Are Students Learning Under the New Normal?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been shaping the course of education. It has shifted from the more

familiar face-to-face setup to the unfamiliar space of online learning, with teachers trying to

replicate traditional classroom methods that are now unsuitable.

“Sir, indi ko anay mag-eskwela online kay wala ko kwarta inug pa load. Unahon namon anay

amon kalan-on kay ga masakit si tatay (Sir, I can’t go to our online class because I don’t have
money to buy load. I need to prioritize our food because my father is sick)."

This is just one of the situations of students in state universities as they embrace the so-called

“new normal” in education. Despite efforts of the education sector to continue learning during

the pandemic, the “new normal” has continued to be a scourge not only for teachers but also

for the most vulnerable, the students.

Things are not easy when moving pedagogically from one medium to another. The sudden

transition brought by the pandemic without adequate opportunities to design for a new

medium becomes a struggle for educators and students.

For me, it is more in completion than education anymore, as the pandemic arises and submerge

in the country. We are are aware that philippines in the field of technological system, the signal

receptions are not that good quality to have a quality ensured education.

Yet some of the claims of citizens are still visualizing that the "new normal" learning style is just

one of a good way of learning. Here is an example, "Research have found that participants learn

five times more material in online learning courses using multimedia content than in traditional

face to face courses. Because online courses give students full control over their own learning,

students are able to work at their own speed. Generally students work faster than they would

do otherwise and take in more information. They are able to move faster through areas of the
course they feel comfortable with, but slower through those that they need a little more time

on." -dexway.com

But the fact that the lack of engagement through teachers and students, as just a logical aspect

of my opinion, "Teach are not enough without Teachers". The "learning" itself suits only for this

matter to cover up the complicated situation as it is the matter of "completion" anymore.

Such issues are echoed around the world, where online learning has exposed inequalities of

access among students. Laptop and connectivity issues make it hard for many to follow lessons.

Then there’s the time zone issue; students signing into virtual classrooms from the other side of
the world turned their schedules upside down to accommodate classes, groupwork, and

assignments in their home life.

As much as we try to recreate connections virtually, some lessons must take place in person —

especially those requiring live feedback and collaboration. On top of that, students are easily

fatigued by the sheer number of video calls and catch-ups they have to do to substitute all that

missing interaction.

Online learning also does not account for lab work, which has complicated postgraduate studies

for international students locked out from their universities. Research candidates have

described how they have been forced to abandon their work, and question what it means for

their academic progress.

So furthermore, It would be better if the Department of Education dig for more researches and

evaluation to counterfeit this kind of situation wherein students has the rights to learn normally

and quality despite of the situation.