STOLEN SHOTS: COVID’S CRUELEST CRIME Reizelle Mae Belleza | Frenzied Freshie
The DWCC Gazette TRIOpinion
OFF THE LINE
Education is a right, not a choice –but there is no other choice than shifting to online classes when the world fights to live with an invisible enemy: the coronavirus. Per the announcement of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on the pursuance of classes in accordance to the CHED Memorandum No. 4 series of 2020 that contains the guidelines to be followed in implementing the new mode of learning due to the declaration of national emergency that arises from the COVID-19 virus, students are expected to adapt the flexible mode of delivery during the whole academic year of 2020-2021. School is admittedly confusing for freshly graduated high school students stepping into their first year of tertiary education. Most of the time, the cons outweigh the pros. Still, this is the aftermath of choosing to continue to college.
TWO-FACED TECHNOLOGY, SLOW-PACED LEARNING Mark Deo Aboboto | Tactful Techie
indoors. It’s not being homesick –it’s being sick of
home. Co-Vid19 is not only a murderer of the common, but a thief
exactly how my parents learned. With the announcement of the severity of the outbreak, all of it was cancelled. I had talks with my parents on decision-making and we all agreed to go for the safe route－here, I have less chances of getting sick
of chances. Year 2020 would have been the period of transition for
and problems can easily be resolved for this is still within my
many such as humble hard-workers starting up new businesses,
comfort zone. Notwithstanding denial, the regrets would
students moving up a grade, teenagers eager to live a liberated life of
linger; nonetheless, I continued to do what I can here in Divine
part-time and university, and ordinary citizens who’d saved up to go
Word College of Calapan. Since my former scholarship was
home, abroad or to anywhere they please. For the newly-enrolled
not applicable, my mother (the only employee and a healthcare
club activities, and peer studies and now, I miss it. There is a
college students, most had never even had closure with their high
worker) had to save up for my tuition fees. Online classes had
clear difference between tough moments alone and tough
school days (the safe alternative of an online graduation still felt
also urged her to buy our family some phones we could use (I
moments with companions. Also, the physical contact is
empty).
never really had a personal phone) and borrow computers for
something I crave－the pats on the head when I did a good job, the joke-filled shoves when hanging out, the high-fives
time of independence to “adulting”. It was within the expectation of
part-time job now is hard too for some establishments have
by the hallways, and the hugs that comfort you and boost
countries based in mobile data speed which have an average of 18.49 megabits per
many that these fresh high school graduates would take it upon
closed, stopped looking for employees, and even struggle with
your positivity. Looking at it, the pandemic did not rob just
second (Mbps). This kind of status can really tell that we will always have problems
themselves to find scholarships, attempt entrance examinations to
giving out salary to those that remain. Other than that, people
opportunities but feelings of social connection and relational
during e-learning because they will cause delays and disruptions on delivering quality
faraway colleges, stay in dormitories, and even add in a job to
had suggested that keeping a part-time job whilst being an
happiness. Now, it’s just me and my four-bedroom walls.
education to the students. From the beginning of online classes until now, there was
support their own expenses this year. Sadly, all suitcases were
architecture student would be quite tough for a freshman. I
never a day when a student did not complain regarding their unstable internet connection
unpacked when the Philippine government implemented travel bans
know some part-timers and I admire them, but in my case, I
defined as “a pain to see far-flung places beyond our
or being disconnected during synchronous online video-conferencing and having a slow
and promoted the medium of online classes for the curriculum. Gone
am just hopeless at this. At days where there is work, it
doorstep”. There are positives too such as meeting new
connection while answering their examination. These are not only experienced by those
were the supposed “college independence” dreams.
becomes harder to get out of bed and study. At times of rest, I
friends and finding ways to reconnect that make the year
lie awake and dread all the tasks I procrastinated on.
memorable, but one can never suppress the “what-ifs” and
There are some students who had to settle with what they can and are available to at least continue onto the college chapter.
Architecture, like many others, is a skill-based course
students with anticipations for a self-defining tomorrow (in
examinations I took when I was in my 12th grade (University of the
Despite the efforts, I find it challenging to know if I am doing
times where tomorrow is not even certain).
audio quality. It is very distracting for both students and teacher when the participants in
Philippines-Diliman and Batangas State University) and the supposed
anything well. I have heard stories of all-nighter plate making,
the online meeting have a problem with their microphone which produces unwanted
scholarship to back up my expenses (Department of Science and
echoes and background noises. Yes, maybe it is because of the connection but in some instances, the reason for this is the type of microphone that is being when reciting in a class or in order to express the answer well. Some
HIDDEN HINDRANCE Jamaica Barangas | Whimps Whisper
Students found it hard to adjust in the new
some point, but because of the feel of necessity to attend
sometimes experienced lack of motivation to do some activities
school they would still cram to do and pass the
that they are used to be doing with someone. It is indeed easier
requirements as the hard-earned money of their parents
ith the shift in the new mode of
to deal with the difficulty with someone to whom you can share
especially in this time of pandemic are on the line. The
learning – from traditional to
your frustrations with and is experiencing the same trouble
stress from these can contribute for them to neglect their
online, students are required to
rather than being stressed all by yourself.
