EFFECTIVENESS OF ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

In an effort to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, the government issued a policy so that schools asked their students to study at home. Starting March 16, 2020, the school implemented the online student learning method. Then, is this online learning effective? Currently Corona is a hot topic of discussion. In any hemisphere, corona still dominates the public sphere. In a short time, his name became a trending topic, discussed here and there, and was reported massively in print and electronic media. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) better known as the corona virus is a new type of coronavirus that causes infectious disease to humans. Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered type of coronavirus. Although it mostly attacks the elderly, this virus can actually attack anyone, from infants, children, to adults. This corona virus can cause mild disorders of the respiratory system, severe lung infections, and even death. Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first discovered in the city of Wuhan, China at the end of December 2019. This virus spreads very quickly and has spread to almost all countries, including Indonesia, in just a few months. So that on March 11, 2020 WHO declared this outbreak a global pandemic. This has made several countries set policies to impose lockdowns in order to prevent the spread of the corona virus. In Indonesia itself, a Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) policy was implemented to suppress the spread of this virus. Because Indonesia is currently implementing PSBB, all activities carried out outside the home must be stopped until this pandemic subsides. Some local governments have decided to implement policies to leave students and start implementing online learning methods (online) or online. This government policy came into effect in several provinces in Indonesia on Monday, March 16, 2020, which was also followed by other provincial areas. But this does not apply to some schools in each region. These schools are not ready with an online learning system, which requires learning media such as mobile phones, laptops, or computers. The online learning system (on the network) is a learning system without face to face directly between teachers and students but is carried out online using the internet network. Teachers must ensure that teaching and learning activities continue, even though students are at home. The solution is that teachers are required to be able to design learning media as innovations by utilizing online media (online). This is in accordance with the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia regarding Circular Letter Number 4 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of Educational Policies in the Emergency Period for the Spread of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19). The learning system is implemented through a personal computer (PC) or laptop connected to an internet network connection. Teachers can do learning together at the same time using groups on social media such as WhatsApp (WA), telegram, Instagram, zoom applications or other media as learning media. Thus, the teacher can ensure that students take part in learning at the same time, although in different places. Semua sektor merasakan dampak corona. Dunia pendidikan salah satunya. Dilihat dari kejadian sekitar yang sedang terjadi, baik siswa maupun orangtua siswa yang tidak memiliki handphone untuk menunjang kegiatan pembelajaran daring ini merasa kebingungan, sehingga pihak sekolah ikut mencari solusi untuk mengantisipasi hal tersebut. Beberapa siswa yang tidak memiliki handphone melakukan pembelajaran secara berkelompok, sehingga mereka melakukan aktivitas pembelajaran pun bersama. Mulai belajar melalui videocall yang dihubungkan dengan guru yang bersangkutan, diberi pertanyaan satu persatu, hingga mengapsen melalui VoiceNote yang tersedia di WhatsApp. Materi-materinya pun diberikan dalam bentuk video yang berdurasi kurang dari 2 menit. The problems that occur are not only in the learning media system, but the availability of quotas that require a fairly high cost for students and teachers to facilitate online learning needs. The quota purchased for internet needs has soared and many parents are not ready to increase the budget in providing internet networks. This is also a very important issue for students, what time do they have to study and what data (quota) they have, while their parents are low-income or from the lower middle class (poor). Until finally things like this are charged to parents of students who want their children to continue to follow online learning. Online learning cannot be separated from the internet network. Internet network connection is one of the obstacles faced by students whose residence is difficult to access the internet, especially those students who live in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas. Even if someone uses a cellular network, sometimes the network is unstable, because the geographical location is still far from the reach of the cellular signal. This is also a problem that often occurs in students who take part in online learning so that its implementation is not optimal. Many on various social media share the experiences of parents while accompanying their children to study, both positive and negative. For example, it turns out that there are parents who are often angry because their children are unruly so that they can't stand it and want their children to go back to school. This incident gave awareness to parents that educating children is not easy, it requires a lot of knowledge and patience. So with this incident parents must be aware and know how to guide their children in learning. After getting this experience, it is hoped that parents will learn how to educate their