The Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge for all countries in the world, including Indonesia, in all aspects of life, for example in the field of education. This condition has caused the Indonesian government to implement a social distancing policy, or physical distancing (maintaining physical distance) to minimize the spread of Covid-19. So, this policy is attempted to slow down the rate of spread of the Corona virus in society. The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud) responded with a study from home policy, through online learning and followed by the abolition of the National Examination in 2021.
Furthermore, the implementation of the physical distancing policy is the basis for implementing learning from home, with the sudden use of information technology, which often surprises and confuses educators, parents and students. The use of information technology has indeed been implemented in recent years in the education system in Indonesia. However, full online learning that took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, became a challenge for the success of education in almost all fronts, from the regency/city, province, and national level in Indonesia. However, Indonesia is not alone in finding solutions for students to keep learning and fulfilling their right to education. As of April 1 2020, UNESCO recorded at least 1.5 billion school-age children affected by Covid 19 in 188 countries including 60 million of them in Indonesia, and Yogyakarta in particular.
In Yogyakarta, elementary school-age children have their own challenges, obstacles and difficulties in implementing Home Study or BDR. Moreover, for parents who have to work, so that no one's child accompanies the BDR. In addition, device facilities and internet networks are also obstacles in participating in BDR. Children also get bored quickly and feel unenjoyed because they are only dealing with gadgets, unable to meet friends and teachers face to face. Thus, many students are reluctant to participate in BDR and choose to play with friends around the house, play games, watch videos on Youtube or other social media such as Tiktok, Facebook and Instagram. The viral impact is that children have high visual abilities, for example becoming adept at imitating speech or movements from videos. They had more fun and chose to watch the videos and then distribute them to their friends' parks rather than following BDR. Children also become adept at recording events or events they encounter and have the desire to upload them on Youtube. Furthermore, they will feel proud when other friends subscribe and like the content they upload.
We see this situation as a positive opportunity in developing fun educational methods for students, namely Participatory Video (VP) and the use of freeware that is already available on the device. Participatory Video is a series of techniques for involving groups in recording and disseminating information. This video can be uploaded to freeware such as the Google site and can be viewed at any time. This is also expected to overcome the limitations of devices and internet networks in accessing information. Kids can borrow their parents' devices when their parents are home to access VP via freeware. They can also upload self-study videos in the freeware at any time.