Home learning environment: Its effect in the education of children in distance learning modality

THE Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) was adopted by the Department of Education on June 19,2020 under DepEd Order No. 12,series of 2020.In its enclosure,

Deped explained that it embarked on the Development of BE-LCP to enable learners of basic education to continue learning, and for teachers to be able to deliver instruction in a safe work and learning environment amid the threat of CIVID-19.

Under the BE-LCP, blended Distance Learning Modalities shall be employed in providing learning opportunities. As defined in the same enclosure, distance learning refers to a learning delivery modality where learning takes place between the teachers and learners who are going geographically remote from each other instruction.

In the present learning modality, the learning environment of the children is at HOME. Home Learning Environment (HLE) does not solely refer to the house or the place where the child lives. It includes factors such as number of the family members living in the same house., the amount of space allocated for studying, the level of academic supervision given to the child., etc. HLE, as demonstrated in the developmental review by Bradley & Caldwell (1995), constitutes an array of characteristics, including proximal parenting behaviors, such as providing educational interactions and activities, as well as distal practices of making learning materials available at home.

Undeniably, each child is exposed to a different HLE, Difference in Learning experience is expected due to the said variance. The importance of a good HLE is posited in a dissertion conducted on the effects of home learning environment on academic achievement among primary school children in Mbeya City, Tanzania. In the said study, the researcher concluded the parental involvement to children’s education ha a good influence to their academic performance and lack of parental involvement can contribute to failure and risk of bad behavior.

The difference in the home learning environment of each child provides for a varied conclusion on the effect of a distance learning modality in their education. Hence, to ensure that no child is left behind, and to address the physical distance in the delivery of academic instruction which hinders the teachers comprehensive academic supervision, parental participation is highly recommended. (Contributed article)