IT SEEMS that many want to have an update on the classes undertaken by colleges and universities in higher education. In my situation, we are already halfway through the first semester of our classes.
There are innovations in the mode of instruction in order not to disrupt the regular learning process of students. Instead of the usual face-to-face approach that has been the practice for so many years, students and instructors meet online either on Google or Zoom applications. I use this mode for both the graduate and undergraduate levels in compliance with the existing health protocols.
There are minimal concerns about the delivery of instruction for graduate school while I noted some challenges at the undergraduate level. But both can be exciting for someone in the academe especially in these trying times of pandemic where other than school concerns, we are all bothered by the presence of the coronavirus.
I observed that some college students in my class don’t find learning necessary at this time. They said, at home, while they are giving time to study through the online platform, members of their family kept talking about their survival in everyday lives against the Covid-19.
This environment at home makes them think that learning is only secondary and survival as the main concern. In fact, students are interested in complying with the requirements to pass the subject rather than internalize the topics that would help them learn for future applications.
I guess this happens just because we are still in the process of trying to restore normalcy in the midst of this uncertain fight against the Covid-19. This means no matter how we impress about adopting the normal situation, we are still haunted by the threats of the virus.
But like many organizations, academic institutions kept reminding faculty members to ensure flexibility and that no student should be left behind.
I am reminded that while I seek compliance of requirements from students, whether in graduate or undergraduate, we are in this abnormal time where flexibility is imperative.
This could be the bottom line for all the efforts and compliance we seek in making organizations functional nowadays. But the truth is, we could hardly expect the best results from our people derived from the normal situations that we used to enjoy.
We need to accept that we are still in the middle of this war and hope to survive this when we have the means to contain the disease through medicines and vaccines.
I agree that everyone experiences quarantine fatigue and we wish to move freely as we want to, but Covid-19 is still around.
Just recently, I am informed about another friend and mentor, Dr. Venancio Ardales, former vice president for academic affairs of West Negros University, who passed away. He was already undergoing dialysis treatment but he died because of Covid-19 in a hospital in Iloilo City.
As a graduate student at Central Philippine University (CPU), I used to stay at the house of Dr. Ardales, which is a few meters away from CPU.
He has been cremated and many shared the sadness of the family and the academic institutions he had served.