Introduction

The World Health Organization explained that Covid19 is caused by a coronavirus named
SARS-CoV-2, which is a large number of viruses in which it targets your respiratory system.
From mild and common symptoms to serious diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory System
(SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which both have high mortality
rates and were introduced back in 2002 and 2012, accordingly. These infectious diseases are
closely related to bat populations. Available evidence claims that SARS-CoV-2 has originated
from animals naturally and is not a manipulated virus. It is also thought that these viruses leap
into barriers of the species and infect humans from other animal hosts.
The threat of the CoronaVirus began in China, specifically in Wuhan. Most early infected
patients were linked that it started in the animal markets and brought to the Philippines by two
Chinese nationals who came here for a vacation in January 2020. They are from Wuhan, China,
where the epicenter of the infectious disease started. Until now, the Philippines is still on its
peak, and growing with over 300,000 cases that surpassed Pakistan’s figures and has now
garnered the top 20 spot with the highest Covid-19 cases worldwide and ranked second within
Southeast Asia according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Center and the Worldometers
site (Cabico, 2020).
Due to this pandemic, a lot of adjustments in different aspects were imposed. One of
these is the massive exchange of learning setup, the distance education. A move towards a
modular approach and an online-home based learning platform were implemented as
quarantine measures. According to Dejene and Chen (2019) modular approach is used as an
alternative learning option that shifts traditional methods of instruction to an outcome-based
learning paradigm. It is widely used in most nations’ education systems, particularly in the
Philippines. Unlike the usual approach to learning, it will be mostly self-taught, as it is deemed
as “modular”. The students will be provided with printed module learning materials to
recommence regardless of this covid pandemic outbreak.
Modular approach to teaching allows the learners to exert autonomy of their learning and
to take greater responsibility for learning. Since internet connectivity plays a major problem
towards learners, hence the Department of Education maintains the education of millions of
Filipino students, however, it is not quite effective especially in those with tertiary education,
that’s why some learners halt their studies. In contrast, online learning denotes the new way of
Online or Web-based distance learning. According to Alfonso (2012), it is a form of education
through technology to enable varied combinations of synchronous (which happens in real-time)
and asynchronous (which has no interaction but uses online channels) communication among
learners and instructors who are separated from one another physically. According to Halupa
(2016) this learning option is quite helpful but negative impacts take place, one of these is the
financial aspect. Many low income families cannot afford to buy educational and informational
materials needed by their children. Thus, they cannot provide the academic help and support
which leads to cessation of study.
The current pandemic caused by Covid-19 has brought complications to the preferred
“normal” of the past in many aspects- one out of many: Education, by forcing third world
countries such as the Philippines, to advance in coping with Education through technology
amidst ineptitude and inability.

