The context in the new normal in education
Dina C. Puraon
Everything transpires very rapidly and almost has stopped the world in its normalcy in all its aspects where everyone needs to survive in order to live, where everyone has to work for a living, and where everyone has to continue to teach children in school so not to stop learning …and where education stays in progress. In other words , education must continue in its deepest sense.
Due to this pandemic of COVID-19, many schools all over the world have shut down. By all means, the education system has been totally affected by this infectious disease. In this manner, learners , parents, and teachers would have to face now the so-called “the new normal”.
To run on the purpose of meeting the needs of Filipino learners, the use of selflearning modules is one of the responses in the learning delivery or the distance learning modality. Modular instruction is an instructional design that has been developed by teachers which are anchored or based on the Most Essential Learning Competencies. Based on Deped Order No. 018, s. 2020, MELC are the competencies necessary to develop a learner’s practical and lifelong skills for learning amidst a crisis (e.g. pandemic, epidemic, etc) and to eventually attain a successful life. SLMs become an ideal learning resource and therefore a priority in remote or distance learning where a teacher in unable to provide the constant instructional supervision and guidance in classroom setting.
The call of duty is here to face the context in the new normal in education. The challenge for us educators is to bring learning at home. As teachers, we need to communicate to our parents through different digital platforms and to be patient in dealing with our parents on how we can answer all the queries in using self learning modules. This is also an adjustment on both teachers and parents in making learning would take place so that learning would be possible during in this time of pandemic.
--oOo-
The author is Teacher II at San Juan South Elementary School