Learning Modalities during crisis

Lea Andrea B. Galindez

As we are facing health crisis nowadays, the learning will never stop. It is the truth that we need to embrace that learning should continue and in progress. We cannot deny that we face a different kind of crisis that almost turn our world upside down. We didn’t imagine to suffer lockdowns and shutting down of many industries, particularly the education system. Millions and millions of students and teachers are affected and suffering shock and adjustment in order to deliver best and quality education despite the situation. It is the program of the Department of Education that created many programs and adjustment in our curriculum to identify the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCS) that should be used in the new normal of our education today.

There are lots of seminars attended by the teachers on how to cope up with this crisis. New strategies and techniques were provided, new platforms and software programs, were presented and there is a lot to choose from. The creativity and willingness to learn and serve for the country is the common qualities of a teacher. The department supports the needs to make things possible in education. The modalities are on-line learning, distance learning, modular learning and blended learning that will satisfy the learning outcome for this school year. Even though there is no such ideal as the face to face learning, because of this crisis we are suffering, the Department of Education maximizes the available resources and funds to make learning possible. Through the modalities the teachers will use potentials and skills to help the students learn and continuously engage to learning so that there is no gap in education.

The Department of Education also maximize the use of television as stated by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones during his presentation of reports to the President the REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8370 CHILDREN’S TELEVISION ACT OF 1997 SECTION 1 Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Children’s Television Act of 1997”. SECTION 9. Allotment of Air time for Educational Children’s Programs. — A minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the daily total air time of each broadcasting network shall be allotted for child-friendly shows within the regular programming of all networks granted franchises or as a condition for renewal of broadcast licenses hereinafter, to be included as part of the network’s responsibility of serving the public. This Act supports the continuing education that will make learning more accessible, and available when internet connection used in online learning is not possible especially in some areas that has difficulty of internet access. The Department of education also included the use of radio and tele-radio for education that will reach remote areas and reach children to access the education, where teachers are also the one who broadcast the lesson patterned to a usual classroom teaching instruction.

Not only social media are the options for education, but also the television and radio broadcasting will help the possible outcome of learning goals. Parents also play an important role in the education of our learners, they will help teachers in the implementation of new normal in education. It is indeed a big adjustment and changes in the way we used before, but a program that leads to future generations to be more patient and eager to embrace change the way how it used to be. A program that reaches the Filipino children to continue education even in times of crisis.

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The author is Teacher III at Mauaque High School (Resettlement School)

Mabalacat City