Online Distance Learning Amidst COVID-19

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine the factor that makes online distance learning successful during the pandemic COVID-19. This paper focused on uncovering factors to make online distance learning possible during the pandemic. The research is phenomenological in nature and descriptive-survey method was used to identify the technology skills, attitude towards the characteristics of a successful online teacher/student, and level of readiness for the administrators, together with the experienced benefits that were experienced in online distance learning. Correlational analysis was employed to determine the relationship between the variables. Findings show that teachers and students have basic technology skills in online distance learning through the use of Facebook and Messenger; they can generate knowledge even without physical interaction and at their most convenient time. Gadgets or devices useful for online distance learning and unreliable internet access and/or technology struggle in joining digital learning to do school tasks are the prevailing challenges of the teachers and students. Attitude towards online distance learning is strongly correlated to the experienced benefits of online distance learning by the teachers and students. The readiness of the institution in adapting online learning is strongly correlated to the experienced benefits of the administrators. The study was Phenomenological in nature. It was conducted during the pandemic COVID-19. The study brought surface the lived experiences of the respondents in online distance learning during COVID-19. This paper will be useful for school administrators and teachers as basis for policy and program formulation for online distance learning implementation to be crafted to suit in the “new normal” environment.