DepED’s Distance Learning Modality v2.0
Raquel R. Coles
The Covid-19 virus still lures in every country. People are still given limits in everything they do mostly now that the virus have evolved into a higher risk strain – Delta variant. So the measures and most of the protocols were strictly implemented due to this new variant that arises. It shows that it is very fast to pass on and not only that, it is deadly once infected by it. So right now as we move on to 2021, as teachers face the new school year, here comes the version 2.0 of our Distance Learning Modality.
Since we have mostly adjusted to the situation that we currently experience because of theis pandemic, the DepED ensures along with the decision of our Philippine Government that there would be no or atleast will never still get into face to face learning interaction for SY 2021 – 2022. So for now we go on with blended learning. Yes, from modular print that we had last school year here comes another alternative way to deliver the lessons in a distance learning mode. Blended learning comes with the use of modular print plus the online learning which are combined to make learning possible right at the comfort of every home of our pupils. Isnt that great! Well for some it is, but how about the marginalized community? How about the family that doesn’t have any means to have a gadget even an internet connectivity? Well that’s that challenge that every household who can’t be in a blended learning modality. So the our department made a way to find survey during the enrolment period using a modified enrolment form wherein parents should answer the form together with some questions that ask them which modality they woulf prefer. It has also some questions such as what available gadgets or appliances that they can use to in attending the blended learning modality. But of course it all boils down to the work of teachers as part of their responsibility to ask each of their pupil’s household to confirm about their enrolment and their prefered modality, wether it is blended, online or purely modular print learning.
And so it goes on this new School Year of 2021 – 2022 that most of our pupils had a blended learning. They were given the softcopies of their modular activities that they need to use gadgets and should have strong internet connectivity to understand their lessons and also they meet their teachers once in a while via communication platforms available in the internet. Meanwhile, there are more still who have chosen to continue in Modular Print Learning. It has been convinient for our learners with no available gadgets to use and internet or data connectivity. It is an easy way and more practical way for every marginalized family who still continued the learning amidst of the second year of pandemic that we experience. Greatly as this school year 2021 – 2022 opens, our department appeal to our President to try a limited face-to-face learning in schools that has safe and low cases of infection in their community or province. It is indeed a step forward for our schools again to operate inspite of almost 2 years that is closed due to the chosen distance learning in continuing the educational system of our country. It is a wise choice indeed, yet most of our teaching workforce have endured many sacrifices to target the mission and goal of DepED in achieving its Learning Continuity Plan since the pandemic started in 2020. We have endured one School Year already and this time we will do it again for we believe that our learners will be the greatest and future hope of our country someday. As teachers continue to do their part, we work and pledge with the Department’s battlecry, “Para sa Bata, Para sa Bayan.”
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The author is Teacher III at Cutud Elementary School, SDO Angeles City