Teachers consider Facebook as a learning platform for education

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic continues, global trends were forced to changed to battle the disease. And one of the most affected amongst all others is the education sector.

Photo credit: edtech4beginners.com

To get the education of the country's students back on track, the Department of Education (DepEd) presented its Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP). Teachers and students were compelled to embrace blended/distance learning strategies to ensure that knowledge sharing continues.

Teachers are getting ready for the transition to blended/ distance learning which combines printed and offline digital modules, online, and TV and radio-based instruction while keeping in mind that each student would have different preferences.

According to DepEd's survey, most parents preferred the modular learning system over other options especially in far flung areas. No internet connection or gadgets to use is the main reason why online learning in these areas is not an option.

On the other hand for online learning, since most of the citizens uses Facebook and already familiar with its features, it is being considered for teachers and students to utilize Facebook and other free learning platforms for education.

"App" or applications such as Canvas, Google Classroom, and Quipper School are already being tapped as learning platforms. However, according to Mark Madrona, a senior high school teacher at Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City, teachers and students who are not particularly tech savvy still have to figure out how to navigate them quickly.

Facebook, he said, makes it easy to share learning resources such as attachments, articles, and even links to videos that students may find helpful.

In an phone interview, Madrona said,

Ituturo pa sa bata how the platform works so why don’t we check out platforms already known to students. Nasa Facebook naman ang lahat ng tao,

[We would still have to teach kids how the platform works so why don’t we check out platforms already known to students. Almost everyone is on Facebook,]

Meanwhile, Roanne Davila, senior high school teacher in San Nicolas, Bacoor City, prefers Google Classroom as it allows her to check on whether or not students have completed their work. However, she admitted that she also uses Facebook when internet connection is unreliable. Telecommunication companies like Smart and Globe also already provide free access by registering to select promos. 

Davila is aware that data privacy, misinformation, and fake news are among the concerns over the use of Facebook as educational tool but at the same time notes that the pros outweigh the cons especially for students belonging to poor communities.

Of all the other issues on online learning, some teachers sees these as an opportunity to further develop media literacy when it comes to consuming information and producing and sharing content.