Philippine E-Journals

STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES TOWARDS IMPROVING ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING MODALITY (ODLM) AMONG PHILIPPINE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

RYAN V. DIO | CYRA MAE R. SOREDA | KAREN MAE H. PALABRICA | GLADY JOY M. MELLA

 

Abstract:

The pandemic crisis due to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide leads to the adoption of the most appropriate instructional models of Online Distance Learning (ODL) amid the identified digitalization problems, access barriers, and stakeholders’ opposition to modern technologies. This descriptive method of research employed the phenomenology and grounded theory approaches to qualitative research using the survey, Key Informants Interviews (KII), and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) in exploring the 108 (38 Male, 69 Female, and one do not prefer to say) students’ experiences with the different modes of ODL delivery among 30 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines. Thematic content analysis of transcripts follows the phases of initialization, construction, rectification, and finalization, which revealed students’ satisfaction with exposure to engaging multi-sensory activities utilizing blended synchronous and asynchronous online learning delivery. The ODL delivery among HEIs will be more productive in maximizing learning outcomes among students when they can easily communicate with teachers and consistently receive personalized asynchronous on-time feedback. The upgrading and re-upgrading of learning resources and infrastructure, human capital development, and data-driven institutional policies among the HEIs have to be in place to revitalize the implementation of flexible ODL as per guidelines set in the CHED Memorandum Order No. 4, s. 2020. The derived ODL model, which illustrates the continuous process of teaching-learning tasks, may be adopted by the instructional designers among HEIs as a means of improving the ODLM experiences of students in diverse places in the Philippines.