EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS IN MODULAR SET-UP: PROPOSED FLEXIBLE

SCHEME ON DISTRIBUTION

INTRODUCTION

Due to the distance and location of the student’s houses from school and the current health

guidelines and protocols imposed by the IATF, it limits the movements of students and parents.

In this regard, the school will be going to design a flexible module distribution scheme that is

practical and efficient following minimum health protocols. This is done in coherence with the

Department of Education’s mandate to continue the school year even in the presence of a life-

threatening virus.

Despite calls for an academic freeze in the aftermath of the Corona virus outbreak, the

Education sector insists that education should not be jeopardized. Teachers, particularly

traditional teachers, are finding it difficult to cope with this pandemic. The world stopped and the

economy collapsed as all businesses shutdown operations. During the pandemic's peak,

educational institutions offered remote learning as an alternative. Despite the closure order,

classes are held (Kasrekar, 2020). Since face-to-face lessons are more likely to spread the virus,

the most effective option is to teach and learn online but this platform poses a challenge to both

teachers and students because it exposes them to something different not to mention the lack of

gadgets and the needed internet data to sustain connectivity online. The Department of Education

has adapted different modalities to be used as mediums of delivering lessons to the students.

These are the Modular, Online Distance Learning, Radio Broadcast Instruction and with the

possibility of Blended Learning in areas with low risk of the virus. These learning modalities are
conceived in an effort of the department to address the challenges in basic education through its

Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) which is in effect in the school year 2020-2021 (Department of

Education May 5, 2020). This LCP is the major response and commitment of the department in

ensuring the health, safety and well-being of the learners, teachers and personnel in the time of

COVID-19 (DepEd, 2020).

Of the learning modalities mentioned above, the Modular Learning Modality prevailed as

the mode of delivering the lessons to the constituents. Modular learning is the most popular type

of Distance Learning. In the Philippines, this learningmodality is currently used by all public

schools because according to a survey conducted by theDepartment of Education (DepEd),

learning through printed and digital modules emerged as themost preferred distance learning

method of parents with children who are enrolled this academicyear (Bernardo, J). This is also in

consideration of the learners in rural areas where internet is notaccessible for online learningand

also most students in the public schools belong to a low-income family and cannot afford to buy

gadgets and the necessary load of data to sustain connectivity online.According to Magsambol

(2020), there is a strong divide between those who can and cannot afford the money required to

access the modern education platform. With the DepEd's mantra "no child left behind," the

general state of children in the public school system sends a message of injustice. However, after

a few months of implementing the said modality, problems and challenges have surmounted.

These problems and challenges stem from the fact that educational institutions must ensure the

quality of teaching even in the new normal setting. Some of the challenges that emerged

werelack of school funding in the production and delivery of modules; students struggle with

self-studying, and parents' lack of knowledge to academically guide their child/children.

 Hence the main purpose of this study is to solve the current problems and challenges faced

by teachers regarding the use of modular distance learning method and identifying the different

solutionsto these challenges by gathering opinions and recommendations of students, parents,

and teachers. Moreover, this study aims to design a flexible scheme in the distribution of self-

learning modules that will solve the current problems and challenges encountered by students.

Thus, this study is anchored on John Dewey’s problem solving philosophy.Problem solving

theory and practice suggest thatthinking is more important in solving problems thanknowledge

and that it is possible to teach thinking insituations where little or no knowledge of the problemis

needed. Such an assumption has led problem solvingadvocates to champion content-less

heuristics as theprimary element of problem solving while relegatingthe knowledge base and the

transfer or application ofconceptual knowledge to secondary status. Yet if one analyzes the

meaning of problem solving, theknowledge base and the transfer of that knowledge arethe most

essential elements in solving problems. Krulik and Rudnick (1980) also define problem solving

as the means by which an individual uses previously acquired knowledge, skills, and

understanding to satisfy the demands of an unfamiliar situation.

Significance of the Study

The result of the study will be beneficial to the students, teachers, school, school heads,

parents, researcher and future researchers.

Students. The result of the study may encourage the students to be more interested in

learning, promoting high motivation and develops positive attitude towards modular distance

learning, and most likely developing their self-reliance and independence.

 Teachers. The result of the study may inspire the teachers to be well-prepared with

strategies and activities that can help students to be more eager and engaged in the lessons

provided in the modules.

School. The result of the study may support the school to apply the recommended

approach derived from the results of this study and will be able to engage the students better in

learning.

School Head. The result of the study will guide the administrators on what should be

done systematically by teachers to improve student’s performance in even in the use of modular

distance learning.

Parents. The result of the study may motivate and help them foster the value of worthy

education and encourage other parents to continue to support their children and encourage them

also to have perseverance specially in this times of difficulty.

Policy Makers. The findings of the study can give insights to policy makers ways and

means on creating new methods and innovative teaching learning practices.

Researcher. The result of the study will help the researcher to boost her self-esteem for

being able to prove certain results based on her studies.

Future Researchers. After this study, this will help the future researchers to uncover

critical areas in the educational process that many researchers were not able to explore. Thus, a

new theory on learning may be arrived at.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

The study aims to design a flexible scheme in the distribution of self-learning modules

that will solve the current problems and challenges encountered by students. The researchers

have provided guide questions to be answered in research discussion.

Specifically, it aims to answer these questions:

1.) What are the aspects affecting the flexible scheme in the distribution of self-learning

modules?

2.) What are the steps that teachers, parents, and students should do to make this modular set-up

efficient and effective?

3.) How can the administration help the teachers, parents, and students to ensure the

effectiveness of modular set-up?

4.) What are the difficulties encountered by students regarding this modular set-up?

CHAPTER II

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1. Research Design

The study will use narrative Phenomology design. The researchers will conduct a local

study among students during a span of two weeks through an online interview in Messenger to

solve the current problems and challenges faced by teachers regarding the use of modular

distance learning method and identifying the different solutions to these challenges by gathering

opinions and recommendations of students, parents, and teachers.

 The questions will be constructed based from the literature review that was presented in

the previous section. The researchers will distribute the questionnaire through social media and

the interview was open to students from Junior High School to Senior High School.

Participation was voluntary and consent was obtained from the start of the interview.

II. Research Environment

The research will conduct within ______________________________________

III. Research Respondents

The respondents of this research will be Senior High School.

IV Research Procedures

In gathering the information about Senior High School Students who will experience in

modular set-up, a letter or consent was given to the respondents asking their permissions for

interviews.

There will have some consultations for the respondents before the researchers will

discuss to the respondents and let those answer the questions.