It’s already the third year of the pandemic, and for three years the educational sector suffered big blows in terms of learning performance, technology adaptation as well as in other social, economic, and individual factors that affect quality education. The big question for teachers, students, and those that belong in this sector, especially in the primary and secondary, is how to better survive the challenges in the new normal education.
At the local level, especially in not-so-developed areas, the usual face-to-face teaching and learning mode is still what works mostly due to the fact of the inadequacy of technological services and equipment to deliver a blended learning approach. While there have been commendable stories of teachers and schools boasting about their best practices, the reality for the general population of teachers and learners is not the same.
The new normal education could be described as “mostly blended learning” in which the teaching and learning process are mediated with technology and done in various modalities. The Department of Education has pushed for modular approach, which has become the norm during the pandemic. Faced with several difficulties, many schools thought of using technology such as the internet, handheld radio, radio broadcast, videos, limited face-to-face, and other means.
Various platforms like Google Classes, Google Meet and Zoom became handy. Nevertheless, many of these tools were new to teachers and students. Most have no training attended prior to usage, though online webinars have flooded educators for them to be capacitated with the blended learning modalities. Below are some other important factors to consider in surviving the new normal education.
Surviving the new normal education
Cooperation among the key players
To continuously survive the challenges of the new normal education, what I observed is that there is a pressing need for equal cooperation and teamwork of teachers, parents, and learners, not only on focusing how to use technology. Without the cooperation of teachers, learners, and parents, quality education may not be guaranteed.
Since students are not required to be online 24/7, a time schedule of classes is provided for students which will serve as their guide. Time management skills is then paramount and should be taught, encouraged and instilled.
Usage of technology and lesson preparation
For technology, the Learning Management System (LMS) platform could be taken advantage of. This platform allows teachers to create virtual classes where they can assign activities that learners need to go through, monitor if the activities have been completed, grade submissions, and conduct online quizzes to assess comprehension while face-to-face classes are not allowed.
Preparation of series of engaging Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) Talks with follow-up Q&As is not advised. Good online schooling during the pandemic is a team not a solo performance. It calls for a careful preparation and coordination. A unique video lesson anchored with most essential competencies MELC) should be prepared by teachers teaching the same subject.
Monitoring of performance
Communication with learners and their parents should be active to provide learners with a better educational experience. A learner’s email or messenger should be checked for assignments and projects to be submitted. Learners need help, they should not be working alone or independently. That is one reason why teachers should take initiatives to set up a meeting with parents for the progress of their child.
Learners are informed to set up a designated study space. A designated spot at home should be assigned where learners can have it as a study corner. Learning materials, on the other hand, like cellphone, laptop, notebooks, pens and paper should be available.
These are simple but necessary factors to consider if survival is the objective in the new normal education. There are other recommendations to help the educational sector, but for now these are useful as they can be implemented by teachers, learners and parents together.
DepEd has been firm on its stand that “Learning must continue”. Diverse strategies and learning modalities have been introduced to make sure it will address student’s needs and interests in continuous learning. Nevertheless, simple but effective measures must be put in place for the teachers, learners and parents in adjusting with the new normal setup.
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