Parents need to be 'more' patient as they teach their children at home under distance learning

A professor said on Monday that parents must remember to be more patient when they are teaching their own children. Parents will be taking some of the duties of a teacher, since this year the form of education is distance learning because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo credit: churchofjesuschrist.org

Dr. Feliece Yeban of Philippine Normal University issued the reminder as schools prepare to open classes marked by distance learning on August 24.

Yeban said in a virtual forum that parents also needs support as they will embody some of the responsibilities of a teacher. We need to help parents to become capable of teaching.

"Parents must be ready, they should be patient enough. They shouldn't punish the child if he/she can't immediately understand the lesson," Yeban added.

The biggest challenge in the coming school year is the physical absence of teachers, aside from ensuring a stable internet connection and the availability of gadgets.

“Ang online learning, nagiging successful kapag independent ang learners. Unfortunately, ang Filipino learners, hindi independent,” [Online learning is successful if learners are independent. Unfortunately, Filipino learners are not.] Yeban said.

“Naka-depend sila sa teacher nila. Ngayon, wala si teacher na magtututro physically. At iyong pagtuturo nang hindi physically present, based on [self-learning] modules, broadcast, kasama na ang online learning, hindi pa rin gaanong nae-explore ng kaguruan natin yan,” [They depend on the teacher. Now, teachers are not physically present to teach. And the modes of teaching like broadcasting and online learning are not yet totally explored.] Yeban added.

In an earlier report, Education Undersecretary Nepo Malaluan said that students and teachers are not required to purchase laptops, desktop and internet connection under the blended learning system for the upcoming school year as long as they avail of the Modified Modular Distance Learning program.

In modular learning, learners will be provided self-learning packets in print or digital format while teachers will use mobile messenger chat or text messages to monitor and track the learners.

The digital learning is easy to bridge, it just need commitment from the national government, local government and private sector as well as political will. The main problem are the instructional design and the paradigm of our education. It should be discussed now, Yeban said.