Connection Unstable: Airclass unable to take off

By: Seann Carpizo

With the pandemic our country is currently facing, many operations and systems have been put to a halt nationwide, including the educational sector. As we are under community quarantine, options became sparse and limited. ASJ, alongside other schools throughout the country have resorted to the introduction of online classes for this S.Y. 2020-2021, which promises to be a new and intuitive learning experience thanks to ASJ’s collaboration with Schoology.

ASJ implemented the use of Schoology, a learning management system for K-12 schools and higher education institutions that will serve as the virtual learning environment for its students. It allows educators to organize curriculum, create lesson plans and modules, as well as provide student assessment. Schoology allows for peer collaboration through public or private discussion forums, and makes for an interactive and systematic experience between students and teachers for an online classroom setting.

However, a downside of it is found in its strengths. With all of its features and systems in place allowing for a way for education to progress despite these times thanks to the internet, those without it are struggling to find a way to go about this problem. Not everyone has access to a good internet, or even has access to any internet services. This may be due in no small part to the fact that some places don’t have a good signal, or the fact that some do not have coverage for providers.

All of the features in Schoology can’t be accessed or is at least is difficult to use without the availability of a stable connection. This means that some students will be left behind, causing problems both for those students and their teachers. They will be lagging (literally) behind the curriculum, lessons, activities, and aside from the issue of trying to catch up, the teachers will have to deal with the matter as well, ensuring that they get to learn and finish necessary tasks as well. A solution to this is to simply stay at a relative’s for the meantime while the internet is scarce, but with the MECQ implemented here at Cavite this may not be an available or easy option to take.

All-in-all, there really isn’t an easy way out for this. One way or another, we have to find ways to keep progressing through the hardships that we are put through in these trying times. Air Class is here to take off, and we need to do our parts the best we can, and to rely on one another. There will always be setbacks, unstable internet connections, lack of working and compatible gadgets, but this is the path we have to take with what little options our situation gives us.