As a saying goes, “Education is the key to success.” But will this even be the key to the future if we are still facing the worldwide pandemic? The huge decision depends with parents, teachers and the government as to whether education or health will be more essential in this situation.
According to Briones, “DepEd will not allow COVID-19 to destroy the education and future of the youth.” Therefore, even before the opening of classes, the Department of Education launched various seminars and preparations to continue education while at the same time considering everyone’s health.
As a result, various alternative methods have been implemented to provide quality education to every student. Some of these are modular distance learning (MDL), online distance learning (ODL) and TV/Radio Based Instruction.
Best known in distance learning are MDL and ODL but which of them has been more effective? If you look at Online Distance Learning (ODL) it becomes the “new normal” of face to face teaching. Students are immersed in various platforms presented by the teacher such as Zzish, Quizziz, Kahoot, Slido and others, where children can have fun while learning something. They are also gradually getting used to it. But despite this, the interaction between students and teachers are still limited. It also causes a “feeling of isolation” in a child where he or she is only in one place and cannot move unlike before. There are also many obstacles to ODL such as community noise, poor internet connection and money that cause students’ stress.
MDL, on the other hand, is a printed material that contains everything a student should learn in a week. This can be done through students’ own pace to learn even without the guidance of a teacher and may not be seeing each other face to face in school. But how can we be so sure that the child in MDL has learned something? What will be the assurance that it isn’t his family members answered the module just to pass in the current grade level?
But whether it is ODL or MDL, there is still no substitute for Face to Face classes to provide quality education. In today’s time when there is a threat to everyone’s health, we can still be knowledgeable and educated if we want to. Whether it is ODL or MDL, it is important to strive more and do everything you can to achieve your dreams.
In the end, education is still the key to success for the future, only with extra precautions, adherence to established health protocols and choosing the correct information will surely continue the eminence of education.
By: Alice T. Mapanao | Teacher 1 | Cataning Elementary School
