“Curricular Changes in the Primary Grades brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic

prevalence in the City of Iligan”

Ivon Faith J. Atienda

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in

history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. Closures

of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 per cent of the world’s student population,

up to 99 per cent in low and lower-middle income countries. This study will help in understanding

how curricular changes in the primary grades brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic

prevalence in the City of Iligan. The research will therefore address the two main approaches of

curriculum change due to COVID-19 pandemic which is the Modular Approach and the Online

Approach. This research will also address the gap between learners with complete resources for

online learning and those learners who don’t have access for online learning enabling them to

access learning conveniently.

Need for this Study

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, there is a move toward modular approach and online

approach to curriculum implementation. Modular approach is an emerging trend educational

thinking that shifts traditional method of instruction to an outcome-based learning paradigm.

Modularization is based on the principle of dividing the curriculum into small discrete modules or

units that are independent, non-sequential, and typically short in duration. While online approaches

are developed and implemented, however, their curriculum might not be changed or updated for
some time, if ever. When it does take place, curricular redesign tends to focus on particulars rather

than the big picture. This study will need models for curriculum design to give educators a map or

guideline from which to develop curriculum or instruction for use in their field. The models are

designed so that by following a process the educator can produce complete and instruction-ready

material for their students on a consistent basis.

Background

Several studies have concluded that the school should consider the participants’ views on

the implementation of modularization, it would be fair to conclude that though the modularized

program emphasized the utilization of student-centered pedagogies and continuous assessment

methods, currently these curricular reforms appear to have been undermined by the dominance of

traditional lecture-based instruction and continuous testing. And adopting online learning on a

large or small scale provides an excellent opportunity to re-consider your course design. Schools

may find new ways to use technologies to engage students, maintain ongoing relationships and

enhance feedback and assessment. It also presents an ideal mechanism for course teams to consider

and adopt different pedagogical approaches. Learners will also need different kinds of support

when learning online and adopting an institution-wide approach to this is important. In addition to

teaching support at a distance, online students need appropriate technical and pastoral support.

To illustrate, modular approach and online approach are still in its childhood and many

changes are expected in the near and distant future. Problem-based learning is a plausible format

of the electronic learning process as well as customized modular learning approach. Online

approach will see many changes in both equipment and software, and educators must be ready to
utilize these innovations to train future learners in the most effective and time efficient methods to

keep up with the demand for a highly trained workforce.

Objectives

The research paper seeks to achieve its general objective of how Curricular Changes in the

Primary Grades brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic prevalence in the City of Iligan by

focusing on the following specific objectives:

1. To determine the most used learning approach in distance learning due to COVID-19

pandemic.

2. To determine the mobility, reachability, convenience and compatibility of each

learning approach to the learners.

3. To assess the procedure or alterations that the School will make to change from

Tradition Learning Approach to Distance Learning Approach.

Research Questions and or Hypothesis

1. How many learners chose the Modular Learning Approach? How many learners chose

the Online Learning Approach?

2. What is the difference between Modular and Online Learning Approach? What are the

disadvantages and advantages of each approach?

3. Does curricular changes in the primary grades brought about by the COVID-19

pandemic affect their learning?

Research Methodology

The study intends to use cross sectional survey design in determining the curricular changes

in the primary grades brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic prevalence in the City of Iligan.

The study will sample 5 local private schools registered in Department of Education which are

already operating in Iligan City. The study will collect both primary and secondary data, and the

quantitative data generated will be analyzed using descriptive statistics which will include

percentage distribution, mean and the frequency counts.

Research Timeline

The study is expected to be completed in 17 weeks with the following indicated as the

activity’s durations for every section of the research project:

Research Section Duration

1. Title 1 week

2. Introduction 1 week

3. Need for this Study 2 weeks

4. Background 3 weeks

5. Objectives 1 week

6. Research Questions and or Hypothesis 1 week

7. Research Methodology 2 weeks

8. Data analysis interpretations and discussions 3 weeks

9. Summary conclusions and recommendations 2 weeks

10. Reviewing work for final submission 1 week

References

Schneiderheinze. Model for e-Learning Curriculum: Difference from Traditional Classroom

Curriculum Models.
Jisc (2016). Curriculum Design and Support for Online Learning. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/full-
guide/curriculum-design-and-support-for-online-learning
Chen (2018). The practice of modularized curriculum in higher education institution: Active

Learning and continuous assessment in focus.

Hai-Jew (2010). An Instructional Design Approach to Updating an Online Course Curriculum.

Biškupić and Zorica. E-Learning Curriculum Development.

United Nations (2020). Policy Brief: Education during COVID-19 and beyond.