FEATURE

CLARISSA (how-to feature)

The Frustrated Student’s Guide in Surviving “New Normal” School
Draining. Exhausting. Problematic.
These are only a few of the many sobriquets that red-eyed, caffeine-hydrated and
pressured students often attach to the new mode of learning.
It has been two years since the pandemic struck and changed the world forever. In the
passing of time, it has been made clear that many facets of the society have been adversely
affected, and the education sector is not at all immune to the changes that took place. In the name
of continuing education, the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education
left thousands of students no choice but to adapt and move forward as they deemed it
unnecessary to postpone learning.
At present, many students are continuously pouring their overwhelming experiences from
their online classes. There has not been a day when Twitter is not bombarded by students’
sentiments that illustrate how #frustrating and #tiring online school is. However, until we can all
safely return to our physical classrooms, we have to keep ourselves afloat. We could do this by
arming ourselves with practical skills and good work ethic.
To help you ace distance education, here are five practical tips on how to survive online
school (and avoid the dreaded tres while getting enough zzzs at the same time.)
Manage your schedule. Studying eleven subjects or more in one semester can take a toll
on even the most resilient learners. The onslaught of online classes is more challenging than
ever. Moreover, with the close proximity of a number of distractions such as slacking behind
closed cameras or sleeping amid lectures, good scheduling is a necessity.
It may seem incongruent, but in order to accomplish your requirements on time, you must
have a well-planned schedule which contains all of your priorities and goals for a day, a week, or
an entire month. With it, you may be able to keep track of your classes, your vacant period, your
deadlines and the respective activities that you have to fill in on time. By dividing your time
according to the weight of your tasks, you may be able to feel more comfortable and confident as
you would not have to worry about forgetting to submit an essay in your Lit101 class or miss a
webinar due to convoluted academic disarray.
Upon receiving your class schedule from the registrar, create a timeframe that includes all
of your routines in a week and lay them all out. To start with, you could purchase planners,
create a spreadsheet, or download scheduling free applications such as Todoist and Fantastical 2.
As you might already know, nothing is scarier than forgetting that you have an exam or a
quiz and forgetting to review for it because you mistook the schedule and went frolicking on
Netflix instead.
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Have a class buddy. Independence is a valuable trait in learning, especially in college.

However, it does not hurt to have one of two trustworthy acquaintances from your class or
section to help in keeping you updated or reminded of upcoming quizzes and submissions.
You might miss out on some important announcement from your instructors during your
Zoom or MS TEAMS meeting due to internet connectivity problems, or you could have trouble
backreading from active group chats. During these instances, you could reach out to your
buddies. They could be your friends or a reliable class president whom you could freely inquire
from without the feeling of hesitation that you might feel when asking a favor from someone you
are not close with. You could also be this trustworthy buddy yourself.
Sailing the stormy ocean alone is admirable, but so is having a fellow sailor to keep the
boat afloat until you both reach the shores of safety.
Reach out to your instructors. Harboring fear towards teachers is a perpetual
predicament and practice of students since the dawn of time, mainly due to the irrational and
baseless belief that asking questions is a taboo in the part of the former. However, even the
strictest professors never turn away students who wish to clarify the time of exams or the
deadline of their given requirements, because, at the end of the day, as teachers, they know that it
is a part of their responsibilities to put the welfare of their students first, and answering their
questions and addressing and concerns is one way of doing so.
Online classes limit the availability of clear communication as exemplified in the many
awkward silences and robotic audio during Zoom or MS TEAMS meetings. Thus, if you have
any queries or problems regarding your subjects, especially if your classmates are also
disoriented themselves, it is better to consult the teachers concerned to dispel any doubts and
relieve you of the weight of receiving a bad score in consequence of a misheard instruction or an
unexplained closed-camera for the entire duration of the synchronous class.
Remember, teachers do give reprimands, but not for reasonable queries that might help
their students succeed in their endeavors.
Clean your R.A.M. As superficial as it might sound, decluttering your gadget’s memory
is a great decision if you want a smooth-sailing thesis writing on a rush day where multiple
programs are running simultaneously in the background. While most newly released phone or
computer models run without a fuss despite having a few applications open, there is no harm in
keeping their RAM in top shape. Who knows, you might find yourself pulling your hair in
exasperation because your Word stopped running without a warning. Clear your storage from
unnecessary files, too, and save space for more relevant documents and applications. It is a
struggle to live with a lagging gadget while you have to finish a ton of requirements.
Take a break. Without a doubt, studying requires a great amount of effort and
productivity, but you should not lose sleep nor rest over it. You need to submit every academic
requirement on time and finish that organizational report before the deadline, but with respect to
you work schedule, you should still allot time for you to unwind—watch an episode or two of
your favorite TV shows, paint a mountain, write a blog about your opinion on the latest book you
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read, post a picture of your cat, or simply catch some sleep. There is only so much stress and
pressure that your body could take; it is far better to pause for a while and recuperate instead of
diving headfirst into finishing every essay without sleep and risk catching a fever or a mental
breakdown. Remember, health always come first, in every aspect. After all, you will be pushed
with more backlogs if you fell sick. So, take it slow and steady. One step at a time.
In a few months’ time, a new semester will dawn upon us. It is still uncertain if we will
be able to go back in school physically, so we have to arm ourselves with practical skills to help
us get through another year. #
CHRISTIAN ANTHONY
Getting married in the new normal? Here's some information you need to know
June is finally here, so you know what that means: many will be getting married! Believe
it or not, many are still getting married despite the risks brought by the pandemic. And you’re
probably one of those brave couples. If you are, best wishes & congratulations! Just make sure
you check out this financial and safety tips before you start your happily ever after.
1. Short Guest List
Well, I think that the whole barangay is not required to attend your wedding. Limit your
guest list to immediate family members and close friends to avoid violating various
community quarantine guidelines. Moreover, it’s less stress since only a few guests will be
supervised during the wedding.
2. Virtual Weddings
Instead of a big wedding, you can just allot a budget for mobile data and just stream your
wedding online. You could already save for the reception. You even avoid having a huge
gathering which violates quarantine restrictions — additional savings that no one might get
sick. Win-win!
3. Health and Safety Protocols
And for the ones attending your wedding, make sure they follow the minimum health and
safety protocols for COVID-19. Make face masks and face shields mandatory, practice social
distancing, and provide guests with their own alcohol sprays and cleaning wipes.
4. Swab Tests
If many guests are unavoidable, make them undergo swab tests. It is important to require a
swab test especially if your guests are from COVID-19 hotspots. We have many DOH
accredited testing centers around Metro Manila and some even offer home testing.
As they say, “Don't compare for the wedding, prepare for the marriage.” It’s much okay
to be money-savvy when it comes to planning your big day. And of course, the pandemic is
still here so be sure to plan a safe event, not only for you but for everyone attending your
wedding.
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DAINA (the profile feature)

