Modular Distance Learning in the New Normal Education

Romina Crisel M. Rivera

No one is prepared with this pandemic. Like any other people, this pandemic brought a big impact on the teachers. In a blink of an eye, it created a 360 degree turn on the education system and the modes of teaching and learning. Teachers had to upskill themselves almost overnight just to adjust to the new learning delivery modalities. Teachers need to ensure that quality education must still be given even though there are no face-to-face interactions.

As a preparation for the new normal education, teachers attended various webinars, one of which is creating Self-Learning Modules (SLMs). “The SLMs and the other alternative learning delivery modalities are in place to address the needs, situations, and resources of each and every learner and will cover all the bases in ensuring that basic education will be accessible amid the present crisis posed by COVID-19,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones stated.

A great number of parents chose the modular distance learning, the use of SLMs as a modality because it seems to be more convenient, no internet connection required. With this, most public elementary schools offered modular distance learning.

Teachers face challenges on the modular distance learning. Challenges such as: inadequate number of modules; overwhelming number of activities per module; there are some cases where in the parents are the ones answering the modules instead of the pupils; and it is hard to trace whether the pupils are learning or not.

With the new normal transition, instead of meeting the learners every day, it became meeting the parents every week. From learning from school to learning from home. From preparing a lesson plan, it became preparing of modules.

Face to face learning is still the best modality in the elementary grades. Pupils need hands on teaching and learning experience. They are still at the stage of their life where they need great guidance.

Hopefully, this pandemic will come to an end, and everything will be back to normal where children are not prohibited to go outside and be able to go back to school again to learn. --oOo-

III at Bical Elementary School

The author is Teacher