The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education is very significant. Since the government has established rules of social distancing, the learning process at schools and universities has shifted to online learning. This change cannot be taken for granted. Moreover, considering the various obstacles that may arise during this online learning process. The students living in remote areas in particular. They complained about the difficulty of the internet network in their area. However, online learning has indirectly made many students and teachers in Indonesia more proficient in using the internet and running the learning learning applications.
As we know, online learning in this pandemic period requires students to use conference applications such as Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco Webex and similar applications. Before the pandemic, many people could not use these applications. Some may even not know that the application exists. But now, conference applications have become a major need for students. It feels like now, all students in Indonesia are able to use this application, especially university students. The use of these application is not limited to teaching and learning activities only. Now, whenever students want to do group work, they just need to create a meeting room with a Zoom or other application and have a quiet discussion without having to meet and gather somewhere.
In line with the new learning system, the learning media used by the teacher also changes. From the teacher's side, this online learning makes them more creative and innovative in providing material. Now, teachers no longer teach based solely on text book, but use video and audio media with interesting visuals. These teachers often try to make videos of their own learning materials when they cannot find them on the Internet. This can be proven by the many video tutorials on You-tube about how to make interesting teaching videos for teachers. So that, now teachers have additional skills which are certainly very useful.
The use of technology media has also succeeded in making teachers discover unique teaching methods by utilizing applications available on the Play Store. Call it Kahoot, Cake, and Educandy. Some of these applications are examples of applications that are widely used by English teachers in designing their teaching materials. Starting from making games, videos, and visualizing images. Prior to the pandemic, these applications were less desirable and rarely used. The reason for this is obvious because teachers are reluctant to use it because they feel that it is not really needed during face-to-face learning. But now, when learning is taking place online, inevitably the teachers are starting to use it to create learning media that students are interested in.
Along with the increasing ability of teachers and students in the field of technology and information, there are also more material resources and learning alternatives that can be used. If we are able to properly apply these technologies, it is not impossible that the quality of Indonesian education will also improve. As we know, developed countries are no longer using technology as an alternative media, but as the main media to support education. It would be nice if this unwanted pandemic is one of the causes behind the improvement of education in Indonesia.
