MODULAR DISTANCE LEARNING MEETING THE LEARNER’S INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES?

Daren S. Yabut

The COVID-19 global pandemic has introduced uncertainty into major aspects of national and global society, including for schools. Given the abruptness and unexpected of the situation, teachers and the department were unprepared for this transition and were forced to build emergency remote learning systems almost immediately. If we the teachers and the department face transition what more our learners. Teachers and administrators are immediately trained on the learning modality to be use for all the learners. But to think of it, is this modality (online or modular) will cater all the learners with different needs? Modular print learning is heavily reliant on series of activities, one lesson can have as many as 7 activities per subject. Parents are asked to guide the learner on the extent of the activity. Learners are relying on the previous knowledge and concept presented on the module.

Online and modular modality have its drawback on the child specially learners who are less fortunate in life. Not everyone is privileged enough to own a laptop and desktop or a phone or to have a stable internet connection to search or to communicate instantly to their teacher. Modular learning was the so called on the spot solution to these current situations.

As every say “No one can substitute a real teacher inside the classroom”. Teachers may see the total picture of an individual child in school and therefore may be aware of the great differences in traits and skills. Children differ widely in the many factors which determine their readiness for learning. To understand teaching and learning demands a knowledge of the learner. This understanding implies that teachers know the differences among children as well as the various strengths and weaknesses of each child. This are the factors that are missing in the modular print modality.

We all know that mistakes cannot be avoided at times. The Department should reevaluate the modules, and they must make sure that all the lessons or activities are appropriate to the needs of the learners. The parents, as well as the students are also included in the battlefield of education, gather some feedbacks to the persons who are in the real situation. The Department of Education must collaborate together towards the success of Philippine Educational System despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that every school must be provided with support and enough funds. The Department of Education should give autonomy and freedom to teachers in every school to do their own modules. However, the modules must be validated for the quality assurance and the progress will be monitored.

The author

is Teacher

--oOo-

III at San Carlos Elementary School-San Luis Pampanga