STUDY NOTEBOOK

LEARNING DELIVERY MODALITIES COURSE 2

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

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

ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED

3 hours

MARY JOY T. LONJAWON

Teacher I

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?

This pandemic has been a great challenge to us teachers and to the Department of Education as a whole.
The greatest challenge may be the remote learning of the pupils at this time of pandemic. Some learners
even encounters difficulty when facing with a teacher in school, how much more if they answer the
questions or activities and study the lessons without a teacher to help and guide them through. So with
this time, collaboration among the stakeholders should be widely emphasized because teachers cannot do
this along without everyone’s help.

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?

Yes I agree, because the purpose for the curriculum is to achieve a higher standard education and to produce a
competitive learner but due to its congested nature, students or pupils cannot cope up with it and teachers will
have a hard time finishing the topic at the end of the quarter with such limited time allotted for the teaching-
learning process.

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 following are the general purpose and specific purposes of the development of MELCs.
 The Department of Education’s Bureau of Curriculum Development developed MELCs to cope with the drastic
change in the educational atmosphere due to covid-19 pandemic. The focus of instruction were streamlined to
the most essential learning competencies.
 MELCs is also developed in response to UNESCO’s fourth sustainable development goal and that is to develop
resilient education systems, most especially during emergencies.
 MELC’s can be used as a mechanism to ensure education continuity.
 The MELCs intend to assist schools in navigating the limited number of the school of school days as they
employ multiple delivery schemes by providing them ample instructional space.

2. How does curriculum review aid in the identification of essential learning competencies?
This process will enable teachers to plan effectively and save us time to focus on our pupils. Not only will
we have a deeper understanding of the standards we teach, but our students will be more engaged to
their learning.
 3. 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 be necessary in building foundational skills.

4. 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 competencies 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 allotment at this time of
pandemic and should be based solely on the application to real-life situation.

5. What is the importance of the MELCs in ensuring the delivery of quality instruction?

MELCs ensures delivery of quality instructions as it becomes the primary reference in determining and
implementing learning delivery approaches that are suited to the local context and diversity of learners
while adapting to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

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.
K TO 12 LEARNING
MELCS
COMPETENCIES

* observed the changes in the weather Characterize weather disturbances in the

before, during and after a typhoon Philippines and describe their effects to daily
MERGED/CLUSTERE
life
D
*describe the effects of a typhoon on the
community

Use the properties of materials whether Use the properties of materials whether they
RETAINED
they are useful or harmful are useful or harmful

DROPPED N/A N/A

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.

Question(s) about MELCs that Your insights shared Insights shared by your co-teacher(s)
 need(s) clarification
* How will the students gather * the students may gather ideas Some students will be having hard
sensible questions to deliver in such through extensive readings like time to accomplish this competency
activities? books and other learning materials because of lack of sources and
and also they can watch internet connectivity.
documentaries.

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?
The unpacking and combining of MELCs is essential to make the learning activities more organize and
systematic. The teacher may unpack the MELCs into more specific learning competencies or objectives to
ensure that learner acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and values. However, the teacher may add more
sub-competencies depending on the need of the learners, and as time allows.

2. What considerations must be taken in unpacking and combining the MELCs? Explain each.
Here are some points to consider in unpacking and combining the MELCs:
*Alignment on the Content and Performance Standards - The MELCs are not a departure from the standards-
based design, which is one of the main features of the K-12 Curriculum. In fact, there are no MELCs without the
content and performance standards.
*Pre - requisite knowledge and skills - The learning competencies must be in spiral progression approach where
the basic principles are introduced in the first grade and are rediscovered in succeeding grades in more complex
forms.
*Logical sequence of learning objective - since the intention of unpacking the MELCs is to provide systematic
learning experiences for learners, it is important that the unpacked learning objectives follow a logical sequence
or specific order.
3. Do all the MELCs need to be unpacked or combined? Why or why not?
It varies on a case-by-case basis. There are considerations and criteria in unpacking or combining the MELCs. The
teacher may unpack or combine the learning competencies depending on the sequence of the lesson, need of the
learners.