Online Class

The New Normal

Writer: Ciel Dhine Villanueva

Editorial Cartoon: Sheena Buela

he adaptation of this “New Normal” in the education system created prominent challenges among students and even with the administrators. Students raise various issues as regards to technicalities, distractions, and time management keeping each one to stay motivated with the high-stress level coping up with the unfamiliar setting.

COVID-19: The breaking-point of the Academic implementation of our dear Alma Mater

The worldwide effect of the Corona Virus Disease (SARS-CoV-2) known as COVID-19 has impacted the global economic stability, not only affecting business society but leading to the imminent closure of every educational system around the world.

By March 2020, the class suspension began in line with the nationwide response to the outbreak. The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued an institutional guideline prohibiting public and private schools from conducting physical classes and to calculate a students’ current academic status for their final grades. ACCESS Computer College faculty and administration has prepared the final output that has AIDED the Senior High School remaining learning tasks after the government lifted and eased ECQ. Different platforms were being used as a means of communication to students bringing output for the final results of their learning tasks. 

On the other hand, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recommends no failing and incomplete grades and had imposed distance education to maximize academic terms. With the declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the increasing number of infected in Luzon and other areas, mandatory online classes were also cancelled out of consideration for the well-being of students, teachers and administrators.

Academic Year 2020-2021 was legally scheduled in the last week of August. However, it was amended when Republic Act No.11480 was decreed into a law hence; DepEd moved the opening of the classes for public schools on October 5. CHED, on this instance, left the decision on the Higher Education Institutions. 

ACCESS Computer College as a private educational institution has made it on opening classes in August 2020 for the first semester since its administrators have readily prepared and developed learning materials for the online classes.

This Institution has begun the semester in the last days of August offering online type of educational modality – Synchronous and Asynchronous. Synchronous classes is administered through zoom platform while asynchronous is the self-paced part where students complete their assigned coursework at expected deadlines using the google classroom and home study.

The adaptation of this “New Normal” in the educational system brought big challenges in the lives of students and even to the administrators. However, this has opened a new way of learning modify and the educational patterns innovate ways to adapt this tough and trying times rather than wasting the school year.

Educators too are facing difficulty on introducing new concepts and how to reinforce understanding with this type of set up, and how to ensure that the students will feel connected to the class. These obstacles will bring the competitive side of the educators that are good for their self-growth and this institution has made it through; as a proof on the successful transmission of 1st to 2nd semester.

Although the “New Normal” is inevitable, the biggest struggle is how to maintain our academic integrity. Our Administration is ensuring that increased online fraud, file sharing and exam fraud are prevented because students behavior does not reflect guilt as their priorities change over time.

With the rest of the world striving to attain stability in the face of a pandemic, our school will remain in its vision, mission and goal in advancing modern teaching strategies to ensure successful learning continuity among its students.