The journey of a COVID-19 survivor

Battling with corona virus is an experience that will forever be etched in Rina’s mind.
She had what’s considered a mild case, but even in its weakest form, this virus is brutal. Now
that she already recovered, she will share her story to let people take this situation seriously.

Rina is a third year college student at the University of Santo Tomas. She is currently
taking BS Biology, a prerequisite course for Med School because she has a dream of becoming a
doctor.

Rina’s dream job is to become an Optometrist who examines people's eyes to diagnose
vision problems, eye diseases, and other conditions.

She is also an active youth leader at their Church and implemented a lot of program to
help the youth fight depression and anxiety.

She is currently staying in Manila but due to the rising number of cases of Covid-19 in
NCR she decided to go home to her hometown.

After weeks of being home, she got sick. She had cough and fever. She went to a nearby
hospital where her father works.

Her COVID-19 journey:

“I knew it was not what a typical illness felt like. Everything hurt. I had dry cough and
fever. I felt a bit disoriented.”

“The doctor said he was certain I would test positive for coronavirus because my father
just tested positive and I already had the symptoms, but still the doctor gave me the option to test
if I wanted to know for sure... He was confident that I got it from my father. I opted to be tested,
but I did not receive my results until a week later.”

“I received a text message saying that I tested positive and the ambulance will get me.”

“In the hospital, I sang songs to myself. I tried to comfort myself. And I prayed a lot.”

“I’m alone in that room but I think there were hundred plus people in that quarantine
facility. Many times, I can’t sleep at night because I was really really scared.”

“I was laying there and looked at the people around me. There were so many old people.
It’s very hard to fight COVID-19. All I can do is fight it and pray.”
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"Mild cases aren't mild, mild cases are scary. And even if you get through it, it can be
tough. It can be scary. It can scare your families and you can bring it home to your families. And
those are risks that nobody should take.”

“It was very traumatic, very traumatic. At that point, is when I thought for a brief moment
that COVID was probably going to kill me, I had no idea what was going on.”

“One of the toughest challenges I have dealt in my life was getting tested positive for
Corona Virus. I’d like to share with you all my experience hoping that it will help everyone who
is going through the same situation to cope up and recover from this difficulty. And to everyone
else, this is to provide awareness that COVID is real and it should be taken seriously.”

“I believe that coronavirus will one day be a thing of the past, but it lies in all of our
hands to make that happen. Please stay safe and let’s save the world.”

