and information in learning.

            The learning media used by teachers in this pandemic era are varied. For example, teachers use computers to explain learning material through PowerPoint, teachers make tutorial videos so that students can study independently, build e-learning through the school website, teachers make learning videos and upload them to Google Classroom, and they can also use interactive videos containing practice questions and their discussion. E-learning has great potential to make the learning process more effective because the opportunities for students to interact with teachers, friends and learning materials are opened more widely.

            At the Higher Education level, lecturers make greater use of the platforms available on Google, such as Zoom Cloud Meetings, Google Meet, Google Classroom, and also the WhatsApp application. Using technology as a learning medium widens students' opportunities to improve their learning. Students' satisfaction with this distance learning is important feedback for improvements in the future. The role of information and communication technology literacy is important in distance learning during this Covid-19 pandemic. Students are expected to be able to understand courses independently. The main components of independent learning ability are the lecturer's role as facilitator, identification of learning needs, development of learning objectives, identification of suitable resources, implementation of the process, and commitment to the learning contract and evaluation. The procedures for giving assignments are also varied; some are individual and some are in groups. However, most lecturers give group assignments, which are presented according to the course schedule.

            The success of online learning is influenced not only by the role of internet technology but also by the quality of Human Resources. Internet technology will not have a significant effect if the human resources, as operators or users, do not have good knowledge and skills in using and managing the technology. For this reason, understanding of technology is a main factor in the success of online learning. Internet technology plays a very important role in online learning, because without it, learning done online would be hindered. Internet technology also helps students to look for learning materials that they do not understand well.

Matabanua newspaper (Friday, 15 October 2021)

https://matabanua.co.id/2021/10/15/e-paper-harian-pagi-mata-banua-jumat-15-oktober-2021/