Extra challenge for students

Blended learning, also known as distance learning, has been the style of teaching in use in the Philippines since the suspension of classes in March 2020.

- JOSH DL. BUSTAMANTE

What was supposed to be a weeklong suspension stretched into months. The indefinite closure of schools around the country has undoubtedly jeopardized the future of millions of young Filipinos.

As a student, it was natural for me to get excited over class suspensions. I heaved a sigh of relief when the local government units (LGUs) announced the suspension of classes in all levels in the second week of March following the detection of the first local case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

It was a time of panic for us, students, as we started to worry about contracting the virus. Thousands of students at the University of Santo Tomas Senior High School (USTSHS) scurried to safely return to their homes, some to faraway hometowns.

The week after the suspension of face-to-face classes was devoted to the pilot testing of distance learning. At the UST-SHS, we utilized a Learning Management System (LMS) to continue the delivery of teaching. This enabled both students and teachers to interact in an online environment that also served as a space for instructors to provide students’ assessments.

Challenges to distance learning

It took some time before students and teachers became familiar with online learning.

Even with the presence of various technologies and platforms to make distance learning possible, there were certain challenges that hindered its effectiveness in delivering education to students.