It is hard to imagine if, during a pandemic like today, the world did not have the internet or information communication technology (ICT) in general.
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EDITORIAL TEAM
·3 minutes read
Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan
A student of SD Al Azhar 15 elementary school in Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten, studies at home to comply with the government’s study-at-home policy to curb the spread of Covid-19 on Tuesday (17/3/2020). Teachers use the Google Classroom app for online teaching and the Zoom Cloud app for teleconferences. Advanced technology is helping people deal with emergency situations, such as the Covid-19 outbreak. Online school lasts from 7:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m.
It is hard to imagine if, during a pandemic like today, the world did not have the internet or information communication technology (ICT) in general.
If that were the case, not only education would stop, but even government, business, and other activities could come to a halt or nearly to a halt. Fortunately, people have had access to ICT since the late 1990s. Despite the day-to-day obstacles in during the Covid-19 outbreak, the availability of ICT has made it possible for a variety of activities to continue running, including education.
We underline this in conjunction with the commemoration of National Education Day on 2 May this past weekend. On the front page of this daily on Saturday (2/5/2020), a photograph appeared of a second grade student at Al-Bayan Islamic Elementary School, working on a question of the year-end final exam at his home in the city of Tangerang, Banten.
As a matter of fact, even without the outbreak of disease, the idea of using ICT or the internet for education has been promoted intensively, especially in higher education. Several universities have implemented a distance education system (PJJ).
If regional students with financial constraints find it difficult to attend their favorite universities in big cities, the PJJ is the right solution.
The PJJ is recognized for promising advantages and great benefits in education. The system expands the opportunity for equal distribution of education. If regional students with financial constraints find it difficult to attend their favorite universities in big cities, the PJJ is the right solution.
However, for an archipelagic nation with a diverse geographic range like Indonesia, implemented the PJJ is not as simple as talking about it. First, it is clear is that equitable ICT infrastructure must be made available in all regions. On the other side of the coin is the term "the digital divide". ICT infrastructure in western Indonesia is more advanced than the infrastructure in eastern Indonesia.
Kompas/Priyombodo
Siswa level 2 SD Islam Al Bayan mengerjakan soal penilaian akhir tahun secara daring di rumahnya di Kota Tangerang, Banten, Rabu (29/4/2020). Pelaksanaan ujian yang menentukan kenaikkan kelas ini terpaksa dilakukan secara daring karena pandemi Covid-19. Sebelumnya para siswa juga telah melakukan belajar dari rumah secara daring. Pembelajaran selama masa darurat Covid-19 diperpanjang sampai dengan tanggal 1 Juni 2020. Kompas/Priyombodo (PRI)29-04-2020
It is fortunate that the government has completed the Palapa Ring project, which has placed the eastern regions of the country on an equal ICT footing with the western region.
The availability of ICT infrastructure is only one component of the PJJ. The next problem is whether students in the eastern regions own devices with internet access so they can use the PJJ materials. These devices must be made available. Mobile network coverage should also be available.
The coronavirus outbreak arrived while the world of education was still calculating and preparing the details for implementing the PJJ system. We are grateful that online learning could be implemented, according to the various reports that we have read in this daily, both in terms of the final elementary exams and university lectures.
Of course, there were problems at first, but these were gradually solved. During the nearly 1.5 months of social restriction policies imposed in a number of areas, technology has become the backbone of learning. Now, computer screens displaying the faces of teachers and pupils as well as lecturers and students have become the new normal in the teaching-learning process.
Parents, teachers, educators and education observers have provided much feedback, such as making the learning material more appropriate and interesting for students. Digital education has its own peculiarities.
Parents, teachers, educators and education observers have provided much feedback, such as making the learning material more appropriate and interesting for students. Digital education has its own peculiarities. However, we believe that, with time, adjustments will soon be made and pupil-teacher and student-lecturer activities alike will enjoy this new style of learner-teacher interaction.
The technology and the methods can be prepared. One more thing: in order to broaden the reach of the PJJ, the data rates must be more affordable.
