Lived Experiences of Social Studies Students in the Post-Pandemic Learning Landscape: A Phenomenological Inquiry

This study explored the lived experiences of Social Studies students in the post-pandemic learning landscape, where Philippine higher education has shifted toward hybrid and increasingly digital learning environments. As traditional classroom structures resumed, many learners continued to navigate the lasting academic, technological, and psychosocial effects of pandemic-era distance education. Using a phenomenological approach, the study examined how students made sense of these long-term transitions and how their previous exposure to modular and online learning shaped their current study habits, confidence, and resilience. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s (1978) descriptive method to derive themes reflecting students’ evolving learning realities.
Findings revealed that students developed greater autonomy and digital adaptability, yet continued to struggle with residual challenges such as technology fatigue, uneven digital skills, and difficulty re-adjusting to face-to-face academic demands. Participants highlighted how pandemic learning cultivated self-regulation, resourcefulness, and digital competence—skills they now rely on in hybrid settings. However, they also emphasized the need for stronger institutional support systems to bridge learning gaps that persisted beyond the pandemic. The study underscores the importance of responsive educational policies that address long-term learning recovery, promote digital resilience, and strengthen students’ overall readiness for the transformed post-pandemic academic environment.

Digital resilience; post-pandemic learning; hybrid education; student experiences; phenomenology; learning recovery; autonomy

1. Bagood, J. B. (2021). Teaching–learning modality under the new normal of education: A proposed learning delivery modality. Journal of Education, Management and Development Studies, 1(2), 25–32.https://www.jemds.com/2021/02/04/teaching-learning-modality/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Chickering, A. W., & Gamson, Z. F. (1987). Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education. AAHE Bulletin, 39(7), 3–7. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Claxton, G. (2002). Building learning power: Helping young people become better learners. TLO. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Colaizzi, P. F. (1978). Psychological research as the phenomenologist views it. In R. S. Valle & M. King (Eds.), Existential-phenomenological alternatives for psychology (pp. 48–71). Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Commission on Higher Education. (2020). Guidelines for the implementation of flexible learning (CHED COVID Advisory No. 7, s. 2020). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. https://ched.gov.ph/covid-19-advisories/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Dawson, P., Henderson, M., Mahoney, P., Phillips, M., Ryan, T., Boud, D., & Molloy, E. (2019). What makes for effective feedback: Staff and student perspectives. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 44(1), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2018.1467877 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Dela Cruz, E. (2022). [Study referenced in manuscript—no complete citation available]. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Dollanganger, M. (2020, May 25). DepEd: All students to have access to distance learning via radio, TV, online. CNN Philippines. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/25/DepEd-distance-learning-radio-TV-online.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. El Firdoussi, S., Lachgar, M., Kabaili, H., Rochdi, A., Goujdami, D., & El Firdoussi, L. (2020). Assessing distance learning in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education Research International, 2020, Article 8890633. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8890633 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Eyal, N. (2019). Indistractable: How to control your attention and choose your life. BenBella Books. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Fidalgo, P., Thormann, J., Kulyk, O., & Lencastre, J. A. (2020). Students’ perceptions on distance education: A multinational study. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(48), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-020-00194-2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Fox, J. (1998). Distance education: Is it good enough? The Chronicle of Higher Education., 45(2). (Article does not provide DOI.) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Garrison, D. R., & Kanuka, H. (2004). Blended learning: Uncovering its transformative potential in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 7(2), 95–105. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2004.02.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Gerland, L. (2007). [Referenced concept; no complete publication details available]. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Hebebci, M. T., Bertiz, Y., & Alan, S. (2020). Investigation of students’ and teachers’ views on distance education practices during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. International Journal of Technology in Education and Science, 4(4), 267–282. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijtes.v4i4.113 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Inner Drive. (2021). What is an independent learner? [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/independent-learning [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Joaquin, J. J. B., Biana, H. T., & Dacela, M. A. (2020). The Philippine higher education sector in the time of COVID-19: Challenges and responses. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 12, 104–112. https://doi.org/10.32674/jcihe.v12i6S1.3355 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Kallio, H., Pietilä, A.-M., Johnson, M., & Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Systematic methodological review: Developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(12), 2954–2965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Kebritchi, M., Lipschuetz, A., & Santiague, L. (2017). Issues and challenges for teaching successful online courses in higher education: A literature review. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 46(1), 4–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239516661713 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Kember, D. (1989). A longitudinal-process model of dropout from distance education. The Journal of Higher Education, 60(3), 278–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1989.11775036 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Llego, M. (n.d.). Distance learning for teachersand students. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. https://www.teacherph.com/distance-learning/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Loveless, B. (2021). What is distance learning? Education Corner. https://www.educationcorner.com/distance-learning.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Michigan State University. (2020). How internet connectivity affects student learning. https://msutoday.msu.edu [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Musingafi, M. C. C., Mapuranga, B., Chiwanza, K., & Zebron, S. (2015). Challenges for open and distance learning students: Experiences from the Zimbabwe Open University. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(18), 59–66. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1079967.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Nardo, M. T. B. (2017). Modular instruction enhances learner autonomy. International Journal of Education and Research, 5(10), 79–94. https://www.ijern.com/journal/2017/October-2017/07.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Parkes, M., Gregory, S., Fletcher, P., Adlington, R., & Gromik, N. (2014). Bringing people together while learning apart: Students’ experiences with online group work. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 30(2), 138–152. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.643 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Richards, J. C. (2021). Learner autonomy in language learning. https://www.professorjackrichards.com [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Santos, A. P. (2020). In the Philippines, distance learning reveals the digital divide. The New Humanitarian. https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/08/27/Philippines-coronavirus-distance-learningdigital-divide [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Schmidt, C. (2020). Summary of “Indistractable” by Nir Eyal. (Teaching guide; no DOI.) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Simonson,M. (n.d.). Distance education: Definition and overview. https://www.aect.org [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Song, L., Singleton, E. S., Hill, J. R., & Koh, M. H. (2004). Improving online learning: Student perceptions of useful and challenging characteristics. The Internet and Higher Education, 7(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2003.11.003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Students’ perceptions. (2020). [Online article; incomplete source; no link available]. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Tria, J. Z. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of education in the Philippines: The new normal. International Journal of Pedagogical Development and Lifelong Learning, 1(1), ep2001. https://doi.org/10.30935/ijpdll/8311 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. UNESCO. (2023). Education in a post-COVID world: A renewed vision for learning. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/education-post-covid-world [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Van Wart, M., Ni, A., Medina, P., Canelon, J., Kordrostami, M., Zhang, J., & Liu, Y. (2020). Integrating students’ perspectives about online learning: A hierarchy of factors. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-020-00229-8 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. ViewSonic. (2020). Advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-distance-learning/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. White, C. (1995). Autonomy and strategy use in distance foreign language learning: Research findings. System, 23(2), 207–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/0346-251X(95)00005-4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. World Bank. (2022). The state of global learning poverty: 2022 update. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37409 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• The Impact of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy of Listed Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
• Urban Sustainability in North-East India: A Study through the lens of NER-SDG index
• Performance Assessment of Predictive Forecasting Techniques for Enhancing Hospital Supply Chain Efficiency in Healthcare Logistics
• The Fractured Self in Julian Barnes' Postmodern Fiction: Identity Crisis and Deflation in Metroland and the Sense of an Ending
• Impact of Flood on the Employment, Labour Productivity and Migration of Agricultural Labour in North Bihar