The Department of Education (DepEd) Tagbilaran city schools division conducts a dry run for blended learning in preparation for the opening of classes this August 24, 2020.
The division conducted the dry run simultaneously in 24 public schools from August 3 to 7, 2020, according to the statement from the city schools division officials.
This is in response to the interventions of the DepEd in introducing blended learning to be implemented as classes open for the School Year 2020-2021.
School principals and selected teachers facilitated the simulation activities, with the division office personnel doing the monitoring and evaluation.
During the entire process, observers and documenters were assigned to take note of details, specifically in the distribution and retrieval of learning resources to and from the learners.
The simulation started with the distribution of pre-packed modules and self-learning kits in all subjects for Week 1 of the First Quarter to parents and guardians and the same shall be returned after a week for checking and evaluation.
Kindergarten learning activity packets containing activity sheets, coloring materials, name tags, and home-based learning routines are made available for the pupils, as well as guides for parents and materials for home-based learning, the same statement said.
Adhering to coronavirus disease (Covid) health and safety standard protocols issued by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), the following steps were carefully observed: upon getting in the one-way entrance, the parent or guardian, who is required to wear face mask, is subjected to foot bath disinfection, temperature check, and hand sanitation and then proceeds to the seats designed using social distancing guidelines while waiting for his or her turn to sign in.
Furthermore, one by one, the parent or guardian logs his or her name, temperature, contact number, and signature, after which the survey form will be submitted to get feedback on the implementation of distance learning will be given.
Having completed this, the parent or guardian is ushered to the Materials Area to get the modules and self-learning kits from the teacher.
Finally, the parent or guardian heads towards the one-way exit.
It may be recalled that Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in a recent online press conference, assured that opening of classes for SY 2020-2021 will push through as scheduled on August 24, 2020.
“Since face-to-face conduct of classes will not be allowed until the vaccine is made available, DepEd has prepared different learning delivery modalities to suit every learner’s need and capacity.” She added that distance learning and blended learning “have long been implemented” in the country’s Alternative Learning System (ALS).
“Now, DepEd is running a series of dry-run simulations to ensure the efficiency of this modality, once applied in the public school system.”
Dr. Joseph Irwin A. Lagura, Schools Division Superintendent, expressed gratitude for all the support and extended efforts from both internal and external stakeholders for the success of DepEd’s initiatives and that findings from these simulations shall be used to determine the readiness of the city schools for August 24, 2020.
Currently, all city schools are printing self-learning materials which will be taken from the Special Education Fund (SEF) and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the respective schools. (by Dr. Aquilino T. Milar, Jr., Tagbilaran Division Information Officer)