Level of Preparedness of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges

Foundation (MPCF) - Canaman Bachelor of Science in

Marine Engineering (BSMARE) Students for the
Transition to Online Learning A/Y 2022-2023

Submitted by:

Leader: Anton Severo

Secretary: Luige Victorio

Presenter: Alvin Jay Betito

Members:

Koy Gallora Abundabar

Joshua Alacar

Nathan Darwin Reynancia

Van Rohan Montenegro

Submitted to:

Grace Baldovia Veridiano

 INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

It was March 2022 when Luzon was placed under total lockdown due to the corona virus
that took lives in the country (Merez, 2020). With the threat of the COVID-19 virus, agencies in
the government were alerted, including the Department of Education along with the Commission
on Higher Education. They were set to create precautionary measures as students and education
were one of the affected by this crisis. The said departments announced suspension of classes to
ensure the safety and health of the students. As days, weeks, and months passed by, the country’s
COVID -19 cases also increased and in September 2020 before the supposed opening of classes,
the Philippines hit the number of 224,222 COVID cases which calls for limited movement of
people. The call for limited mobility due to high cases of COVID-19 was responded by the
action made by the Commission on Higher Education as they implemented the flexible learning
in pursuant of the to the Memorandum Order No. 4 Series of 2020. The Commission on Higher
Education ensures to communicate the guidelines and defines flexible learning as a pedagogical
approach that permits students to have flexible time, a comfortable place to study, and audience
while learning. With this implementation, both public and private institutions adopted flexible
learning. The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation-Canaman Campus is one of the higher
education institutions that embraced this new education system, with the implementation of
online classes having both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

With the implementation of online learning in the Philippines, specifically in Maritime

higher institutions, there are researchers that dig into the level of preparedness of students in the
implementation of the said new mode of learning. According to the study Ramij & Sultana
(2020), it is stated that “majority of the students marked lack of technological infrastructure,
high cost of internet, low speed of internet, the financial crisis of the family, and mental pressure
for the students are the prime hindrances for online education”. In another research, it was
mentioned that Maritime students were dependent on their parents’ financial support to continue
pursuing their studies, thus, parents are also element on this shift which affects the preparedness
of students on the online learning setup (Ochavillo, 2020 p. 165). Furthermore, it was mentioned
that aside from financial-related reasons, maritime students are concerned with their subjects that
require simulator equipment operation such as Face-to-face learning was most preferred by
maritime students for subjects requiring simulator equipment like Navigation 6 - ECDIS
(Electronic Chart Display Information System), Navigation 5A & 5B - Radar/ARPA, Marcom 1
& 2 - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) that is not effective and possible
with the adaptation of online learning as it requires the application of skills (Ochavillo, 2020 p.
171). Those statements mentioned encapsulates the struggles of students and their level of
preparedness with the implementation of online learning. As the Philippines enters the year
2022, the COVID-19 cases decreased and experts attributed this decrease of cases to the
adherence to the minimum health standard and high vaccination rate. However, despite the
decrease of cases, some higher education institutions did not subscribe yet to the full
implementation of face-to-face classes. Some of the schools adopted limited face-to-face and
some of them stick to online classes.

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The sudden shift to flexible online learning brought different gaps in teaching and
learning especially for the maritime students, and students globally. Not all students have the
same capacity to afford the needs for online learning. The maritime students have different
socio-economic status that serves to be a barrier in subscribing to online learning. Moreover,
students reside in different parts of the Bicol region, thus it affects the strength of their
connection to the internet and can be a reason why they might encounter difficulty attending
online/synchronous sessions and updating learning materials posted in their e-learning
management system. Furthermore, the subjects taken by the maritime students, especially those
that require laboratories to make sure that the students develop competency and get quality
learning are more effective to be delivered face-to-face as it is an application of knowledge and a
training once they start to be deployed in a ship. With that, the researcher decided to explore the
level of preparedness of the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation-Canaman BSMARE
students for the transition to online learning. Through this research we can investigate and
understand the different perspectives of the students regarding their level of preparedness with
the sudden and continuous implementation of online learning.
C. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The general intent of this study is to know the level of preparedness of the Mariners
Polytechnic Colleges Foundation-Canaman BSMARE Students for the Transition to Online
Learning A/Y 2022-2023. This paper aimed to determine the maritime students’ preparedness
with the abrupt paradigm shift from face-to-face to online learning for the first time in maritime
education due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The target participants for this study
are the third year Marine Engineering students who experienced the online learning since the
year 2022 up to present. The researcher decided to have them as the participant because of their
rich experience and thoughts regarding their level of preparedness in the transition to online
learning that can contribute to the success of this study.

