HARNESSING THE E-LEARNING PLATFORMS AMONG PUBLIC

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS: AN ANALYSIS ON THE CRITICAL

SOCIAL THEORY

A Dissertation
Presented to the
Faculty of the Graduate School
Bataan Peninsula State University
Balanga City, Bataan, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Education major in
Educational Management

by:

GIDEON V. ROBERTS

MAY 2020
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CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Have you already adjusted yourself with the new concepts, terminologies and

innovations developed and applied in today’s generation brought by COVID-19 pandemic

crisis? The existence of teleconferencing, virtual meetings using zoom, google meet and

other related applications, distance learning modalities through E-Learning platforms are

some of the in-demand products and innovations as we embrace the Fourth Industrial

Revolution. It has been a blessing in disguise that when pandemic outbreak due to

Coronavirus disease transpired, we are now living in an era called industry 4.0 where

Information and Communication Technologies and other advanced innovations have

already evolved. During pandemic crisis, the importance, usefulness and potentials of those

technologies and other related innovations were even more realized as the world embrace

the new normal ways of living. The big question is: Are we all ready to face the new normal

way of living, specially the ways of educating the learners considering the recent scenarios

of Philippine education system?

Considering the precautionary measures stated by the Department of Health to

observe social-distancing and avoid mass gatherings to control the spread of corona virus,

the Department of Education has already implemented the guidelines on the use of E-

Learning platforms. The department eyed the potentials of this learning modality in

addressing the needs of Filipino learners in obtaining quality learnings while staying at

home. Thus, engaging the teachers and learners in this learning modality could give

challenges and opportunities. Challenges are always given, and with this new learning

modality, our country is still in the process of adjustment to address those challenges.

(Garcia, 2017) explained that the educational sphere in the Philippines has been
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beleaguered with the same issues and difficulties particularly on its logistics from the

deficiency of instructional resources, facilities and even schools. Nevertheless, Filipino

culture still places a high value on education; in fact, it is generally viewed as the great

equalizer of opportunities. He also added that the rapid progression of information and

communication technology brought significant changes in the field of education.

Furthermore, teachers all over the country were extending their sentiments and point

of views on the proposed learning modality to be implemented as the classes start this

school year. E-Learning platform should be one of the proposed learning modalities to be

used in teaching as a response to the needs of the Philippine education system in providing

continuous learnings in the midst of pandemic outbreak. Consequently, teachers have

already shared their assumptions on the possible challenges to be encountered on the use of

E-Learning modality considering the limitations and barriers that every educational

institution has. Despite the predictable challenges and issues regarding this, teachers need

to be well-equipped as they embrace the new normal in delivering learning using the E-

Learning platform. Harnessing the skills of the teachers to be prepared in the new normal

by assessing their perceptions, practices and challenges will be of great help to address the

current problem on the use of E-Learning platform.

This study will focus more on the possible potentials of E-Learning platforms

towards Digital literacy among public school teachers. Their perceptions, challenges and

experiences would serve as stepping stone in preparing relevant policies, programs,

interventions or even conceptual model to harness their skills towards E-Learning platform.

This innovative way of teaching is already part of the new normal. (Tanveer, 2015)

explained that no educational institution of today can survive without getting help from

technology. Technology now has a significant impact on educational institutions, changing

both organizational structures and individual functions (administrative, teaching and

learning). The variety and complexity of new technologies

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and the potential ways in which they can be used for educational purposes is not a simple

phenomenon.

Furthermore, (techplusmedia.com, 2017) as discussed in their published article on

Harnessing the Power of Technology to promote education, the changing academic scenario of

education demands for prompt technological infrastructure. Improved and quality education

must be ensured with technology driven education systems. It is important to introduce

computer-based learning system at the junior level so that the students become computer savvy

from very young age and are confident of using Education Technology, when actually needed.

Besides, teachers are at the forefront of student’s educational experiences, and it’s now

incumbent on them, as well as parents and school administrators, to provide children with the

guidance and technical skills they need to succeed in their connected future. Through the use of

technology, as both a learning tool and a subject matter discipline, there are a number of new

ways that teachers can inspire students to learn. Thus, this is the perfect time to harness teachers’

skills in delivering quality education using E-Learning platforms.

It is for such reasons that the researcher will embark on the study. The main purpose of this

study is to gather insights from the public-school teachers regarding their perceptions, challenges

and practices on the use of E-Learning platform as a proposed teaching modality to continuously

deliver quality education among pupils even in times of crisis. The insights gathered form this

study will be the bases in formulating conceptual model on how to harness teachers skills towards

E-Learning platform. Hence, as an aspiring future administrator, I could see the importance of

harnessing the skills of teachers as they embrace the new ways of teaching. This will serve as

preparation into a more challenging scenarios brought by the existence of industry 4.0
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Statement of the Problem

The general problem of the study is: What are the perceptions, challenges and practices of public-

school teachers on the use of E-Learning platform in teaching as part of the new normal?

