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Final Paper
Final Paper
BOON OR BANE?
Quinto, akirah P.
INTRODUCTION
Furthermore, during the teaching practicum the pre-service teachers will act responsible
for the decisions on how to deal with different classroom situations (Mena, Hennissen, & Loughran,
2017). On the other hand, Gan (2013) discussed that pre-service teachers would gain more
experience when they faced difficulties in implementing the theories acquired in the actual
classroom into practice. As a result, the teaching practicum is anticipated to bridge the gap between
what students have learned and the teaching in the real context
According to WHO; Gonzalez et al.; Pelmin (2020), On the 11th of March 2020, The World
Health Organization announced a state of pandemic in line with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19),
advising countries around the world to implement lockdown, and start social distancing, to ban to
international flights and to put a temporary stop to all face-to-face teaching and learning in order to
slow down the high spike of cases of the highly contagious virus. The dramatic changes brought on
by the Covid-19 epidemic have had a significant impact on students and instructors in higher
education institutions, as all teaching and learning activities must now be conducted digitally. Many
of the world's most prestigious universities have fully embraced online learning as a means of
ensuring educational continuity (Sim, Sim & Quah, 2021; Chung, Noor & Mathew, 2020).
Despite the fact that many research have been conducted on virtual teaching and learning
practice, virtual teaching practicum and the experience it provides have been disregarded until the
pandemic. Teaching practicum has been transformed into a virtual environment as a result of the
pandemic, The new dimensions brought a new experience of teaching practicum for pre-service
teachers (Sepú lveda-Escobar et al., 2020). Because teaching practicum has been virtualized,
pre-service teachers' experiences with the transition from traditional teaching practicum to online
teaching practicum include both positive and negative effects. Moreover, according to (Evagorou
and Nisiforou 2020) not all pre-service teachers projected a high level of readiness for online
teaching.
Various investigators have also uncovered specific coping mechanisms utilized by the pre-
service teachers. Elkerton (1984) and Morton et al. (1997) found forming of support networks and
developing of interpersonal skills to be effective while MacDonald (1993) and Murray-Harvey
(1999) found talking to a cooperating teacher/supervisor about stressful situations as the most
important coping resource. Exercising, eating, relaxing, and drinking were some of the other coping
strategies. Drinking, on the other hand, may not be an inappropriate technique because it might
lead to professional maladaptive behaviors like absenteeism.
Research Questions
The researchers aim is to determine the advantages and disadvantages of distant practice
teaching and how it was overcome by means of coping mechanisms.
1. What are the advantages of distant practice teaching among pre-service teachers?
2. What are the disadvantages of distant practice teaching among pre-service teachers?
3. What are the coping strategies done by the pre-service teachers in dealing with the
disadvantages of D.P.T?
CHAPTER II
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The study, titled "The Online Distance Learning Set-up Pre-Service Teacher during
Pandemic Boom or Bane?" is a qualitative type of research that focuses on determining the why’s
and how’s of an event in a situation. The researchers used qualitative research methods to collect,
analyze, and interpret non-numerical data. In order to collect data and information for this study,
according to Crossman (2020), qualitative research is a type of social science research that gathers
and tends to work with non-numerical data in order to extract interpretation from it in order to
truly comprehend social life through the study of specific populations or locations, similar to what
Bhandari (2020) said. He supported the idea that qualitative research is used to find out the
problem by way of generating new ideas. The researchers will employ a phenomenological
approach to evaluate experiences among pre-service teachers in Adelle Grace Montessori School
Incorporated. Through this, researchers would be able to evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of online distance learning and the coping strategies that pre-service teachers have
used to deal with the disadvantages of distant practice teaching. In addition, phenomenology
research design explores what people experience in a certain situation. Furthermore, it is used to
qualify opinions and experiences that focus on obtaining data through purposive open-ended
interviewing.
The participants of the study are the 10 pre-service teachers in Adelle Grace Montessori
School Incorporated who are currently experiencing Distant Practice Teaching during the surge of
the pandemic. The researchers used purposive sampling in choosing the participants of the study to
gather relevant information and consider the hectic schedules of the participants. Due to this, the
researchers asked the student’s consent and will decide according to availability. The final sample
was selected among possible interview participants who were willing and qualified to participate
(Muarairwa, 2015).