Body

Distance learning can be broadly defined as a form of education, where the teachers and
students are separated geographically and connected through telecommunications. Sabine Graf
(2007) has mentioned this as a necessity and stated that adaptability includes all facilities to
customize the system for the needs of the educational institutions . Yet, underneath the distance
learning umbrella, there are a number of different delivery types or approaches, with
synchronous distance learning being one of these. Although synchronous learning has its positive
aspects, it is necessary for us to have a broad understanding and this means getting to have
insights with its limitations, drawbacks, or potential problems.
The first argument that raises doubt over synchronous learning is the flexibility of
acquiring higher education.The biggest challenge associated with synchronous distance
education is the inherent lack of flexibility it provides. The learning group must be present using
whatever digital technology has been agreed upon and this demands of having class-live sessions
means that the entire students has to adhere at set times. This learning method may not be
suitable for those individuals who choose to learn at their own pace, or when there is spare
time.Gillies(2008) performed a study focusing on student perspectives on the use of
videoconferencing in teacher education at a distance. Challenges for the pedagogical aspects of
the synchronous videoconferencing learning environment identified in the study included such
areas as ―…the lack of physical contact between parties, the absence of shared space, [and] the
lack of, or limited prospects for, alternative supportive learning contexts(p. 108). Significant
value is placed on the use of face-to-face interaction within the study and is judged to be ―…the
supreme example of social presence, while mediated relationships – such as while having
videoconferencing, it can be diminished through the absence, or impairment, of vital aspects
such as body language and facial expression‖ (p. 108). According to Gillies (2008), these may be
the important factors influencing students‘ perception of this distance learning modality, or even
students‘ election to learn through this medium.
The degree of structure that is given in the process is one of the major plus points that is
associated with synchronous distance learning. As the learning group is required to participate
simultaneously, these sessions provide clear guidance on how quickly work needs to be done and
helps to control the pace of learning. Synchronous learning allows the entire learning group to
interact in real-time. It allows for things like group activities and a real-time collaboration to take
place, which provides teachers with some useful means of varying lessons and ensures that
people with different learning styles are catered for.
In addition, a major plus point of synchronous distance learning is the ability for the
teacher to provide some degree of direct instruction to the learning group. This means that if a
certain student is having a hard time understanding something, teachers will be able to illustrate
the concepts and then go into more detailed explanation. Scheetz and Gunter (2004) found no
significant difference in expressive manual communication skills or content knowledge between
students receiving traditional instruction and students receiving instruction through a
synchronous video streaming medium.
Through observing some of the student interactions, the teacher can easily correct
mistakes, while if students have any questions, they can have them answered there and then, in
real-time, with the option for follow-up questions.
However, in counterpoint, students may not receive individual attention if other students
are also in need. For the reason of the group dynamic of real-time synchronous learning, some
students may feel that they are not receiving the individual attention they require. Studying at
one’s own pace creates a sense of isolation, but some students might crave this exact sense. As
synchronous learning experience demands active participation and collaboration, some students
might not be as social, as open, or as communicative. In result to that, in a synchronous learning
environment the “quieter” learners may find it challenging to participate in online discussions or
online group activities. They may not get the chance to ask questions due to the presence of other
participants. Some might even be too nervous to come forward with their questions. Weisenberg
and Stacey (2005) describe the change in the classroom from the instructor in the front of the
room acting as the expert (teacher-centered), to acting more as a guide for the students
(student-centered). When moving to an e-learning medium students also change to a greater
reliance on self-directedness and subsequently, an increased need for communication and
dialogue both with the instructor and with other students in the class. Learning is becoming more
student-centered as learners become more self-directed, especially in the distance learning
environment (Weisenberg & Stacey, 2005).
Another argument is that the fact that the learning pace is set by the teacher, rather than
the student. This may provide structure but it also has the potential to hold certain students back,
as the entire learning group must advance at roughly the same speed in order for the live lessons
to make sense. This may not be attainable for students who have a lot of spare time to invest in
their learning and who may, therefore, want to keep pushing forward at a faster pace than the
teacher has decided upon. Merriam (2001a) points out that some adults are highly dependent on a
teacher for structure, while some children are independent, self-directed learners‖ (p. 5). The
same inapplicability can be said for other assumptions such as motivation and experience.
According to the literature, there are situations in which adults may be extrinsically motivated.
As pointed out above, there may be times when prior adult experience can actually be a barrier to
learning. Additionally, adults do not automatically become self-directed upon achieving
adulthood. According to Kerka (2002), some are not psychologically equipped for it and need a
great deal of help to direct their own learning effectively.
It is also worth noting that while modern digital technology has helped to facilitate
synchronous distance education, over-reliance on this technology can also potentially be a
disadvantage. After all, synchronous sessions will often rely on things like video conferencing,
which is, in turn, hugely reliant on having enough good bandwidth to support it. This means that
if a member of the learning group experiences problems in regards to the internet connection, or
if they do not have access to a high-speed internet for a period of time, they may eventually miss
out on important information. It might add up stress because the constant search for a wireless
signal becomes even more dire. A study performed by Weisenberg and Stacey (2005) found that
the standard curriculum designed for the traditional classroom cannot be delivered in the same
format at a distance. King(2001) indicated that there is a strong need to meet the technological
needs of the adult learner, and that not all students possess the ability to use technology
effectively. Other disadvantages surrounding the technology found in the literature include