It's important that we reflect on the valuable life lessons the pandemic has taught us. May
Rina’s journey serves as a lesson to all that COVID is not a joke. We can all find comfort in the
fact that we’re dealing with this pandemic together, and we’ll overcome it in the same way.

RODEZA (news feature)

CHED adopts flexible learning as a norm

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) adopted a policy to continue flexible learning
in the next years, Philippine universities and colleges will no longer return to traditional face-to-
face classes.
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic caused enormous disturbances in people's
lives all around the world. It came so unexpectedly that no one was ready to brace its societal
consequences. The Philippines, in particular, faced a critical situation as a result of the escalation
of the said health crisis. Avoiding and minimizing the dangers of academic community infection
has become a top priority for Higher Education Institutions (HEI). As a result, with the
implementation of community quarantine, classes had to be immediately suspended.
The huge challenge then was how to continue teaching and learning beyond the
traditional face-to-face learning. As a result, there is an urgent need to explore new innovative
learning modalities that will facilitate the transition from traditional to flexible teaching and
learning.
Flexible learning is the design and delivery of programs, courses, and learning
interventions that accommodate the specific needs of learners in terms of place, pace, method,
and learning products. It entails the use of both digital and non-digital technologies, and it
encompasses both face-to-face or in-person learning and out-of-classroom learning modes of
delivery, as well as a combination of the two.
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It ensures the continuation of inclusive and accessible education when traditional

