Learning in the Pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic never just stopped in my country. It has a tremendous impact on global health, industries, and other areas all around the world. Education is no different. Online classes and homeschooling rose to fill in the need. Despite COVID-19 ills, the pandemic disruption raised awareness of new possibilities for reshaping our education system. We are now thinking about how we should continue education within our homes. We find ways and structured frameworks in schools as we face the new challenge of embracing the significant paradigm shift of our learning.

A few of us believe that online education and homeschooling are at least effective comparable, if not more effective, traditional education formats, but the evidence is far from conclusive. Online learning is a story that is we are still writing, and its progress will most likely determine by people who are present.

With schools around the world reconfiguring in response to COVID-19, we take steps to meet the needs of an online learning environment. There are attempts to have everything go as smoothly as possible. It means that there are learning plans developed, outlining the technological integration and implementation required to build well-crafted solutions to support flexible learning. With the advancement of technology, classes may continue even if they are not face-to-face.

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Although the internet is a new medium of learning, we are still learning how effectively use it. We are unsure how we could do it, what the first step will be, who will help or contribute, and what results when we do it. Whether it will be effective or not, until now, these questions have lingered in our minds, wondering if distance learning and homeschooling are effective or not.

Additionally, the challenge of the digital divide becomes more prominent. There is an inequality of access to online platforms among learners. Some do not have computers, laptops, internet access, and even phones. They are not privileged enough to engage in online learning, but it has alternative ways except for that, and one of them is what we called modular learning.

With these facts, we are responsible for acknowledging that not all can have the right to quality education. The pandemic shows us that we are in the same storm but not in the same boat. Hence the qualities brought by these learning alternatives that I mentioned are different from each other.

The modern e-learning environment can synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous classes occur when both teacher and students interact live online through a video conferencing platform. Asynchronous happens when the teacher and students do not meet them online. The teacher leaves activities in the learning management platform or through emails, which students need to pass at a specified time.

I had firsthand experience as both a facilitator of learning and a learner. People make a commendable effort to put this online learning and homeschooling possible and as effective. Hence it is a new learning means; the online class is difficult for both students and instructors, especially if they are not tech-savvy. We cannot deny that the educational system needs to evolve to adapt to the current constraints of our time, but the quality it gives has not and will never be.

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The classroom is a focal point of learning in a school. It needs to be adaptable to the changing needs of the academic environment and school routines. If classes return to normal, we need to strictly adhere to the safety measures and health protocols that they established to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Following simple routines and precautions such as physical separation, constant use of facemasks and face shields, and constant sanitization can assist in preventing the transmission of the infection. We cannot deny that COVID-19 halted our educational system even some had distance learning and homeschooling in the bag before. We still need to strive for quality despite these circumstances.

Amidst the pandemic, with the online platform as a new "normal" way of learning, we continue to acquire and obtain a quality education (despite some falling short), which as promised through world-class standards being met and maintained in the pandemic. We see to it that we can provide ourselves an efficient and effective means of education despite the constraints, gaining the knowledge and the learning of a millennial leader. Achieving excellence in contributing to the social, economic, and environmental development and sustainability by arming the students with a mentality to always look for a bigger picture and always think for a better solution.

The malleability of students in the new "normal" way of learning entails us as the title of being millennial leaders and aspirants to become the better citizens of our community. Our adaptability and flexibility and our willingness to acquire new things and knowledge to help us become professionals and successful remain, and the fiery passion in our hearts to pursue our ambition will not alter and will never be. As legendary as Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal's declaration "Ang Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan"(The children are the future of our nation), we begin to build the future of our society.

Despite the hurdles, we are still progressing thanks to the online platform, which has molded us into contemporary learners. We are still receiving quality education despite all of this and the little resources provided. We must do all possible to ensure that the efforts of those who are a part of this trip are not in vain. We must achieve excellence! We want to be exceptional and the greatest at what we do despite the odds.

Phot Credit: Jackson David, Marc Thele and Steven Weirather



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18 comments
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A lot of things indeed are changing, even though we are not sure how these new ways affect us. Still, the determination to learn and to acknowledge individuals to pursue help a lot of people to continue. Some are complaining, that is expected because they're not used to this type of way but if they will just focus on the good things, soon everything will be fine.

By the way sir, I noticed your good at writing, I'm just wondering about your profession? if you don't mind me asking.

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(Edited)

Things are changing due to the pandemic and I think the changes is permanent.

Some are complaining, that is expected because they're not used to this type of way but if they will just focus on the good things, soon everything will be fine.

That is a natural response to things we are not in full control, but complaining continuously will not do good. I agree that we need to focus what is controllable and seemingly life becomes okay then.

By the way sir, I noticed your good at writing, I'm just wondering about your profession? if you don't mind me asking.

Thank for the complement! I am an engineer and do classes in a university. My writing may seems good but I still have more rooms for growth in terms of writing. !PIZZA

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Ah, that's why I noticed the gap in my writing from yours. Hindi rin kasi madali, hehehe

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(Edited)

Maybe, I did write a few more page than you. Before, my writings doesn't resembles anything that I have to date. It evolves as I continue to write. Yes, writing is not easy, but we can both agree that it is enjoyable.

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This is a topic dear to my own heart as I've advocated for educational reforms since my younger days at the university. It is a gigantic challenge to educate the youth; more so because of the hurdles added by the pandemic situation. That said, the current leadership did what is possible under the circumstances, but it is limited by the individual situation of learners as well as the national and local budget allotted by the government. From my own experience, distance education has its quirks that might be more suited to some personalities than others, which is quite the same with face-to-face learning.

!LUV the blog post, @juecoree. Keep up the good work.

!PIZZA :)

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From my own experience, distance education has its quirks that might be more suited to some personalities than others, which is quite the same with face-to-face learning.

Being exposed in both face-to-face and and distant learning myself, I agree that distant learning has its own quirk, and most suited for those at the higher education. Distant learning often prioritize self-directed learning. It may be well fit to the introverts like me, but an unknown territory for the extrovert who needs constant simulations.

That said, the current leadership did what is possible under the circumstances, but it is limited by the individual situation of learners as well as the national and local budget allotted by the government.

Our government put the best they can do to continue our people's education despite the constraint. I am thankful for that, but I don't know why other still complain. Sharing you some !PIZZA too.

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Thanks, @juecoree. People will always have different expectations. Maybe this is the reason for the constant complaining we see in the news and on social media. And for some, it might just be a habit to complain about anything they can think of, whether good or bad things happened to them. It's a different story if there is corruption involved, which I don't think the current secretary will do. Just my two cents. :)

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It's a different story if there is corruption involved, which I don't think the current secretary will do.

I think she isn't doing corruption. I think the budget cut hurts the distant learning implementation.

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That is true. The DepEd only got half of the budget they requested for 2021, which is sad. :(

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Dear @juecoree, I agree with your assertion that distance learning and homeschooling are required because of the corona virus pandemic.

However, distance learning and homeschooling have a problem in that it is difficult for learners to concentrate on classes and lectures for a long time.

I watched the video lectures on the internet, and I was able to concentrate on the class for only about two hours.
It was more difficult to concentrate during distance learning than it was to do face-to-face classes with teachers and friends.

During class, difficulties and questions could not be solved by asking teachers and friends.
I thought distance learning and homeschooling were slower and less efficient than face-to-face classes.

Above all, the trust, friendship, and interest gained through meeting with teachers and friends are difficult to obtain in remote classes.
Humans are social animals!

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