Weeks into the school year where students are learning from home via online platforms, many are getting a grasp on the situation while others are still having a few problems.
We checked in with students from Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS), Mayfield Montessori Academy (MMA), and Holy Family School of Quezon City (HFSQC) to know how they’re doing and how they’re coping with blended learning.
Managing it well
“It’s about to fall off my hands, but still I’m managing it well,” said a hopeful Ernest Sy, Grade 9 student from QCSHS.
Also from QCSHS, Adelfhe Albalate and Eliza Karel Gruta said the experience was bearable and that they were doing well. Miguel Espiritu, meanwhile, added that so long as he has his laptop, desktop computer, and even his mobile phone, he’s fine.
HFSQC student Jhorelle Abiog finds online learning easier as she has more time to study even if tasks are piling up.
While she admitted to feeling a bit more stressed with the new set-up, Mariel Llyutz from QCSHS is optimistic, claiming, “I’ll improve and get used to it.”
Quite challenging
The blended learning set-up poses a number of challenges to students. QCSHS student Arwind Matthew Parilla, for instance, said shifting into an online environment was quite challenging.
Eden Joy Terol from MMA said the overall process was stressful as she has to learn much on her own. Students are overcoming a lot of things in blended learning, “but the good thing about it is we are also learning to become more independent when it comes to our studies,” she said.
Atasha Manaligod, Albalate, Gruta, Terol, and Abiog all said that connectivity was a major issue in online learning. Sy, for his part, said his problems with online schooling were electricity consumption, Internet latency, gadget specs, and the most common of all—procrastination.
“One of the challenges of online learning is submitting outputs online due to connection issues,” added Llyutz.
Rojan Dicion, also from QCSHS, cited the lack of physical and personal communication with people as a problem as he learns better when interacting with others.
Digital vs. traditional classroom
Jannelou Trias compared studying at home to learning while in prison, while studying in school to learning independently outside said prison.
Gruta feels more exhausted and bored due to lack of face-to-face interactions, and Abiog said she could easily focus in an actual classroom.
Llyutz, on the other hand, welcomes the much more relaxed learning environment at home and that classes tend to end earlier.
While unstable Internet connection poses a challenge to understanding lectures, QCSHS student Atasha Manaligod understands the lessons more during online classes.
But it’s a different story for schoolmate Fiona Renee Trinidad who prefers face-to-face classes because according to her, her attention span is short. Parilla, Trias, Albate, Trinidad, Terol, Canda, and Sehanna de Vera likewise favor learning in an actual classroom.
Addressing online learning issues
When Internet connection becomes a problem, Terol and Abiog always reach out to their teachers to explain issues they encounter, while Manaligod just goes with the flow and do all things beforehand to prevent cramming. Llyutz checks her Internet connection first.
To manage their time, Canda prepares her homework as soon as she can, Gruta looks for solutions and alternatives and asks for help when needed, Albalate finds the perfect spot to study, and Trias’ parents have her follow the “five-hour phone use rule.”
Lessons learned
As they navigate their online classes, Gruta has learned to be more compassionate, patient, and helpful toward others.
Albalate has become more focused, Abiog values time more than ever, and Canda appreciates simple times and how much they actually mean to her.
Terol said people have to treasure the time they spend with everyone. “We have to do our best in any given situation and leave it all up to God,” she said. Manaligod seconded.
Trinidad is thankful because she has the resources she needs to continue her education.
Online learning during the pandemic has allowed us to take a peek at other students’ side of the story to see the bigger picture and find meaning in all that’s happening.
