(By Domingo “Daryl” G. Simbajon, LPT III)
COVID-19 has caused an undeniable global health crisis affecting millions of people, bringing in over a million in fatalities. In the Philippines alone, over 500,000 have been infected by it, more than 400,000 have recovered, and 11,000 have died. These figures can still rise with the threat of the new COVID variant.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, countries have opted to employ quarantine protocols and temporarily shut down their educational institutions disturbing more than a billion learners worldwide.
As a result, the educational system has changed dramatically across the world. With this change, we also see the distinctive rise of online learning where teaching is now undertaken remotely and via digital platforms. While online learning has been offered by some educational institutions pre-COVID, it has now become part of the new normal.
A few months into the Academic Year 2020-2021, the Department of Education (DepEd) began introducing the different modes of learning. It might be confusing to fully understand the similarities and/or differences of these various Learning Delivery Modes or LDMs. Perhaps their brief descriptions below would be helpful:
1. Face-to-Face Learning (F2F) is the traditional teaching and learning process where students go to school to acquire the learning competencies designed for them. This always requires the presence of a teacher with aids for teaching serving as learning resources intended for better outcome.
2. Distance Learning is the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional classroom. For this learning method, students are given the materials/tools they can study in the comfort of their homes. This could either be an online or modular process of teaching and learning.
- Online learning takes place over the Internet, also commonly referred to as e-learning. Teachers meet the students online; this can be done through Google Meet.
- Digital Modular Learning is individualized instruction that allows learners to use Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) in either print or digital format/electronic copy, depending on the student’s preference. Thus, if the student prefers a print copy of the SLMs, his/her parent/guardian will collect the same from the adviser. Submission of output (the student’s written works such as activities, quizzes, exams, and performance tasks such as projects) can be done online. Submission is done using Word document or PDF via email or Google Drive/Classroom. If the student prefers a soft copy of SLMs, subject teacher or adviser will send this to the student via email and submission of output is all online. It is the teacher who still takes responsibility to monitor the progress of the student.
- Pure Modular learning is distance learning that uses SLMs based on the most essential learning competencies or MELCS provided by DepEd. The modules include sections on motivation and assessment that serve as a complete guide of both teachers’ and students’ desired competencies. All modules are in printed form and will be collected by parents/guardians from the school through their advisers on an agreed schedule. Submission of outputs (activities, quizzes, or exams) to the adviser will also be done by parents/guardians on an agreed schedule.
3. Blended Learning can be a combination of online learning and F2F learning. It can also be any combination of the learning delivery modalities.
4. Homeschooling is a home-based learning method where the student is not required to go to school. They study at their own pace with the assistance of their parents/guardians.
COVID-19 has indeed disrupted our traditional educational system and yes, brought about change! Its fast spread has demonstrated the importance of building resilience into our teachers and students to face health threats or even calamities and change, including rapid technological change.
The pandemic has given us the opportunity to remind ourselves of the skills students need in this unpredictable, uncertain world: informed decision making, creative problem solving, and perhaps above all, adaptability. Resilience and acknowledgement of the importance of mental health must be built into our educational system as well.
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Food for Thought
Resilience embodies the personal qualities that enable one to thrive in the face of adversity. – Kathryn Connor, positivepyschology.com
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Domingo “Daryl” G. Simbajon is a Licensed Professional Teacher III of Special Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Program from Butuan City./PN