children at home. It should be realized that the unpreparedness of teachers and students towards online learning is also a problem. The shift from conventional learning systems to online systems is very sudden, without proper preparation. But all of this must be carried out so that the learning process can run smoothly and students actively participate even in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic. The stuttering of online learning is evident in front of us, not just one or two schools, but throughout several regions in Indonesia. Very important components of the online learning process need to be improved and improved. First and foremost is a stable internet network, then a capable device or computer, an application with a user friendly platform, and online socialization that is efficient, effective, continuous, and integrative to all education stakeholders. The solution to this problem is that the government must provide a policy by opening free online application services in collaboration with internet and application providers to assist this online learning process. The government must also prepare an online-based learning curriculum and syllabus. For schools, it is necessary to conduct online technical guidance (bimtek) on the online implementation process and to disseminate information to parents and students through print and social media regarding the procedures for implementing online learning, in relation to their roles and duties. In the online learning process, it is important to add educational messages to parents and students about the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Thus we find the same learning with face-to-face but online-based. The effect is very good, the program is right on target, and the learning outcomes are achieved. There is a lesson learned from the world of education in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, namely that face-to-face learning activities with teachers have proven to be more effective than online. This was explained by Universitas Brawijaya (UB) education expert Aulia Luqman Aziz to coincide with National Education Day 2020. "The teaching profession will never be replaced by technology," said Luqman in his statement on UB's official website, Saturday (2/5/2020). According to him, full online learning has recently caused a lot of complaints from students and parents. Several teachers at schools admitted that online learning was not as effective as conventional learning activities (face to face), because some materials had to be explained directly and more completely. In addition, the material delivered online may not necessarily be understood by all students. Based on online teaching experience, this system is only effective for giving assignments, and it is likely that the results of working on these assignments are given when students are about to enter, so it is likely to accumulate. Observing the experience of some of these teachers, the teacher must also be ready to use technology in accordance with the times. Teachers must be able to make models and learning strategies that are in accordance with the character of students in their schools. The use of several applications in online learning is very helpful for teachers in this learning process. Teachers must be accustomed to teaching by utilizing complex online media that must be packaged effectively, easily accessible, and understood by students. Thus, teachers are required to be able to design and design online learning that is light and effective, by utilizing appropriate online devices or media and in accordance with the material being taught. Although online learning will provide wider opportunities to explore the material to be taught, teachers must be able to choose and limit the extent of the scope of the material and the application that is suitable for the material and learning methods used. The simplest thing a teacher can do is to use WhatsApp Groups. The WhatsApp application is suitable for novice online students, because the operation is very simple and easy for students to access. As for online teachers who have more enthusiasm, they can improve their abilities by using various online learning applications. But again, choose an application that suits the needs of the teacher and the students themselves. Not all online learning applications can be used just like that. However, it must be considered according to the needs of teachers and students, the suitability of the material, the limitations of device infrastructure such as networks. It is not very effective if the teacher teaches using the zoom meeting application but the network or signal in the area where the student lives is not good. The success of teachers in conducting online learning in this Covid-19 pandemic situation is the teacher's ability to innovate in designing, and concocting materials, learning methods, and what applications are in accordance with the materials and methods. Creativity is the key to the success of a teacher to be able to motivate students to remain enthusiastic in learning online and not be a psychological burden. In addition, the success of online learning during the Covid-19 period depends on the discipline of all parties. Therefore, the school/madrasah here needs to make a scheme by developing good management in regulating the online learning system. This is done by making a systematic, structured and simple schedule to facilitate communication between parents and the school so that their children who study at home can be monitored effectively. Thus, online learning as an effective solution in learning at home to break the chain of the spread of Covid-19, physical distancing (maintaining a safe distance) is also a consideration in choosing this learning. Good cooperation between teachers, students, parents and the school/madrasah is a determining factor for more effective online learning.