The Impact of New Normal Learning

System Towards the Psychological

Distress of Grade 12 ABM Students
of PHINMA-AU
The new generation has been born, together with new creations. The
world is constantly changing as well as everyone’s ways of living. Just
like Newton’s Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and
opposite reaction. Consequently, this technological evolution thereof
results towards drastic changes that deeply affect humankind.
A pleasant day to all of you. To our respected teachers, Sir Jedidiah Martin
Ame and Ma’am Ara Pauline Castillo Moises. To our classmates and to the
whole audience. In light of the alarming reality that we have been all aware
of, me and my fellow researchers were clothed with trepidation, thus, sparks
our will to present our chosen research topic. With that being said, allow us
to introduce ourselves first.
At this notion, allow us to start our
discussion.
Title & Background of the Study

To begin with, the title of our research study is “The Impact of New
Normal Learning System Towards the Psychological Distress of
Grade 12 ABM Students of PHINMA-AU.”
Along with the continuous evolution of modern technologies all over the
world, an increase in line with cases of students who are suffering from
Psychological Distress due to New Normal Learning System has been
reported by the United Nations International Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in
2019 by which specifically, about 70% of young people between the ages of
15 and 18 have been suffered mental health illnesses. With this, youths
continually suffer from the ambiguous, detrimental, and persistent impacts of
New Normal Learning System.
In citation to Thurman’s journal published in 2019,
he defined New Normal Learning System as
learning experiences in synchronous or
asynchronous environments using different devices
(e.g., mobile phones, laptops, etc.) with internet
access. In these environments, students can be
anywhere (independent) to learn and interact with
instructors and other students. New Normal
Learning System can be termed as a tool that can
make the teaching–learning process more student-
centered, more innovative, and even more flexible.
Unpleasantly, Sanchez exclaimed in his study in 2020 that
humankind remains to be negligent in the realm of this subject
matter. This was proven as he conducted a survey, which
subsequently resulted that among every ten (10) victims only three
(4) of them are most likely to speak up for themselves as they
undergo victim-blaming or are left unheard by others.
Mental Health on the other hand, is defined by the World Health Organization
(WHO) as every person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
However, it was proved by Drigas (2015) in his study that there is a significant
relationship between the increase of the prevalence of the manifestation of
Mental Health Illnesses among teenagers over the succeeding years and New
Normal Learning System ; whereas WHO also seconded the motion as per the
status of their annual survey reports with this aspect.
Furthermore, despite this reality, people are left unknowledgeable and close-minded to
accept these facts, as the stigma in relation to Mental Health Illnesses has always been
the paramount of this negligence (Noret, 2011). Hereby, this study is conducted in order
to analyse how New Normal Learning System experiences of Senior High School (SHS)
Students of PHINMA-Araullo University (PHINMA-AU) impacts the development of
their psychological distress. Essentially, the researchers also aim to acquire a deeper
sense of understanding to this topic -- to subsequently be the source for provision of
beneficial data as an eye-opener for the society.
Unfortunately, in accordance with the latest survey presented by the World Health
Organization (WHO), there has been an enormous increase of mental health illnesses among
teenagers, specifically those that are in middle school. . Meanwhile, as reported by the
Department of Education (DepEd) its target for enrollment scaled down for both public and
private schools from 27.7 million to just 22.2 million — leading the agency to conclude that
it had “exceeded” its goal. As of Jan. 15, a total of 26.6 million learners have enrolled for the
current school year — still behind 2019’s figure of 27.7 million. From Nov. 23 to Dec. 22,