modalities of teaching are not viable, such as in the event of a national emergency due to Covid-
19 pandemic. Flexible Learning is an educational method that allows for time, location, and
audience flexibility, but not solely limited to, the use of technology.
“From now on, flexible learning will be the norm. There is no going back to the
traditional, full-packed face-to-face classrooms,” CHED chairman Prospero de Vera said.
The flexible learning system that combines different methods of teaching will be the new
norm in the education sector even after the current pandemic. So, teachers must now realize that
the old norms have changed and that they must adjust to new standards in areas such as student
engagement, syllabus, assessment methods, and the type of learning materials to be used.
The old paradigm of face-to-face versus online will now disappear, giving way to a
flexible system in which universities will mix and match flexible learning techniques according
to their situation, with the better equipped universities continuing to invest in and move forward
with online platforms. Others will enable some of their students to return at specific times to
perform more synchronous rather than asynchronous learning.
Universities and colleges have the freedom to choose from the 3 modes of flexible
learning which would be effective for them. Learners differ in terms of time, pace, and location.
These choices allow for the customization of delivery modalities in response to students' need for
access to quality education.
Online – A flexible learning mode which is electronic-based, and which uses available
online classrooms for the delivery of instruction. Learning materials are in digital format such as
webcast, podcast, videos, audio, and other open educational resources or OERs. To aid online
learning, CHED launched a web-based platform, PHL CHED Connect, that provides free
learning materials for college students.
Offline – A flexible learning mode that does not use internet connectivity at all. Learning
is done through printed modules or uses digital forms such as video and audio placed in storage
devices.
Blended – A type of flexible learning which is a combination of online and offline
modes. Online technology will be used for delivering lessons, while other classroom activities
will be done offline using printed modules, video tapes, storage devices, and learning packets.
FRANCES
Primy’s journey to early marriage
23 years ago, when Primy was just 17 years old, she started going out with a boy he met
at the same school she was attending. Everything was fine until this boy started asking her to
marry him. The boy told her that his love for her is real and that he is willing to marry her. This
boy asked her parents formally if he can marry Primy.
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Her father favors the guy because according to her, her father is already old and also
wishes to see her daughter marry before he dies. Her father passed away right after she got
pregnant to her eldest daughter, and her mother died also after his father’s sudden death.
Her married life was so wonderful until both of them experienced changes in their
behaviors. Money was also one of the common factors of their fights. Another basic problem that
they have experienced are their differences. Because both of them are young and impulsive, it
was really difficult for them to adjust which resulted into serious disagreements.
According to Primy, marrying at young age is difficult specially if both of you are not yet
mentally and financially ready. She also stated that attending a class while taking care of a child
will never be an easy task for anyone.
“It is hard to be a young mom and go to school. I stopped attending my class because I
needed to take care of my daughter. My husband was also studying that time and I was stuck
between continuing my studies or stopping so I could have more time with my first-born child.”
Primy stated.
“I never regretted marrying my husband, I am happy with my relationship with him. It is
hard sometimes but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel seeing him and my daughter.”
When Primy was asked to state the advantages of her early marriage she clearly says “I
am glad that I married my husband early because I discovered that I can’t bear a child when I
was in my 30’s”.
She also mentioned that she will not patronize early marriage because marrying at an
early age will revise your life goals, make your daily lives more difficult/challenging, and make
you miss out important teenage experiences. The only good thing about it is your discovery
about your fertility. Primy stated.
Before she ended the interview, Primy left a reminder that could be extremely beneficial
for teenagers: “I know how hard teenage marriage is. I wanted to remind every teenagers that
marriage can wait. When you become older and already capable to settle, it would be better. You
will not regret having a baby and a husband but you’ll wish to experience some moments that
you missed out. Lack of preparedness is already a disadvantage in early marriage. If you’re not
ready, I advise you not to try it. Not all young couple can bear to survive early marriage.”
ABIGAIL
Is new learning possibly meaningful?
From the world of new learning with little or no experience
Undoubtedly, this school year is quite challenging, both for learners and their teachers.
One of the biggest adjustments made by the government to respond to the disruption
brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country is the shift into distance
learning.
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With schools still closed, students under the Department of Education (DepEd) have been
learning in their homes through multiple learning delivery modalities including modular (printed
and offline), online, television and radio-based instruction and blended learning since the school
year (SY) 2020-2021 started on Oct. 5.
At the tertiary level, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) instructed
universities and colleges to implement flexible learning options to ensure learning continuity.
While students remain relatively safe assuming that they stay inside their homes at all
times, learning under the current set-up becomes a struggle for many.
Some students complain of too much school work, distractions, and they suffer mental
health problems from online class. While others continue to struggle without the guidance of
their teachers or adults who can help them to understand the lessons, especially those who rely
on printed self-learning modules (SLMs).
On the other side, there are many students who would want to attend online classes, but
they do not have available gadgets to use and have lacking resources to avail internet services.
For learners who have gadgets, attending online classes is also a challenge due to
unstable internet connection and the additional expenses related to distance learning.
Also, students are free to access other references, take advantage, and become lazy of the
desperation to pass due to lack of initial support and monitoring by their teachers and parents.
Given all these challenges, where can there be a possible effect of new learning?
Grade 12 student shares struggles under distance learning, dreams of face-to-face classes,
and ‘physical’ graduation.
Even the DepEd recognizes the challenges under distance or blended learning. Thus, as
early as October last year, it directed the schools to implement #AcademicEase measures to help
learners who are “overwhelmed” with the new system of learning.
Today the challenge is how to deliver high-quality learning at a distance especially if
these necessary yet on-the-fly efforts run into challenges from students and their families.
A faculty member at the University of the Philippines (UP) – College of Education,
Olegario shared her experiences and challenges while teaching at a time of a pandemic.
During her presentation, Olegario shared the issues confronting the education sector at
this time and how can #AcademicEase measures help students, parents and teachers overcome
the challenges amid the pandemic.
“Let’s tap the students’ context to sustain learning,” Olegario said. “Our examples must
be relevant to the learner,” she added.
More than ever, she noted that it is very crucial to “let the students reflect and share how
the lesson relates to themselves and to focus on what is realistic and important for a child to
learn.”
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Olegario also explained the need to “connect to the learners schema” – adding that the
language and the experiences of learners and “what the learner know” should be taken into
consideration.
She added, the “content should be challenging – not too easy nor too difficult.” Amid all
the challenges under distance learning, Olegario stressed that “what is basic right now is that
students need to feel they are competent.”
In order to achieve this, Olegario underscored the importance of allowing collaboration
and social interaction. “Sharing helps in building understanding of concepts,” she said.
Learners, she added, can “apply higher thinking skills” when they are given opportunities
to criticize each one another’s ideas, synthesize their ideas and solve problems for one another.
“This builds cooperation, trust and support systems and promotes shared responsibility
and sense of belonging,” Olegario added.
To prevent students from getting overwhelmed, Olegario said that “maximum time for
engagement” – such as answering modules or watching “DepEd TV” for instance – should be
greatly considered.
“Keep it short and simple,” Olegario said. “Screen time should not affect physical
activity and face-to-face interactions at home,” she added.
More importantly, Olegario asked schools and teachers to “avoid regurgitating textbook
facts and figures.” Instead, they should “focus on clarifying points of confusion or challenging
learners to apply concepts.”
In order to gauge if meaningful learning is taking place, Olegario said that a more
effective assessment should also be utilized.
“Because learning needs to take place outside of the physical classroom, the need for
formative assessment is more critical,” she ended.
Online class is just one of the alternative ways of learning in this time of pandemic.
Despite the distance that separates us from our professors and classmates, we still gained
a bunch of knowledge through virtual discussions and made new friends as well.
Online learning is just all about proper time management, and balanced academic and
personal life.
At the end of the day, nothing and no one can hinder us in achieving our goals in life if
we persevere and put God in everything that we do.