Research Instrument
The researchers formulated interview questionnaires for the selected participants. The
questions consist of five (5) open-ended questions to assure that the participants will not give
limited answers such as yes/no. The interview questionnaire will serve as evidence of the data
collected and will be checked by the assigned validator.
The researchers proceed to the interview proper and carry out the interview questions
virtually using Google Meet. The researchers will give enough time for the participants to answer
the interview questions.
Lastly, the recorded responses of the participants will be transcribed and analyzed.
Ethical Consideration
All of the respondents in the study were given a letter of informed consent through
Messenger or Gmail. The letter of consent that was signed and returned signified the respondent’s
agreement to participate in the study. Each respondent was kept anonymous to the public. All of the
information that was retrieved from the respondents is kept confidential.
Data Analysis
In this study, the researchers used thematic analysis to examine how the data provided by
the participants was interpreted. According to Braun and Clarke (2006), thematic analysis is a
widely used method of analysis in qualitative research. It is defined as "a strategy for detecting,
interpreting, and reporting patterns within data". The researchers use thematic analysis to discover
exactly what our participants’ thoughts and opinions are. As a result, the researchers were able to
easily evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of distant practice teaching.
Sample Questionnaire
1) What do you think are the advantages of distant practice teaching among pre-service teachers?
2) What do you think are the disadvantages of distant practice teaching among pre-service
teachers?
3) What are your coping strategies you have done in dealing with the disadvantages of D.P.T?
5) What are some of the issues you experienced being a pre-service teacher in agmsi given that we
are in the midst of a pandemic?
FINDINGS
Open-ended interviews were conducted with all of the Senior High School pre-service
teachers of Adelle Grace Montessori School Incorporated in order to determine the benefits and
disadvantages of teaching practicum in the distant practice teaching, as well as how they overcame
it through their coping mechanisms. To get a good response from the participants, the researchers
used Google Meet as a platform to interview the participants. Direct answers were collected from
the participants, research questions were presented in the following order: Flexible and innovative,
less expenses, efficient time management
Flexible and innovative: is characterized by, tending to, or introducing innovations. It features
new methods and ideas or in other words, it alters the way something has been done. The following
statements indicate that participants are experiencing innovative methods in the Online Distant
Teaching.
“In the online distant teaching I was able to be more flexible and innovative to try and explore
learning materials and resources that are going to be effective when we’re incorporating our lessons
to the students” - P1
“I included my innovative skills so that It will be helpful or beneficial for me in the near future,
more specially in the present the instruction materials are way more different as it focuses mainly on
technology” – P4
“It strengthens the integration of technology in a classroom set-up. They became flexible and
adaptive to different learning modalities and much convenient and cheap than the traditional
practice teaching” – P7
Less expenses: indicates that a person is comparatively spending less in terms of money or; is
saving outlay cost. The following statements by the participants show lesser expenses in the distant
practice teaching.
“First is it eliminates the commute and hassle of getting to class. Second, of course it saved time.
Lastly, it helps to develop technical skills in terms of using powerpoint in presenting your lesson. Just
like that.”- P4
“It does not require us to spend a lot of money so when end up saving some more."- P5
“Problem in terms of transportation is no longer one of our main concerns as we do not have to
wake up early in the morning to travel unlike before. In addition, we have more time to prepare in the
distant teaching practice as it is only virtual.” - P6
“It is more affordable for us to be in a distance practice teaching since we’re only working from
home, it lessens the causes of expenses that normally goes for foods, photo copies, transportation and
even on the allowance when conducting in the traditional. So we save some money here in the Online
Distant Teaching compared to the traditional classroom set-up.” – P7
Efficient time management: the ability to plan out and complete tasks in a timely and productive
manner. This includes deciding how much time to spend on each task to maximize time during the
day and throughout the week. Think of efficiency as being part of effectiveness. The following
statements by the participants show efficient time management in distant learning.