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is undertaken to find out the level of preparedness of the Mariners
Polytechnic Colleges Foundation-Canaman BSMARE Students for the Transition to Online
Learning A/Y 2022-2023.

This study will benefit the following:

The Students

With the continuous implementation of online learning in many higher education

institutions in the Philippines due to the COVID-19 virus, this study will allow students to reflect
on their experiences as they adopted online learning and know the factors affecting their level of
preparedness as they transition to online classes. Moreover, this will allow them to understand
the importance and need for continuous education even with the threat of virus or even in the
middle of a crisis to ensure that education will not be delayed and that they will inculcate in their
mind the importance of resiliency. This will enable them to realize their strength in adopting may
it be through face-to-face or flexible and distance learning.
The Parent

With the result of this study, parents will understand the factors affecting the level of
preparedness of their child in the transition to online learning. Moreover, they may develop a
sense of support and adaptability in cases of crisis as education is continuous, may it be through
face-to-face or online modality. Most importantly, they may reflect on their experiences during
the COVID-19 pandemic as they supported their children in their educational experiences.

The Teachers

With the continuous implementation of online learning in many higher education

institutions in the Philippines despite the decrease in COVID-19 cases, this study will allow
teachers to reflect and understand the factors affecting the preparedness of students in the
transition to online learning. With this, they may develop interventions on how to make online
learning student-friendly while considering the factors that affect their level of preparedness in
the transition to online learning. The teacher may develop a sense of empathy and strong will to
be innovative in utilizing online tools to ensure that the students will still get the quality learning
that they deserve. Moreover, the teacher can have the opportunity to reflect and compare the
concept of face-to-face learning and online learning which can be an avenue for them to create
plans and innovations to make sure that with any modality students will experience the
competencies and that quality learning can be delivered.

The Curriculum Planner and Maritime Administrators

This study will add to the awareness of the curriculum planner and administrators with
regard to the experiences and perspective of Maritime students in their level of preparedness as
they transition to online learning. With that, a curriculum planner can have sufficient knowledge
on how to improve the curriculum that is ready for both face-to-face and online learning
modality while having quality learning on top. This study is an avenue for them to improve the
curriculum and strengthen education while considering different factors especially when the
country is under crisis. The Maritime administrators can also have the knowledge on how they
can improve their implementation of the online learning in their institution while considering the
factors affecting their preparedness.

E. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMARE) - A higher education degree program

that deals with the study of marine propulsion system, its operation and maintenance as well as
controlling the operation of the ship and care for persons on board at the operational level of
marine engineering.

Synchronous - Virtually attending a class session each week, at the same time with the

instructor and classmates.

Asynchronous - Form of learning during online class that allows students to learn in

their own schedule and time frame.

Curriculum - A standards-based sequence of planned experiences where students practice and

achieve proficiency in content and applied learning skills.

Higher Education Institutions - A university or other institution dedicated to providing

education at Level 4 and above, such as bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees

Socio-economic status - the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often

measured as a combination of education, income and occupation.

Online learning - Education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e-
learning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of “distance learning” -
the umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a traditional
classroom.

Flexible learning - A method of learning where students are given freedom in how, what, when
and where they learn.
REFERENCES:

CHED Memorandum Order, No. 4 Series of 2020. Viewed September, 22 2022. Retrieved from:

https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/CMO-No.-4-s.-2020-Guidelines-on-the-Implem
entation-of-Flexible-Learning.pdf

Ochavillo, G. (2020). A Paradigm Shift of Learning in Maritime Education amidst COVID-19

Pandemic. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1277930

Merez, A. (2020 March 16). Luzon under enhanced community quarantine as COVID-19 cases
rise.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/16/20/duterte-places-luzon-under-enhanced-comm
unity-quarantine-to-fight-covid-19

Montemayor, T. (2022). Drop in Covid-19 numbers due to protocols, high vax rate: Duque.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169274Ramij, G. & Sultana, A. (2020). Preparedness
of Online Classes in Developing Countries amid COVID-19 Outbreak: A Perspective
from Bangladesh. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3638718