2020, the Movement for Safe, Equitable,
Quality and Relevant Education (SEQuRE), a broad network of education
experts, teachers, parents and students, conducted three online surveys to assess
the conduct of distance learning in basic education. The survey results, which
werereleased on Jan. 27, showed that 53 percent of the 620 student respondents
“do not think or are not sure if they can learn the competencies set by the DepEd
for their grade level under distance learning. ”
Only 42.7 percent of 1,207 parent
respondents were confident that their
children understood their lessons, while
31 percent of 1,395 teacher respondents
believed one to three in every 10 of their
students were not able to keep up with
their classes. Student burnout quickly
became an issue in just a matter of days:
Parents were alarmed to see their children
weeping, skipping meals and experiencing
mental breakdowns while straining to
accomplish the activities in their modules.
Their laments were validated by the SEQuRE surve y, which found that 54.7
percent of students said distance learning activities had adversely affected
their physical and mental health, while 33.4 percent said distance learning had
strained their relationship with their families.
Added to that, technology penetrated man's everyday awareness. In fact, based on
Kuyper's in 2010, even people from the 19th century witnessed many forms of
resistance towards these new technologies, as it also changed other aspects of
humankind's everyday life through influencing the way they perceive and perform
things.
New Normal Learning System on the other hand, is continually experienced by youths
and in accordance to Drigas’ (2015) study, the depressive effect of New Normal Learning
System prevents students from excelling in their studies, mental health illnesses in schools
and universities are causing unimaginable problems to students, parents and to
educational institutions. More so, little has been done to help those students who are
continuously trapped in the name of modernization and digitalization.
Meanwhile, despite the high prevalence of mental health
problems and disorders that develop in adolescence and early
adulthood, young people tend to not seek professional help.
While young people have the greatest need for mental health
interventions, they are the least likely to seek help (Gould, 2012).
Furthermore, Drigas in 2015 has narrated the realm of this subject matter,
alongside he stated that the majority of the societal population don’t have
any idea who fights their battles silently everyday because in this
generation, opening up transforms into a sign of weakness.
At some instance, other people will use your weaknesses to degrade and
disempower you, and even worse, these people are belittled, overthrew
and ridiculed as some may say: “It’s all in your head, just get over it. ”
By then, Saval (2017) has proved that this is the Mental Health Stigma, anxiety is
all over due to the fear of discrimination and rejection as the society established
unrealistic idealizations that one should be in order to achieve the feeling of
belongingness. But the youth that everyone expects to be the light of this nation is
not only dependent on knowledgeable, physically and spiritually strong youths but
rather than youths who are also mentally and emotionally resilient.
This alarming reality emerges as a spark upon the researchers to further
understand the relationship of New Normal Learning System Towards the
Psychological Distress of Grade 12 Students of PHINMA-AU . With the aim
of raising awareness and for the provision of an adequate amount of
knowledge not just for their own benefits, but rather for the society as a
whole.
 Purpose of the Study
Moving on, The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between
New Normal Learning System Towards the Psychological Distress and/or
mental health illnesses among Grade 12 Senior High School (SHS) Students
of PHINMA Araullo University. Consequently, the study also aims to give
adequate information in regards to various factors of Psychological Distress.
Lastly, the researcher seeks to find out the prevalence of mental health
illnesses among the respondents in accordance to Online Learning as well.
 Statement of the Problem

