Education In a Pandemic-Fueled School Year

With the occurrence of COVID-19, school all over the world faced a turbulent year and
forced to reform its practices. The conventional teaching is outmoded, and blended distance
learning is becoming a new normal.

Unknown to many, blended learning has been part of the Philippines educational system
for many years now. Some schools are already using online instruction for the past decades.
For school year (SY) 2021-2022, the Department of Education (DepEd) continued to implement
Blended Learning to provide its clientele the best learning experience despite the ongoing global
health crisis.

Blended Learning, as defined by Vaughan (2008), refers to the thoughtful fusion of face-
to-face and online learning experiences involving a pedagogical redesign that should improve
teaching and learning. Also, the DepEd refer Blended Learning as a combination of any two
learning methods such as online distance learning, modular distance learning, and TV/Radio-
based Instruction. For instance, the learner can learn through online classes with the
supplement of Self-Learning Modules (SLMs). Moreover, this mode of delivery is designed to
enable the schools to “limit face-to-face learning, ensure social distancing, and decrease the
volume of people outside the home at any given time.”

Through this modality, learners can learn safely and comfortably at home with the
guidance of their teachers and parents. It offers the learner convenience and flexibility; they
have the ability to control their learning pace and learn remotely. Moreover, this approach also
helps cater to the individual needs of the learner, most students have unique learning styles,
and a blended approach is more likely to cater to those needs than a traditional classroom
teaching experience.

In spite of this, many are still skeptical in using the blended learning. In fact, some
sectors noted that many areas in the country have no internet access. However, DepEd
Secretary Leonor Briones strongly affirmed that the country is ready and clarified that blended
learning is not limited to online learning, thus, having no internet access is not a hindrance at all.
Another concern is the capability of parents as learning facilitators. For learner whose parents
have lower level of literacy or no formal education, the teacher constantly provides technical
assistance.
Education in a pandemic-fueled school year is indeed challenging. But, as long as there
is cooperation among stakeholders, provision of quality education among Filipino learners will
continue amidst any circumstances.