Adaptive Capacity on Flexible Learning in the New Normal: The Case of Davao Del Norte State College

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Adaptive Capacity on Flexible Learning in the New Normal: The Case of Davao Del Norte State College

Arnold M. Duping, PhD¹; Ronald S. Decano, PhD²; Jevannel G. Borlio^3
1Dean, Institute of Teacher Education, Davao del Norte State College, Philippines
² Dean of Institute of Advanced Studies, Davao del Norte State College, Philippines
³Faculty, Institute of Teacher Education, Davao del Norte State College, Philippines

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the adaptive capacity of the students and faculty members of Davao del Norte State College in the new teaching and learning modalities demanded by this new normal setting. With the CoViD-19 pandemic lurking into the academic grounds, posing new challenges, the researchers initiated to describe the academic profile of the 2547 students and 109 faculty members. Results revealed that utilizing television and transistor radio devices on blended learning may not be effective due to a huge number of learners who will not be able to access learning materials delivered through these media. Moreover, 1148 of 2290 students described not having Internet connection at home. Yet, on the status of Internet connectivity, only 67 learners have no Internet access in their area. Fourteen (14) faculty members revealed not having Internet Connection at home, but was able to gain access during the physical duty schedules. This result suggests that even without Internet Connection at home, students and faculty members are findings ways to cope with the learning and teaching challenges in these difficult times.

Keywords: COVID-19, New Teaching and Learning Modalities, Higher Education, Internet Connectivity, Blended Learning, Learning Management System

I. INTRODUCTION

As cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Davao Region rise, more and more provinces and municipalities have adopted shelter-in-place orders to curtail the pandemic. The disruption to most daily lives has been drastic and sudden—and perhaps one of the most dramatic shifts was education system moving into the virtual settings (Vegas, 2020).
Because of the pandemic, the Philippine educational system experienced the herculean challenge of exploring other new learning modalities that will facilitate in the migration from traditional classes to flexible teaching and learning options (CHED CMO No. 04, 2020). In this new world of social distancing, higher education has become completely virtual, thus, poverty becomes stronger in most developing nations because many students cannot afford to buy the devices needed to attend to virtual classes. With all the financial limitations, both teachers and students experienced the barriers to access quality education. Each institution devised online learning models to serve as framework in this new way of delivering instruction, considering less experiences and fewer resources of all entities involved in the academic community.

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