Internet connection speed, connection performance, video speed and performance (Dye, 2007;
Gillies, 2008; Hron, et. al., 2007; Shewchuck, 2007).
Technology is a great step towards the advancement of society--it has contributed a vast
amount of aid for every individual from every life aspect. More likely, the world has reached the
summit of globalization as the world is rapidly increasing its automation, therefore the
dissemination of information, data, and theories is instant and only within seconds, which has
proved to play a vital role in boosting a nation’s economy, and intensify democracy and
solidarity among individuals (Garrett, 2017). However, according to the World Population
Review (2020), Philippines is currently a third-world country, and is yet in the process of
progression. It is agitated in a way that according to its Statistics, the GDP per capita is low,
teenage pregnancy is high, and most importantly, healthcare access is low, and higher education
as well, which are the two main factors correlated in the current situation.
Having defined the Philippines as one of the world’s least developing countries, the
current pandemic holds a crucial title to the government and to its citizens as it forcefully
converts citizens into “netizens”. For decades, the Philippines has had the notorious title of
settling into jobs paying the minimum wage. As according to Rutkowski (2015), Filipinos adjust
to low-paying and unskilled jobs even with a bachelor’s degree because employers believe that
the Philippine education is not enough to cater the needs of their company, and that Filipino
workers’ competence do not match to the contribution a company demands because of the “low”
educational background these workers have. This is one of the factors why even the traditional
set-up of education has gapped its citizens from education, up to employment.
However, today, as the K-12 aims to enhance its education system and change the basic
education into a more advanced learning arrangement, it has claimed to create better job
opportunities for the Philippine citizens, which works well for both the government as to its
impact to the economy, and to the citizens as well, through improved lifestyle and a more
matched job garnered from their bachelor degrees (ICEF Monitor, 2013). Through the
abolishment of the former Philippine educational system, and with a more advanced quality in
learning, it so happened that the aim of the K-12 in its impact to economy hasn’t been fully
executed and achieved yet--thus the response to the Covid-19 pandemic is unstable and more
likely to be defined as experimental. The switch from the improved education system into the
current online/modular learning set-up has sacked the slow but consistent desire of the students
to continue their studies, thus halting education for a year, affecting the economy boost of the
Philippines for a year, making the “development” of the country abolish for a year, which can
create an unchangeable and visible repercussion to the government.
Disadvantages of undergoing such type of learning set-up are: (1) unresponsiveness to
learner’s clarifications which can eventually delay the processing of knowledge by students
unlike the traditional face to face set-up, which a teacher can personally answer certain questions
of a student, making the transmission of knowledge more relevant, effortless, and grasped; (2)
inadequacy to the development of certain skills such as oral communication, as most interactions
are only held through online chatting, and along the way, when the learning set-up is switched
back to normal, students today may find themselves unable to fit in or at least be flexible to a
group set up and lastly; (3) online learning is limited to certain areas of knowledge. It mostly
focuses on theory, and neglects practice which is much needed in Engineering, Seafaring,
Medicine, and etc. (Tamm, 2019).
Much more than the downward pull of the current learning set-up, are also benefits as to
why synchronous/modular learning can also help every individual. According to Armstrong
(2013), it can help boost an individual in many aspects by inspiring self-motivation, allotting
time for other hobbies, using free time to find jobs or take care of personal businesses, as well as
being present amidst the fact that you are busy in real time.
The online/synchronous learning set up today creates a huge impact on the overall aspect
of health in an individual: physical, mental, and social. According to Tamm (2019), online
learning can also create feelings of isolation for an individual. It promotes the environment of
being in solitary, without being able to vent out the difficulties of learning which leads to a set of
more serious mental health issues such as developed stress, anxiety and depression especially
when an individual is not mentally composed.
 Spending about half a day drowned to radiation could eventually cause a lot of physical
health problems, and form sleeping problems that most people cannot fix by themselves in an
instant course. According to Balram (2020), the current online learning set-up has affected
students in so many ways: (1) The state of being “stationary”. The former learning set-up has
made us walk in between classrooms and promoted physical actions, but because of this set-up,
learners tend to overwork their brains and leave their bodies immobile inducing stress which can
reflect on the human body; (2) Behaviors learners develop could become into lifelong illnesses
such as an increased mortality rate due to excessive use of technology, eyestrain from
unconscious indulgence in monitor screens, and muscle and joint injuries (Hand, 2018).
It creates an assuming mindset that learners are only learners, and not family members,
nor individuals in the society. Burdensome tasks are given to learners that it actually creates a
class distinction from those who are privileged, and who are not. The youth as well as today’s
instructors are expected to have the advanced tools to cater online learning which may trouble
them mentally, physically, and emotionally because they become “digitally-focused” rather than
taking life in balance (Halupa, 2016).
However, it is education without leaving the premises of our home-- it is a comfortable
education. Learning in the comfort of one’s homes could make an extraordinarily huge step to
learning as it would also reduce expenses, and be present in cases of extreme emergencies at
home (Norman, 2016).
In third-world countries where the majority of the population is deemed to be “less
fortunate” and the educational system is precarious, the implementation of an online learning
set-up could lead to a damage to its educational approach because the traditional learning set-up
was never that polished to begin with. It has been a loud uproar where students are only passing
requirements to pass the subject, but carry no knowledge of the subject at all. This could be one
of the reasons why in the future, employers from other countries would never hire the skilled
Filipino workers, as one cannot be distinguished from the lot, because of the history of a failed
educational set-up.
Currently, there could be no possible solutions into improving the educational set-up
which we are in, but the effects of what is happening today could leave a mark to whatever the
set-up in the future would be.
 Conclusion