Specifically, this study sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the public-school teacher in terms of:

1.1 age;

1.2 sex;

1.3 highest educational attainment;

1.4 length of service; and

1.5 relevant seminars and trainings attended?

2. How may the status of public-school teachers be described in terms of:

2.1 technological readiness;

2.2 psychological readiness;

2.3 infrastructure readiness;

2.4 equipment readiness

3. How may the challenges of public-school teacher be described in terms of:

2.1 applying E-Learning modality in teaching;

2.2 monitoring pupils’ progress;

2.3 addressing the problem encountered using E-Learning platform;

3. How may the case stories of practices of public-school teachers on the use of E-Learning

platform be described?

4. What insights can be withdrawn from the case stories of practices of public-school teachers

on the use of E-Learning platform?

5. What are the implications of the findings on the use of E-Learning platform among public

school teachers?
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6. What framework can be derived from the inputs to harness E-Learning platform among public-

school teachers?

Significance of the Study

The following entities were deemed significant to this study:

Teachers. The results of this study may help the teachers in evaluating their

practices on the use of E-Learning platform under distance learning. Such data may

strengthen their practices, leading to better and optimal performance in using such learning

platform. Moreover, the results of this study can make them adaptive and flexible to the

needs of the learners specially the dilemma in teaching using distance learning. The

teaching framework that was disclosed in the study may serve as their guide in enhancing

their teaching processes and practices in teaching using E-Learning platform.

Learners. The outcome of the study may also be beneficial to the learners. The

best practices, innovations given by teachers in teaching them may maximize their

opportunities in grasping holistic learning experiences under distance learning that may

help them succeed in their future endeavors in life. The framework that may be developed

after the course may help them and the future learners in experiencing an optimized

education that is adaptive, responsive, and flexible to their varying needs especially during

crisis.

Administrators. The result of the study may foremost be beneficial to the

administrators and educational leaders. The result of the findings may give them ideas in

formulating and spearheading policies, programs, activities to be included in the

development of actions catering the needs of the learners who serve as the most important

clientele of education. Such endeavors may lead to an adoption of measures that can be

added to enhance the functioning of the school in delivering quality education using

distance learning.
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Curriculum planners. The results of the study may serve as guidelines and

baselines for the curriculum planners to make significant adjustments, refinement and

development of the said curriculum fitted to the needs of the learners, teachers and

communities can make the curriculum more relevant and adaptive to varying needs of the

stakeholders of education as they embrace the new normal. In this sense, the curriculum

becomes more flexible and meaningful to the lives of the learners and the communities it

serves.

Department of Education (DepEd). The findings of the study may be of great

importance to the DepEd people in determining the strengths and weaknesses of their

efforts in providing equitable access to education through the adaptation of E-Learning

platform. This could serve as their SWOT Analysis to tap and maximize any opportunity

to improve the current system and make significant development in its operation.

Future Researchers. Other researchers may consider to conduct the same

study in wider scope. The findings of the study may provide future researchers significant

data on the all-about of the problem being investigated and how such data can be used as

bases for the development of long-term solutions

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study assessed the perceptions, practices and challenges of public-school

teachers in the Division of Bataan on the use of E-Learning platform as a learning modality

in teaching under distance learning as response to the impacts of pandemic outbreaks. The

inputs will be beneficial for the development of policies, programs, activities and

framework that would harness the potentials of E-Learning platform among public-school

teachers in the Division of Bataan. The respondents of this study are 50 public-school

teachers in the Schools Division of Bataan. In particular, it also determined the profiles of

the public-school teachers in terms of age, sex, highest educational attainment, length of
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service, and relevant seminars and trainings attended; the status of public-school teachers

in terms of technological readiness, psychological readiness, infrastructure readiness and

equipment readiness; the challenges of public-school teachers in terms of applying E-

Learning modality in teaching, monitoring pupils’ progress and addressing the problem

encountered using E-Learning platform; the case stories of practices of public school

teachers on the use of E-Learning platform; the insights that can be withdrawn from their

responses; and the programs or framework that can be developed out of their responses.

The study was further delimited on the said variables that serve as bases in the survey.

Moreover, the study is relevant to be conducted to achieve its primary goals in harnessing

the potentials of E-Learning platforms among public school teachers as part of the new

trend in teaching as intervention in coping with the impacts of pandemic outbreak in the

current. Consequently, the scope of the study is only confined to 50 public school teachers

in the Schools Division of Bataan.

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Notes in Chapter 1

Garcia, M. (2017). E-Learning Technology Adaption in the Philippines: An Investigation

of Factors Affecting Filipino College Students’ Acceptance of Learning
Management System. The International Journal of E-Learning and Educational
Technologies in the Digital Media (IJEETDM) 3(3): 118-13.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323576195

Tanveer, A. (2015). Teachers’ Perceptions and Needs Towards the Use of E-Learning in
Teaching of Physics at Secondary Level. Alberta Journal of Educational Research
03(08):1045-1051.https://www.researchgate.net/publication

Tech Plus Education Technology. Published Article (January, 2017). Harnessing the Power
of Technology to Promote Education. https://techplusmedia.com