Empowering Elementary Teachers in Making Audio – visual Materials by

Establishing a Mini Studio

I. Overview
The spread of unprecedented COVID-19 has grappled the educational system all

over the world. It did not only cause the exponential rise of sufferings and loss of lives of

those who were infected, but it also brought a dramatic consequence to the teaching

and learning process. As lockdowns and restrictions surfaced, teaching and learning

were interrupted. Consequently, it resulted to the exposition of the many inadequacies

and inequities in our educational system.

Department of Education (DepEd) through the collaborative efforts of all the

regional heads, came up with a concerted effort to make sure that learning continues

even with the threat of the pandemic. DepEd introduce the Basic Education Learning

Continuity Plan in the time of COVID 19 (BE-LCP). This is the Department’s response to

the challenges posed by COVID 19 in the field of basic education.

According to Professor Emeritus Leonor Magtolis Briones, the Secretary of

DepEd, BE-LCP contains the most essential requirements of education in the time of

COVID-19. It is framed to response with the new normal to continue serving the Filipino

citizens with good quality education at all times.

The learning continue plan gave birth to the rise of the learning modalities which

includes the Modular Distance Learning, Online Distance Learning, and

Television/Radio-Based Instruction. Through these modalities, it paved the way for the

creation of audio – video lessons (AVLs). These audio – video materials will become
supplementary resource packages for students and learning facilitators to utilize in

support for the distance learning modality.

Creation of AVL was new for most of teachers in DepEd. They have to adapt to

new pedagogical concepts and modes of delivery of teaching, for which they may not

have been trained. Before the pandemic hit, teachers were not equipped with the

materials and trainings and workshops that they need to have in order to create AVLs

as it was not widely practiced in schools. Teachers have to get out of their comfort

zones which was to conduct face to face lectures. Transitioning from the usual form of

delivery of lessons to novel ways of serving the clienteles was drastic. In short, it

brought clamor not only to the teachers but also to the school administrators. The crisis

raised doubts and fear of uncertainties of not being able to produce AVLs.

Nevertheless, various adjustments were made by the teachers and school

administrations in order to cope up with the demands of the new normal education.

Everybody understood how advantageous AVLs could be to the learners. It

increases student engagement, which in turn aids in attaining comprehension of

lessons. If students are interested in the AVL, they will absorb and retain the lessons

better. Another perk of AVL is, students get a chance also of having to pause, rewind, or

skip throughout the video to think critically or review gray areas.

With an end of facilitating lesson preparation of the teachers that will promote

better teaching and learning process, multiple webinar sessions were held in order to

capacitate teachers in the making of their AVLs. However, despite the numerous online

workshops, still, there is still a need for teachers to be empowered in the making of
AVLs through establishing a mini studio where teachers can accessibly and freely shoot

there AVL.

It can be noted that in Sogod Central School, the teachers’ primary problem in

crafting AVL is the absence of a studio packed with all the necessary tools and

equipment they need such as ring light, microphone or lapel, sound card and condenser

and the like. Secondly, the lack of portion in the school where teachers can shoot their

video and record their audio free from noise and intrusions.

Establishing a mini studio for the making of AVLs will be a great help for Sogod

Central School teachers. It will not only aid them in crafting an AVL with good quality, it

will also benefit the learners as well because well crafted AVL will lead to better

utilization for students learning.

II. Statement of the Problem

Meeting the ends of the learning continuity plan of DepeD will be impossible if the

absence of facilities and equipment needed for the delivery of instruction will not be

addressed. Such that if a mini studio is not established in schools, teachers will not be

able to craft a good quality AVL which in turn could lead to detrimental effects to the

learners.

1. Situational Analysis

Upgrading and modernizing a school’s facilities have always been a balancing

act with other school expenses. But with stringent advisories, rules and regulations

posed by the Commission on Audit, schools are inhibited in procuring tools and

equipment which will help teachers in making their AVL. Although school principals
understand the possible effects of what lack of facilities can bring to the entire

organization, a quick solution should be available at hand.

The lack of mini studio in school should be given more attention as it is the only

way where teachers can create their AVL smoothly and easily. If a mini studio is

established in school, it will highlight the full impact of a well-equipped learning

environment. With continuous improvements and innovations of school facilities, the

digital learning environment is more interactive. With good facilities, teachers will be

better prepared to adapt to the changing education demands of their students.

Sogod Central School having a number of sections this school year 2021 – 2022,

and being one of the leads and most trusted school in the division of Southern Leyte,

the need for good quality production of AVLs is the only option. Every lesson for the four

quarters in all subjects, a quality – assured – AVL should be produced. This is in

accordance to the Division Memorandum numbers 55 and 64 series of 2021. The

division memorandum stressed that the creation and utilization of audio – video-based

materials should be implemented in every school in the entire division.

