STUDY NOTEBOOK

LEARNING DELIVERY MODALITIES COURSE 2

MODULE 2:
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
(MELCs)
MODULE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this Module, you will be able to:

1. explain the background and development of the MELCs
2. unpack the MELCs
3. combine related competencies into learning objectives

MODULE CONTENT:

Lesson 1. Background, Rationale, and Development of MELCs

Lesson 2. Unpacking and Combining MELCs into Learning Objectives
LAC Session 2

LESSON 1: BACKGROUND, RATIONALE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF MELCS

ACTIVITY 1.

Answer the following reflective questions in your Study Notebook:

1. The closure of schools around the world due to the global pandemic posed serious challenges on
the delivery of quality basic education. As a teacher, what do you think are the fundamental
concerns in terms of curriculum standards that need to be addressed in order to ensure learning
continuity? Cite a specific example. Do you think these concerns could be solved by teachers
alone? Why or why not?

The crisis brought about by the COVID-19 has posted a lot of challenges for the Department of
Education especially to the teachers who are standing in the front line to provide the continuity in
education. As a teacher, I believe that narrowing down the learning competencies has become a
huge factor in order to deliver the only the most essential in this time of pandemic. However, one of
the major concerns to ensure that learning continues is the implementation process itself. Given
the shortage of resources, schools, teachers, and the community itself are finding means to bridge
the gap.

2. Even prior to the spread of COVID-19 that eventually led to the closure of schools nationwide, the
congested curriculum has been a perennial problem of teachers (Andaya, 2018). This is perceived
to be one of the hindering factors on the poor performance of Filipino learners. Do you agree with
this observation? Why or why not?

I totally agree to this. The purpose of the curriculum is solely to achieve a higher standard of
education and to produce competitive learners. But due to its congested nature, students cannot
cope up with it and more often than not, teachers find it hard and time consuming to teach all these
competencies which seem to be repetitive and redundant resulting to poor performance of the
learners as well as the teachers.

ACTIVITY 2
Familiarize yourself with the course reading on the Development and Design of the MELCs. After going
through the document, provide a brief and concise response to the following guide questions. Write your
answers in your Study Notebook.

1. What are the general and specific purposes of the development of MELCs?
The MELC is developed to allow students to study based on their abilities to learn skills or
competencies at their own pace. This method is tailored to meet different learning levels that can
lead to efficient learning outcomes through alternative learning delivery modalities. How does
curriculum review aid in the identification of essential learning competencies?

2. What is the difference between essential learning competencies and desirable learning
competencies?
Essential learning competencies are defined as what the students need, considered
indispensable, in the teaching-learning process to building skills to equip learners for subsequent
grade levels and subsequently, for lifelong learning. On the other hand, desirable learning
competencies were defined as what may enhance education but may not necessary in building
foundational skills.

3. How were the most essential learning competencies identified? What were the decisions made in
order to trim down the number of the essential learning competencies further?

The MELCs were identified according to the gaps, issues and concerns across learning areas
and grade levels. The decisions were made due to the limited number of school days and the
absence of face-to-face instructions at this time of pandemic. Hence, narrowing down the learning
competencies is the best option the DepEd has come up with.

4. What is the importance of the MELCs in ensuring the delivery of quality instruction?
The MELCs are made aligned with the national/local standards, applicable to real-life and are the
most essential competencies that students are expected to learn despite this pandemic. The
Department of Education has made sure that with limited resources, time, and the absence of face-
to-face instructions, learners would still get the the necessary competencies the need to acquire
through these MELCs.

ACTIVITY 3

Prepare a copy of your learning area’s original K-12 Curriculum Guide and corresponding list of
MELCs. Go to the sections of the curriculum guide and MELCs that are relevant to your instructional
needs. Copy and accomplish the following table in your Study Notebook and compare the two documents
to determine which learning competencies were retained, dropped, or merged.

ACTIVITY 4
In your LAC Session, discuss and share your answers to Activities 1-3 in this lesson. Discuss any questions about the
MELCs that need clarification as well. Share your thoughts and let your co-teachers articulate their insights regarding
your questions. Jot down all the insights shared in the discussion, including your own, in your Study Notebook.
 LESSON 2: UNPACKING AND COMBINING MELCS INTO LEARNING OBJECTIVES

ACTIVITY 1
Familiarize yourself with the course reading on Unpacking and Combining the MELCs. After reading the document,
provide a brief and concise response to the following guide questions in your Study Notebook:
1. What is the importance of unpacking and combining the MELCs?
By unpacking and combining the MELCs, we now have a clear path forward. This gives up a deeper
understanding on how these MELCs are selected. It will be much helpful for us to plan on how are we going to
implement our LCP more efficiently.
2. What considerations must be taken in unpacking and combining the MELCs? Explain each.
The Most Essential Learning Competencies should be aligned to the content and performance standards of the
all the learning areas. Should be based on the learning needs of the learners.
3. Do all the MELCs need to be unpacked or combined? Why or why not?
Of course, unpacking the MELCs are essential in order to have a systematic learning activity so that the
competencies needed by the learners are not congested or repetitive.

ACTIVITY 2
1. Form a group of four members within your LAC, preferably with fellow teachers in your respective learning
area.
2. Using the curriculum guide and a list of the MELCs, choose MELCs in the first quarter and unpack these into
learning objectives.
3. Each team will present their unpacked learning objectives. Discussion and processing will follow each
presentation. Suggestions and insights from each group will be considered in enhancing the learning
objectives.
 MY REFLECTION
Meeting the needs of the most vulnerable populations during these is essential to achieving
Sustainable Development Goal Number 4 (UNESCO, 2017). Thus, the Department came up with the Most
Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) to be used nationwide by field implementers for SY. 2020-
2021, This is just a vivid and urgent response to develop resilient education systems, most especially
during emergencies like COVID- 19 pandemic. It serves as a guide for us teachers. It also intends to assist
schools in navigating the limited number of school days as we employ multiple delivery schemes by
providing them ample instructional space.

Furthermore, unpacking and combining of MELCs is tough at first since it is very hard to do the task
yet MELCs could be combined to observe efficiency in the development of learning resources, which
include but not limited to SLMs, textbooks, teacher’s guides, activity sheets and television and radio scripts.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic as a global health issue poses a great impact to education.
Despite the challenges brought about by this circumstances, the Department of Education still ensures the
continuity of learning among learners through coming up with the list of the most essential learning
competencies(MELCs) to be used in the field nationwide for SY 2020-2021.
The three months delay in the opening of the classes in K12 Education requires the Department of
Education to adjust the learning competencies that can be covered within the school year considering the
shortened number of the school days.

As a teacher, being able to provide the needs of the learners is a necessity amidst in this global
pandemic, our objectives must be essential and attainable. Most Essential Learning Competencies or
MELCs serve as a guide in our teaching, it is much important for us to always look at it as one of those
things needed to be well-prepared. Unpacking and combining MELCs may take a lot of time but it is always
into consideration for better delivery of instruction.

Our preparation for the learners’ needs must be catered in our MELC. When it comes to our
learners, it is our responsibility to plan and create learning materials that would be suitable to their learning
style and needs. This module made me realized that for us to be able to continue and serve our purpose
we must spend more time in discussing matters especially in the preparation period.
Further, many of the teachers, parents and guardians might have a hard time embracing this new
normal of education yet gradually we will all be used to it and eventually discover a much way to become
better persons they are expected to become.