Our study aims to know The Impact of New Normal Learning System Towards the
Psychological Distress to Grade 12 ABM Senior High School (SHS) Students of
PHINMA - Araullo University (S.Y. 2021- 2022). Specifically, this research seeks
to answer the following questions:
What is the number or percentage of SHS students from PHINMA –
Araullo (PHINMA-AU) that had or hadn’t experienced Psychological
Distress because of New Normal Learning System?
How may the demographic profile of the respondents be described in
terms of: Age, Sex, Grade Level and Academic Strand.
How may the new normal learning system experience affect the respondents mental
health in terms of: Academic Performance, Concentration, Self-Esteem and Opinion
Towards Others.
Is there a significant difference between the performances of students who are
exposed during face-to-face classes and new normal learning system towards the
development of psychological distress.
Conceptual Framework
 Hypothesis

At this juncture, we will state our formulated hypothesis. For the Alternative
hypothesis: New Normal Learning System has a significant effects towards the
Psychological distress to Grade 12 ABM Senior high school (SHS) students of
PHINMA-Araullo University (PHINMA-AU)
Another hypothesis is that, New Normal Learning System increases the
possibility that Grade 12 Senior High School (SHS) Students of
PHINMA–Araullo University (PHINMA-AU) would develop
psychological distress.
For our Null Hypothesis, New normal learning system has no significant
relationship towards development of psychological distress to Grade 12 Senior High
School (SHS) Students of PHINMA–Araullo University (PHINMA-AU).
Scope & Delimitation

As for the Scope and Delimitation, our study mainly focuses on the relationship
between New normal learning system and the development of Psychological
Distress or Mental Health Illness towards Grade 12 ABM Students of PHINMA-
Araullo University, Cabanatuan City (PHINMA-AU).
However, this study is delimited to Senior High School Students only, meaning,
respondents must be at least a Grade 12 Students, regardless of their academic or
vocational strand. Also, it is delimited for Senior High School students of
PHINMAAraullo University (PHINMA-AU) and will not include any respondents
who are outside the aforementioned school.
By then, we will base merely on the results that we will be able to gather in line
with our prepared research questionnaires with due appropriateness. Any data or
answer respond not prior to these questions and are claimed without the
permission of the researchers would be strictly forfeited.
To further expound, our research has significance to several areas. Mainly,
as aforementioned earlier, we aim to gain and provide adequate
knowledge in regards to the effects of new normal learning system that
will lead towards a deeper sense of mindfulness in terms of actions of
technology-users in the modern world. In pursuit with our study, we ought
to benefit the following:
For the Student Victims, they will be able to establish understanding in terms of their
own emotions as an aftermath of the Psychological Distress that they have experienced
because of New Normal Learning System. Moreover, they would be able to identify the
factors as well as the distinctive impacts of New Normal Learning System in their lives,
by then they can adjust accordingly with the situation and learn the most suitable or
appropriate coping mechanisms as for their recovery.
Lastly, by having awareness that this situation is being focused by
researchers they will feel heard, valued and acknowledged eliminating
their feeling of being an outcast of their emotions and themselves as a
whole.
For the Teachers, Parents & Peers, this will benefit the mentioned group of people
to be fully-equipped of their responsibilities of guiding as well as leading their
students, daughters, sons and friends to act with integrity, honesty and discipline as a
technology-user of this modern society. Overall, they will also understand that they
play a major role towards integrating peace among the members of the society.
For the Society, this study will help them to learn and adopt a new
technique, which they haven’t done before. With this, they will also be able
to raise or promote awareness towards the members of the society of how
crucial and detrimental the impacts of New Normal Learning System that
can cause Psychological Distress to the students. Additionally, they will be
alarmed with the situation and take actions immediately.
For the Readers, this will provide them additional information when it comes
to the adverse of New Normal Learning System towards students specifically,
Senior High School Students of today’s generation. Thus, they will also
become knowledgeable and sensitive to this technological issue.
For the Future Researchers, this may give some ideas as well as a basis that will
be beneficial for future research related to New Normal Learning System and its
impacts towards the development of psychological distress of students.
The findings may serve as a useful tool for promotion of awareness and
provision of knowledge in regards to the controversial issue of New Normal
Learning System.
Summary

To rightfully end our presentation, we would like to say that as researchers, we

firmly believe that awareness and action is a must. This hair-rising reality must get
the attention that it deserves. Acknowledgement of everyone’s uniqueness and
respecting diversity is necessary.
Until then, we would like to stand in behalf of our fellow youths, that we
deserve to be heard and together we will put an end to this Mental Health
Stigma, a catastrophe. No one must be left behind.
Altogether we’ll conquer, heal, and learn; for we are not born to
be perfect; hence, we are born to be an asset.
WE, the youths of today –
the hope of the future, with compassion and perseverance will
soon pave our way
and turn this dark night into a gleaming day. That is all for
our presentation, thank you for listening and have a great
day!