physical health. They can lose their appetite to eat, or
of the students and professors buy a separate microphone for
websites, application, and gadgets risen up which always provide the
their devices to ensure the clarity of their audio during the
need of the people in the online world. But when the mirror of truth
synchronous classes. It adds to their personal expenses
rotates, the negative side of technology will be seen and it comes in the
which is a negative part since everyone is in the
form of the technical difficulties that every user experiences. Some of
middle of pandemic and the prices for daily needs
the problems are internet connection, features of the software, and the
make the situation weigh heavier. Every student
capability of the providers to carry all the user traffic of the site.
uses different applications and websites that are
W
for educational purposes. Sometimes, these sites
Students are forced to face their gadgets more than
the fact that despite of the willingness to study and learn
students to attend their online classes during this pandemic since mass
function well but other times they do not work
the time they used to during the traditional learning;
something, and the efforts of both parties－the institutions and
gathering and face-to-face classes are not allowed for almost a year
smoothly. Using different online platforms make
the completion of requirements and outputs that
allot an enormous amount of time
in using their gadgets to keep up with the transition.
since this coronavirus reached and spread across the Philippines last
the life of a student easy in terms of access to
mostly consumes students’ time in a computer before
2020. With this drastic changes in education, every student and teacher
different learning materials like modules but there
was even added by class discussions that are also
adjust to this kind of setup and tried their best to be skilled in terms of
are days that students and teachers experience system
using different online platforms. Every student tried their best to be
glitch. From a student’s personal experience, these
more flexible during this pandemic to ensure that none of them will be
glitches or crashes were witnessed during the first semester of
Every individual believes that technology will save and help us at all times, but in using this kind of method to continue education, specifically, through digital learning, it just gives frustration to both students and teachers. There are always technical problems on it which may appear as a major concern to educational institutions because of the
the school year 2020-2021. When taking the major examination, the system crashed because the server was not capable of handling many users at the same time, leading to frustration for many. Indeed, it is given that technology has a lot of advantages for every student and
already done in front of a computer or a screen, thus, bringing great impact on one’s health. Aside from the common physical illnesses that burden students during the online class such as migraines, frequent headaches, eye strain or having a bad eyesight due to the radiation, and back pains, there are also discomfort in their mental and emotional state.
Another factor affecting the students’ mental health is
students－there are still things out of their control that interfere
Although, at some point, the situation can also help the students in maintaining their health by doing erase the fact that students got more uncomfortable
gadgets such as laptop or phone, and those who do not have
learning in this new system despite of each and everyone’s
enough financial resources to pay for internet load promos and
effort. It may not be visible to everyone but for some, the
mobile data as much as they are needed.
only time they can escape their problems for a while and
Moreover, some students faced difficulty in focusing
feel motivated in studying to achieve their dreams becomes
on their studies at home because of some distractions present
of no difference to the place and time that sometimes
within their environment, such as the neighbors’ noise, baby’s
shattered their feelings and made them even more tired.
cry, barking of pet dogs, or the noise from a quarrel between
believed that the emotional and mental state of an individual can also be
family members.
interruption in synchronous classes, examination, and passing of
accustomed to – the face-to-face classes. Since we are in the midst of COVID-19
interrelated to their physical state.
requirements through the use of Learning Management System (LMS).
pandemic and this type of educational setup is necessary, the thing that everyone needs
Sadly, the shifting from face-to-face classes into online setup does not
to do is to adjust and be aware of how to maximize the capabilities of technology. The
go smoothly as the government wants it to be.
educational system in our country should be fixed and have vision of equity not just providing them activities.
defense against different sickness.
exercises at home or through the household chores, it can’t
cannot replace the real approach of education and learning which everyone is
equality considering the current dilemma, as well as, every student’s living status before
exhaustion and stress that could cause them to lessen their
internet connection, the lack of resources particularly the
teacher but also, it always has its drawbacks. Despite of having these advancements, it
Speak the truth, Philippines is one of the countries experiencing
would get lack of sleep due to overthinking, mental
with the transfer of knowledge. Some of these are the unstable
Though physical and mental health are usually differentiated, it is
slow internet speed due to technical issues. According to Ookla’s
Due to these situations, students lose interest in studying at
environment for learning which them uncomfortable. They also
and it can speed up all human activities. Through this, different
left behind.
“what-could’ve” especially when they are first year college
Take my experience. I had passed the two university entrance
utilized. During recitation, it is important to have proper audio clarity
In the current times, having a stable connection can really help
Germany has a word for this ache: fernweh. It is
and by that, it is actively combined practice and theory.
Also, one of the effects of having a poor internet connection is the device’s
Advanced technology gives a lot of impact to our world
the virus, there are limits to what one can do
live faraway and figure life out by myself because that is
Books and movies had hyped up the idea that college is the
stable connection for them to continue attending their classes.
N
order to quarantine oneself to avoid the spread of
Technology Scholarship). Though nervous, I was prepared to
Speedtest Global Index, our country as of November 2020 ranks 110th out of 139
locations. Because of this, they are forced to move outside to find a place that has a
would love it too!
quiet walls are deafening. Though it is a fixed
us siblings (we all share one, old laptop at home). Getting a
people living in rural areas, all students experience it even they are in highly urbanized
ot because it is favorable to your appetite, others
H
ome used to be the place of peace, but now, the
We can't blame the government for choosing this alternative in order to continue the Philippine education despite the pandemic; however, there would really be no need for an alternative if there was an immediate solution and action beforehand. Late travel bans and mismatched priorities are just two of the factors that lead to the full-on implementation of online classes. Though the availability of technology was a resourceful take, this is not a student's mission of resilience —the poor had stopped, frustrated had passed away, and everyone is still struggling to adapt to this new normal.