“New Normal” Education: Challenges and Opportunities to Teachers

Jessa Christe Venasquez-Pineda

The COVID 19 pandemic brings a great impact on the world as well as in our lives. Different sectors are greatly affected by this global pandemic. Several safety health protocols such as physical distancing and community quarantine are implemented. Because of this, it brings major changes to our educational system. Schools and different learning facilities were being closed to avoid the physical conduct of classes and to prevent the spread of the virus through exposure. The protection, health, and safety of the learners as well as the teachers and personnel are the major concerns of the Department of Education.

The Department of Education accepted the challenge caused by this and crafted and implemented the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan which includes different learning delivery modalities that can be offered to the learners. With this kind of major turn up, teachers face different challenges in adopting this new system.

During the "old" normal, teachers could assess if the learners absorbed and understood the lesson and could make necessary adjustments on how it was presented. While on these new modes of delivery, the teacher cannot determine easily if the learners can catch up with the lessons. With this new system, the teaching is conducted with less interaction between teachers and learners compare to traditional classroom set-up.

Learners have different capabilities when it comes to the learning process, so, the teachers need to understand their situations. Since this kind of system is new to us, everyone is still making some adjustments. Some learners can easily adjust to the new system, while there some who are having a hard time adapting.

Another challenge that is faced by the teachers with this system is learners' engagement. Since learners continue their education at home, they are surrounded by different distractions that may hinder them in finishing their modules. So, as a teacher, it is very important to be flexible in finding ways on how to engage them in learning.

Despite the challenges of this pandemic, coping with the new normal offers various opportunities.

Teachers can acquire and learn new knowledge and skills upon the implementation of the different learning delivery modalities. Different webinars and training are being offered for them to be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge in teaching under the new normal.

It is also the time for the teachers to reflect and reassess their teaching strategies that will be suitable for their learners. They can explore outside their comfort zone and come up with innovative and creative ways to teach their students despite the challenges that they face.

During this time, teachers can build a better relationship with learners' parents. Parents play a vital role in the education of learners as they are the ones who supervise and guide the learners while learning at home. So, asking for parents' feedback is a way to assess if they make some progress during the learning process. Thus, good communication between parents and teachers plays a very important role in this situation.

Despite the situation, teachers adapt to these changes and continue to be committed to providing education to their learners. They are working hard to make sure that they will overcome the challenges caused by this pandemic, and make sure that no learner will be left behind.

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The author is Teacher II at Angeles City National Trade School – Senior High

School