“Aside from keeping me safe from Covid-19, it also helps me, as a Pre-service teacher, manage my
time doing my tasks. It is also easier for me to extend specific strategies. It also helps save a lot
financially since I’m just at home.” – P8
“ I’m more comfortable with having my practice teaching at home, I have more control with my time
to prepare for the lessons” – P9
“Our time during pandemic that we are doing these classes in online platform because our time can
secure to create different strategies different ways on how we can teach that student very clear and
very well.” – P10
Consequently, it should also be highlighted that under Online Distant Teaching, the pre-
service teachers have had difficulties in interacting with their students. It was stated that the
communication lacks off as they cannot see their students physically when the discussion starts
unlike with the traditional set-up. Specially that in the Online Distance Learning, students can
feel free to not open their cameras due to some factors and reasons including, slow internet
connection, distraction at home environment and disturbance. Thus, it has affected the pre-
service teachers as they cannot see the students if they are listening, interested or not. In addition,
technological concerns was a big problem, pre-service teachers had a difficulty in their
discussion and activities due to poor connection, leading them to leave the conference
unintentionally. The respondents also had a strenuous problem in terms of the presentation of
their power point, also to the gadgets they use to teach.
Moreover, some of the respondents experienced a difficulty in adapting to the new
methods of online distant teaching. Meanwhile, portion of the respondents haven experienced
some troubles, yet they successfully become adaptive to the new situation. The respondents
imposed their coping strategies when they are having difficulties during their program, that
includes seeking help to their superior and trying to be more optimistic or lifting oneself up.
DISCUSSION
This research entitled THE ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING SET-UP PRE-SERVICE TEEACHER DURING
PANDEMIC BOON OR BANE? The main objective of this research is to determine the advantages and
disadvantages of distant practice teaching, as well as how the pre-service teachers at Adelle Grace
Montessori School Incorporated dealt with them through their coping mechanisms. More data was
collected and examined in order to gain a better understanding of the distant practice of teaching
during the pandemic's peak. To answer the research questions, researchers interviewed ten (10)
pre-service teachers: (1) What are the advantages of distant practice teaching among pre-service
teachers? (2) What are the disadvantages of distant practice teaching among pre-service teachers?
(3) What are the coping strategies done by the pre-service teachers in dealing with the
disadvantages of D.P.T
Teaching practicum provides opportunities for pre-service teachers to improve their skills,
including flexibility in interacting with pupils (Caires, Almeida, and Viera, 2012). During the
teaching practicum, the pre-service teacher would acquire a triad of experiences: the immediacy of
classroom practice, the needs of educational organizations, and the expectations of the classroom
teacher. Online distant learning allows pre-service teachers to teach students who are isolated from
their homes and are not permitted to leave, which has become our new normal. Laptops, mobile
phones, and other forms of technology are examples of technology that students use in their online
classes. This technology allows pre-service teachers to teach even when they are far away from
their students. It has also benefited pre-service teachers in learning more about technology.
Teachers teach students through technology and some of those teachers teach online as well as face
to face classes, yet, they will do so without having been given the experience on online learning or
having had online teaching made explicit. According to Grant (2010), maintained that pre-service
teachers trained through online instruction are better positioned to prepare. As stated by olson &
werham (2005), and e-learning may enhance the engagement of students during their program by
having access to learning (Rowley & O’Dea, 2014).
The researchers selected 10 pre-service teachers at Adelle Grace Montessori School
Incorporated. The chosen participants were interviewed using Google Meet. Purposive sampling
was used to gather relevant information and consider the hectic schedules of the participants. In
this study, the researchers used thematic analysis to examine how the data provided by the
participants was interpreted by the interviewees. However, according to Chaney (2010) distance
learning is a rapidly expanding environment which allows users flexibility of operating outside of
the constrains of time and place. Online learning that takes place partially or entirely over the
internet (U.S. Department of Education, 2010).
Moreover, according to the responses of the participants the Online distant teaching has
made them saved more as they stated that teaching virtually in opposed with the tradition has a
lesser expense as they will not be expending money on transportation, food and other expenses. In
addition, a person's less expensive indicates that the person is comparatively spending less in terms
of money. Furthermore, some of the respondents stated there were some of the benefits of teaching
in online classes. Online classes not just help pre-service teachers to save money and time, but they
also assist in encouraging skill formation and foster ease in learning.
