TITLE: VIRTUAL LEARNINGS IN AGRICULTURE DURING THE COVID—19 PANDEMIC

STUDENT: MS. FEBIE B. SINGZON

ADVISER: DR. SHARON B. SINGZON

ABSTRACT

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 1st case in the Philippines was investigated on January 22,
2020 when 2 Chinese nationals who visited the Philippines for vacation were hospitalized. Patient 2 – a
young man aged 44 healthy and robust – health condition deteriorated fast leading to death due to
cardiac arrest. He was then confirmed as the 1 st COVID-19 death outside China. Then, on March 7, 2020
the government of the Philippines confirmed its 1 st local transmission. With the fast spread of the virus,
quarantine and lock-down was imposed throughout the country on March 15 as a measure to stop
spreading the virus. Schools and universities suspended its classes immediately and most universities
resorted to online learning alternatives. Teachings were done remotely and on digital platforms.
Webinars and virtual meeting platforms i.e. zooms, google meet, Microsoft teams, adobe connect and
many others became ordinary applications to students who long time ago had not heard about it.
Students who lived far from the universities (outside the cities and provinces) had to attend classes at
the comfort of their homes. Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City of the province of
Eastern Samar was no exemption. Agriculture students of the Graduate school were obliged to attend
virtual learning sessions and other alternative mode of learnings. Many graduate students who worked
in municipalities outside the City, whichrequired time to travel to the university with increased fare hike
and supporting documents to enter the borders were in much hassle. With the transition, students who
attended virtual learnings had reduced travel worries. On the other hand, some parts of the province
have unreliable internet access and/or technology causing additional burden to graduate students’
participation in digital learning. Adaptability struggle, computer literacy and isolation (hands-on and
groupwork activities) were big challenges too, hence, learning became restricted and unappreciated by
some students. Drawing from the personal experience of an ESSU Master in Agricultural Science
student, this paper shares the educational challenges faced in the past nine months and the new
opportunities gained from participation in virtual learning and training.