The division memorandums released were quickly addressed by the teachers

paving the way to the creations of the first batches of AVLs utilized in the first quarter of

this school year. However, it can be noted that the AVLs released to the students were

not of good quality in terms of audio and video aspects. During the quality assurance of

the AVLs. Common observations were, poor lighting of the video, presence of

background noise, unstable shot of videos, and on top of that, poor script.
 Presence of shadows, and uneven intensity and color of light resulted from poor

lighting and audiences can tell that something is off when watching the AVL even

without any professional lighting knowledge. The quality of audio was overlooked, even

if it was vital to the success of the AVL production. Even a video shot with the best

camera or lighting equipment will come across as unprofessional if the audio quality is

not up to standard. Once the AVL has bad sound quality, students will stop watching the

video and miss the key message the teacher is trying to convey.

The problem boils down to the absence of the studio where teachers can shoot

and record their AVL away from noise and intrusions, and equipped with all necessary

tools and materials to achieve a good quality of AVL. Through establishing a mini

studio, it will capacitate and empower Sogod Central School teachers in making their

audio – visual materials.

2. Selection and Identification of the Problem

This global pandemic, has created a more a pressing task of prioritizing the

needs of establishing school facilities that will help teachers in the aid of creating good

quality resource packages which includes AVLs. There are innumerable problems in the

school that needs to be addressed. Despite the ubiquitous use of instructional AVLs, a

question remains largely unanswered on how to design and develop good quality AVLs

in schools. The problem in this tactical plan was identified and selected through a

Needs Analysis utilizing the approach 5W’s and the 5 WHY’s. The 5W’s and the 5

WHY’s is an useful approach in defining the problem and then later on create a tailored

fit solution for the problem. As soon as the problem or situation is identified all

immediate concerns are dealt with accordingly.

 The problem was selected and identified by noting first, WHAT. This

presupposes what are the attributes of the problem, what is the issue, what would be

ideal, what will be used to measure if we solve the problem? You can ask the ‘what

question’ repeatedly to drill down as well. The second is, WHERE. This question

pertains to where is the structural or physical location of the problem or where might we

expect or foresee issues? The third is WHEN. This is about the time when the problem

occurs, when does the problem need to be fixed, and when will we implement a

solution? This is the crucial part where the specific timeline when will the project be

implemented. The fourth is WHO. This is the stage where an analysis about who are the

people affected by the problem and who are the key stakeholders involved in the

problem is done. The last is WHY. The five whys in include questions like, why do we

want to/need to solve the problem, why is this happening to begin with, and why are

people reacting in certain ways? The why question gets to the underlying causes of the

problem and contributing factors. Quite often the why question is asked 5 times. This is

to ensure drilling down as much as possible to find the root causes. This part is called

the 5 WHY’s, which is considered an approach to root cause analysis. The point being

to find causes to the problem not symptoms.

Through analyzing problems, it does not only help us in identifying the cause of

problems more effectively and efficiently, but also demonstrates to others that we have

the necessary qualities to solve problems when they arise. The 5W’s and the 5 WHY’s

approach helps in determining and identifying the problem and the solution of the

problem. By identifying root cause, once can find out permanent solution to it so that
possibility of its future re-occurrence can be reduced or eliminated. It also helps in

developing a logical approach to solving problems.

3. Impact of Solving Identified Problem

Establishing a mini studio in Sogod Central School can empower teachers and

could amplify students learning despite the distant learning modality. Teaching and

learning are the important element in education. AVLs are important in the teaching and

learning process. Utilization of AVLs can encourage students learning process and

make it easier and interesting. It has also become an effective tool for making teaching

effective and the best dissemination of knowledge in this time of pandemic where face

to face classes is not allowed.

1. To the Organization

The challenges of classroom instruction have increased in this time of pandemic.

Teachers who are not using technology aided instruction before the pandemic hit have

no option now but to adapt with the demands of the education. Integrating AVLs in the

self – learning modules as supplementary learning materials is needed in the delivery of

instruction.

The establishment of the mini studio in Sogod Central School will be beneficial

to the school. It will foster stronger relationships with school teachers and school heads

in creating successful and good quality audio – visual lessons that will improve students’

learning. This could lead to positive relationships within the schools assuring that the

needs of the teachers are catered despite challenging tasked tied along with the crafting

of AVL.
 Numerous advantages have already been confirmed as to the pivotal role of the

mini studio where teachers can shoot and record the AVLs. It plays in the success of

teachers as they create the best quality of AVL they can make. So too, the mini studio

sets the tone for the educational setting despite the distant learning, lending an air of

classroom feels which establishes a more engaging recording and shooting of the AVL.

2. To the beneficiaries

The use of AVL is becoming an increasingly important part of teachers especially

that the DepEd has set its heart to continue learning despite the pandemic. It has

become the cornerstone of the teachers in the delivery of the modular lesson as the

AVLs became supplementary materials in the learning of the lesson.

The establishment of the mini studio in Sogod Central School will not only benefit

the entire school but it will also give vital impact on the part of the teachers. The mini –

studio will give an assurance to the teachers that they can produce good quality AVLs

as they utilize the mini studio. Furthermore, it be more efficient and more effective for

them to deliver the right kind of lessons through the AVLs they crafted.

The AVLs can be especially useful for the teacher in a way that the teacher can

take a look at his self presenting skills to find out what can be improved. Such an

innovative approach to teaching will engage the student and encourage the teacher in

coming up with a good quality assured AVL.