Meanwhile, it was also found that the majority of the respondents believed that online
distance teaching saves them time because they can work from home and focus on their productive
duties. Efficient time management is the ability to plan out and complete tasks in a timely and
productive manner. As stated by Kaya et al, (2020) it is necessary to learn to manage or to have
time management so that they can apply the same degree of efficiency in the profession they choose
after completing their education. According to Orgenstern (2000), time management which
involves goal setting, prioritization, planning, hesitation, and ways of coping with it, studying and
learning strategies affects individual ability for better use of time and giving sense of affairs control
power them. However, based on the results of the interview the respondents said that one of the
benefits of online practice teaching is that pre-service teachers were able to experience demo
teaching and practice teaching in the new normal, which was a pleasure to them to experience
imparting learning even during the pandemic. It can also be done anywhere and at any time that
they can manage and control their own schedule as stated by Ogbonnaya, Awoniyi, Matabane,
(2020).
Furthermore, the disadvantages of pre-service in distant practice teaching in Adelle Grace
Montessori School Incorporated have been identified by researchers. The interviewers discovered
the disadvantages of pre-service in distant practice teaching, which were divided into three themes
throughout the interview. The difficulties in interacting with students, issues with technology, and
difficulties in adapting to the new normal. Three out of ten pre-service teachers said that the
disadvantages of distance online learning made it difficult for them to have better interaction with
students and teachers, particularly during discussions, because they couldn't see the students'
expressions to determine if they were interested or not, and because not being able to see all of
their students physically was a difficult way to control their learning environment. Lack of
interaction indicates poor communication skills of the people in the same setting. According to
Zkanal, Yü ksel, and Uysal (2020), the lack of interaction as a disadvantage of online education was
emphasized in the overall evaluation. One of the disruptions in online distant teaching, according to
the respondents, is that pre-service teachers do not have a real classroom experience in which they
are unable to meet students personally and observe student behavior. As a result, collaboration and
interaction are lacking. As Giles, Smythe, and Spence (2012) pointed out, relationships are
important to the educational experience, but they are frequently overlooked.
In addition, five out of ten pre-service teachers said that the disadvantages of distance
online learning made it difficult for them because of technological concerns. Technological concerns
refer to the concerns of people regarding the internet connection, the electricity supply, or even the
devices that they use to do productive routines. According to the participants of this research
similarly voiced out unstable internet connectivity as one of the main difficulties they encounter in
the practice teaching of remote learning. As stated by Aboagye et al, (2020) the poor network is
commonly major problem, although there are many existing internet bundles in the country, they
are “fluctuating” and are not created equally in terms of speed and stability (Amadora, 2020).
Consequently, the participants also voiced out electric power interruptions as another
challenge in remote learning. Power outages during online classes are an unavoidable issue in
virtual classroom setups (Castillo, 2020). This is true for some of the participants polled who live in
areas where power outages have been a problem since before the pandemic. The same finding was
gained from studies (e.g., Sarwar et al., 2020; Subedi et al., 2020 and Verawardina et al., 2020) in
which students and pre-service teachers situated in deep rural areas find it difficult to stay
connected with online learning due to interruption to even lack of electricity. Thus, according to
Burgess & Sievertsen (2020) preservice teachers having a hard time to produce appropriate
supplementary materials specifically designed for online teaching platforms.
Hence, two out of ten pre-service teachers said that the disadvantages of distance online
learning made it difficult for them because of adapting to the new method of teaching and because
students have their own learning capacity and as their teacher that needs to be considered.
Difficulty adapting refers to the hardship of a person having to suit up in a different condition. In
addition to that, they were able to adapt to the new mode of learning and become flexible. Students
and teachers who were not techy before were able to improve their technical skills using different
online platforms. Teachers' adaptability has long been considered a critical component of effective
teaching and learning, particularly in instructional practices and beyond, in terms of their
professional functioning. According to Collie, R.J., and Martin, A.J. (2016), it has been linked to other
factors that are important to teachers' health and effectiveness at work, as well as positive student
outcomes.
Finally, the interviewers discovered the coping mechanism of pre-service in distant practice
teaching. Two out of ten pre-service teachers said that their coping mechanism for distance online
learning is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their capacity to execute the
behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. This shows that pre-service
teachers are confident that they can learn while acknowledging what they are going through. Even
when they are having difficulty doing things, they maintain their optimist side and have the ability
to do those things. According to Gersten, Chard, and Baker (2000), teachers with high self-efficacy
and belief in their ability to positively impact student learning are more likely to engage in
professional development, which frequently leads to the implementation of innovative teaching
strategies, according to Sparks (1988), and have a stronger academic focus in their teaching,
according to Dembo & Gibson (1985).