Learning Modalities Amidst Pandemic

Raquel B. Rivera

With the sudden spread of the COVID-19, many challenges confronted many fields especially the field of education not only here in the Philippines but even in other parts of the globe as seen over the television and other forms of media and as heard over the radio. This rare occurrence brought complications in the delivery of quality learning to students which almost paralyzed schools’ operations and activities. However, through the initiative of the Department of Education, necessary steps were taken in order to carry out its activities so students could still continue to acquire the needed learning competencies by means of various learning delivery modalities. As a teacher like me, how do you perceive the effectiveness of these learning modes since we are in the frontlines on the implementation of these hypothesized delivery modes which have come into reality?

One of the learning delivery modalities adopted by schools all over the country in this time of pandemic is the modular instruction. In this means, students were given modular prints or digitized copies of their lessons in order for them to learn the most essential competencies while they are in their academic journey at home. Teachers, prior to the official opening of classes in the school year 2020-2021, became very busy preparing for modules to be used by the learners. They burned midnight oils just to ensure that no one would be left behind once the academic year began. After they came up with the discussions and activities in the modules, they printed them and spent the whole day just to produce more copies and staple them afterwards. Few weeks, a week or two, few days, a day or two, before the official opening they dedicated themselves for the distribution of the self-learning materials. For those parents of the learners, who could not go to school to get their copies, teachers sent softcopies of the modules. In addition, the DepEd and other divisions came up with Educational TV and Radio-based programs to supplement the aforementioned mode of delivery. Aside from these, online and homeschooling were also introduced as means to deliver lessons which were utilized by some of the private schools. With what the schools had for their clienteles, parents and students still confronted difficulties especially those whose parents are working and those are not so educated. Teachers as well encountered hardships in monitoring whether their learners could accomplish well the modules the latter received. Moreover, school administrations met challenges in perfecting the ways they could extend help with the teachers and parents, hence, targeting their main goal which is letting the students absorb what they need to learn.

With the actions the DepEd took with the help of the teachers in coming up with the various attempts to hinder academic freeze, do you think it won the battle? Are the learning modalities effective? I think as the first-hand witness of this endeavor, you can perhaps tell your perception on these matters.

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The author is Teacher II at Sitio Culubasa Elementary School