ABSTRACT
The (Covid-19) pandemic, online and modular learning are evidently a new norm to be adopted. With the abrupt closure of campuses across the country aimed to control the spread of COVID-19, students migrated to a wide assortment of living situations, a large number of which presented difficulties to learning. As schools closed, many students entered stressful domestic situations that aren’t conducive to learning. Thus, the primary goal of this study is to figure out what the students’ face as barriers to distance learning on learner’s life skills. The main reason that inspires the researcher to conduct this study is to investigate the problems encountered by the students on the implementation of distance learning. The study covers 105 respondents from the major of Social Science students in Laguna State Polytechnic University Sta. Cruz main Campus. The descriptive method of research was used in the study to analyze and interpret the data being gathered from the respondents. Result reveals that students are experiencing barriers on distance learning. The barriers of distance learning are communication, cost and access to internet, credibility, motivation and family support, these were all highly experienced by the respondents. The acquisition of learners’ life skills in terms of critical thinking skill, interpersonal skill and self – management skills were all highly insufficient, while technical skill was interpreted as averagely insufficient. The barriers of distance learning have an effect on learner’s life skills, accordingly the research hypothesis expressing that there is no significant effect between barriers of distance learning and learner’s life skills. Researcher recommends further investigation of students’ barriers to help other educators and institutions develop course materials and strategies properly. However, the understanding and alleviating technology issues are significant, particularly with the fast development of innovation.
Keywords: learning barriers, delivery mode of learning, modular learning, learning skills, distance learning
INTRODUCTION
COVID-19 has turned into a worldwide threat to health emergency. Almost 36 million individuals all over the world have been infected and over one million died. As a result, billions of students throughout have been affected by the pandemic. Over 28 million Filipino students across all academic levels are among those who must remain at home and adhere to the Philippine government’s quarantine regulations (UNESCO, 2020). To meet the demands of students, particularly the 3.5 million tertiary-level students enrolled in nearly 2, 400 HEIs across the country certain Institutions established some proactive strategies to ensure that the education continues despite the shutdown. Modified types of online learning are included in these rules, to facilitate student activities. Asynchronous, delayed time activities such as pre-recorded video lectures and time-independent evaluations are examples of online learning (Azad 2020).
On the other hand, The Laguna State Polytechnic University one of the premier University in Laguna decided to cope and embrace the new normal in teaching through the use of multiple learning modalities such as distance learning and blended learning, either in addition to or in place of face-to-face learning. Self-Learning Modules will be made available in print, offline, and online digital formats to assist learners, parents, and teachers in implementing these delivery modalities.
However, findings further revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had the greatest impact on the quality of the learning experience of the students most especially their mental health. This creates learning barriers among the students to adjust to online learning because it is a new environment.
Based on Azad stated that there are barriers to transferring the curriculum into online due to a lack of knowledge in online teaching.
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