INTRODUCTION

We are living in an unexpected and unprecedented time. The

current pandemic has had an enormous impact on global education
wherein going to school to learn is a “NO” for the time being. In order to
ensure the continuity of learning, educational institutions have embarked
on technological platforms to deliver online learning programs to
students. This is aligned to the Department of Education’s aim under its
formulated program which is the Basic Education Learning Continuity
Plan (LCP). This program has identified different modalities that will
ensure that students’ learning continues, and an online learning is one of
these.
Online learning is electronically supported learning that relies on
the Internet for teacher/student interaction and the distribution of class
materials. This modality features the teacher as facilitator and engages
the learners’ active participation through the use of various technologies
accessed through the internet while they are geographically remote from
each other during instruction.
The so called “new normal” in education today is not only a
different concept for the learners but also for the parents and teachers.
While teachers have geared up as content curators, parents are
stepping in as facilitators and learning coaches. For parents, it is
definitely an added responsibility considering their personal work, work
from home, household chores, as virtual classrooms are not as simple
as plug-and-play. And the truth is, online classes are possible with
strong internet connection accompanied with the whole-hearted
cooperation of the students and their parents.
It is true that online learning presents us all with formidable
challenges. Even the most tech-savvy people are facing difficulties when
it comes to educational technology as many important aspects of
learning may not be transferred online. But at the same time, we have to
adapt to this change until school reopens.