DISTANCE LEARNING: MAKING IT HAPPEN!

Manuelito C. Montoya II

When COVID19 hit the country in 2019, the Department of Education adjusted the resumption of classes from the month of June then to October to better prepare all schools in a transitory curriculum. Also, DepEd curriculum planners modified the educational setup by temporarily using the different learning modalities. Selecting only the most-enhanced learning competencies chosen from the Curriculum Guide of 2016 under the K-12 Curriculum and implementing the Learning Continuity Plan among all public schools aimed to deliver quality education to learners at the comfort of their homes. The same setup is being applied for this S.Y. 2021-2022.

Series of webinars such as the dissemination on the implementation of the Learning Delivery Modalities (LDM) for school heads and teachers were rolled out, respectively. Administrators need to consider the availability of resources and the budget required to supply all the public schools the materials they will need to print alternative delivery materials such as Self-Learning Modules and other supplementary learning kits.

DepEd launched its official DepEd TV channel. Lesson from a specific learning area based on the Most Enhanced Learning Competencies (MELC) is being taught via live TV broadcast, aired on the DepEd TV Channel on a particular time slot. On the other hand, Radio-Based Instruction was also introduced. Whereas lessons are being heard on-air from teachers in schools with radio stations frequencies. DepEd TV and DepEd Radio are projects spearheaded by the Information and Communications Technology Service-Education Technology Unit (ICTS-EdTech) headed by Director Abram Y.C. Abanil, under the Administration Strand led by Undersecretary Pascua and Assistant Secretary Salvador Malana III. It is part of the Public Schools of the Future (PSOF) Framework of the Administration Strand under the leadership of Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones and from direct instruction from Usec. Pascua as a continuation and follow-through of SIPAG (Strand Interface for Programs and Guidelines.).

DepEd also launched the DepEd's Sim Card and Connectivity Load Program. All public school teachers receive a sim card that will be loaded monthly to strengthen their internet connection and help online/ blended distance learning.

Recently, DepEd distributed USBs to learners with online/ blended classes for file transfer and storage. Other divisions could supply video lessons in different learning areas, serving as supplementary learning materials to learners.

Distance learning is quite complex compared to normal face-to-face classes, but the government's efforts in making the new educational setup seemingly possible are genuinely commendable. Indeed, the government and DepEd could not make this possible without everyone's support to our DepEd's Secretary Leonor M. Briones' statement 'Education must Continue.'

The author

is Master Teacher

--oOo-

I at Tariji Elementary School, Tarlac City Schools Division