Learning Activities for Modular Distance Learning in Dr. Francisco L. Calingasan Memorial Colleges Foundation Inc. Tuy and Nasugbu Campuses

Abstract

In the era of globalization and internationalization, the school is at the forefront of meeting the challenges of the 21st century education. Innovations abound, millions of information are made available in the worldwide web and new ways of management practices and learning have emerged (Dayagbil, 2016). Distance learning is a learning delivery modality which occurs when the teacher and learners are geographically remote from each other. Modular Distance Learning (MDL) is a type of distance learning that uses modules to transfer learning to the students. (Llego, 2020). The education system has immensely transformed from traditional way of learning into a more diverse one which can cope with the fast-changing world. It can now address the different skills of the 21st century learners. The integration of different learning modalities into the curriculum makes it more accessible for everyone. In the Philippines, the Department of Education widens learners’ access to quality education through the Alternative Delivery Mode. Based on Republic Act 10618 or an Act Establishing Rural Farm Schools as Alternative Delivery Mode of Secondary Education and Appropriating Funds of 2013, the Alternative Delivery Mode may include the use of facilitator - aided and interactive self - instructional print and audio - based learning materials, video tapes, face - to - face structured learning groups, demonstration sessions, home visits, mentoring and remediation. This implies that aside from the formal education in which students are confined in the classrooms, there are ways to reach out to learners especially if they are incapable of attending regular class days. To further address the accessibility of education for the Filipino learners, the Philippines reaffirmed its global commitment to bring benefits of education to “every citizen to every society” and developed the National Plan of Action to Achieve Education for All which also aimed to achieve an improved quality of basic education for every Filipino. It includes reforms in the curriculum and introduced the Alternative Delivery Modes that promote access and holding power of school through the implementation of the Project EASE (Effective Alternative Secondary Education) to complement the existing formal education to make secondary education more accessible to students in disadvantaged situations. Learning is facilitated through the use of modules as instructional materials during the period when students are out of the classroom. Truly, the Philippine government together with the Department of Education continuously strive to provide and improve the quality of education for every Filipino to meet the demands of the global community. Even during these trying times as we face the COVID-19 pandemic, the department yield ways to adapt to the new normal by launching various distance learning modalities for the school year 2020-2021. This is to ensure that the pandemic will not hinder learning but also to secure the health of every stakeholder in the learning process. Based on the survey results from the Learner Enrolment and Survey Forms distributed by the schools nationwide, both private and public, the parents as well as the learners’ preferred modular distance learning than online distance learning. The 8.8 million parents opted for modular learning while only 3.8 million chose online learning. On the other hand, 7.2 million enrolees preferred modular distance learning while only 2 million enrolees opted for online distance learning. (Malipol, 2020). It is for this that this study was thought of. It attempts to assess the utilization of Modular Distance Learning Strategies of Teachers in Dr. Francisco L. Calingasan Memorial Colleges Foundation Inc. Tuy and Nasugbu Campuses during the academic year 2020 - 2021.