As stated above, the Department of Education implemented the K-12 program to provide
more opportunities to the students on a global scale. This program was approved 7 years ago on
May 15, 2013. The said curriculum aims to prepare the learners for their career opportunities and
develop their skills (TeachforthePhilippines, 2013). However, when the Covid-19 outbreak was
announced on the 11th day of March 2020, the modular approach and online-home based learning
were implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd).

The modular approach is a learning system where the teachers will provide printed
modules to their students and hand it over to the learner’s parents. According to Bernardo (2020),
modular distance learning is the most preferred method of the parents who enrolled their children
this school year 2020-2021. This information is based on the survey conducted by the
Department of Education (DepEd).

On the other hand, online-home based learning is a method wherein it is a distance type
of education same as the modular approach but through an online platform. Armstrong (2013)
stated that online learning is a great alternative to continue the school year since it will be done
through online platform and communication. Also, it is effective to boost the level of
self-motivation of the students since they can finish their school work at home in a short period
of time and as a result, they will have more time to spend doing their hobbies.

However, not all of the students are motivated to attend online classes or even the
modular approach. Some of the reasons are when the student lacks the skills needed to do the
task assigned to him/her. This situation can lead the student to be stressed and will result in
feeling unmotivated. Whenever the students do not have the capability to do and complete the
given academic task because of the missing or limited skills, this actively illustrates that the
students are still in the acquisition stage of learning (Wright, 2011). In addition, it is expected
that the student cannot be motivated or to be a successful learner unless he or she is taught about
those essential skills he or she does not have.

As a matter of fact, most of the students have difficulty learning at their own pace. Each
of the learners still need the individual attention from their teacher. Their capability of learning
on their own is somehow limited and not developed. According to LaCasse (2018), giving
students another content before they have mastered the first topic and the necessary skills will
result in bigger skill gaps and a huge amount of frustrations.

In line with the situation of learning at their own pace, the teachers have also set the
learning pace of the students. The teachers have given their students a lot of lessons and
activities to do only in a little span of time. As a result, the students will prioritize what to do and
pass all the assignments and activities given to them rather than learning the topic seriously.

Despite the fact that most of the students are highly dependent on their teachers, there are
also some students who are independent towards them. These learners are the one who can learn
through on their own. Another statement from LaCasse (2018), he stated that it would be better
to serve fewer topics to the students and develop their mastery on their own than having them to
learn a lot of topics without mastery.

On the other hand, another problem that both the students and the teachers are facing is
the network connection in the Philippines. The country obtained a ranking of 57th in the area of
availability, ranked 82nd in affordability and 59th in readiness and in relevance. According to
Flores (2020), among Asia’s weaker countries when it comes to advancing internet inclusion, the
Philippines ranked 19th out of 26 nations in the region. The levels of the smartphones’
affordability are low in global context such as the mobile data in the country. An additional
information to that context is that the mobile users are burdened by the slow download and
upload speeds.

In regards to the slow internet connectivity in the Philippines, the teachers somehow put
an action to the problem. The topics and lessons they are going to discuss are recorded in order
for the student to watch the recorded video anytime. This way it will be very helpful to the
students who do not have an internet connection and for those learners who have the slowest
internet connectivity. By the use of this recorded discussion, the students can re-watch the video
whenever he/she does not understand the topic easily.

Due to the fact that this new learning system involves several online platforms, there will
be expected cases that the students are facing radiation which is harmful to the health of the
individual. Majority of the cases reported by the students were about their eyes and headaches. It
is believed that the radiation from the personal computer, laptops, tablets, and cell phones used
by the students are responsible for the stress and pain the students are facing now.

Despite the fact that the majority of the parents and students prefer the new learning
system, it still has many disadvantages. Many may agree that the e-learning system is a
comfortable education for both the teachers and students for the reason that they are in their
homes but there are still many problems which are not yet discovered and are not yet reported.
The reasons above actively illustrates that the new learning curriculum is not effective for
everyone. Therefore, elucidating the impression that the new modular approach and online-home
based learning do not fully help the students to learn but it only results in unhealthy routines
which could lead them to danger.
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