Alternative Learning System Butuan City Division goes Blended Learning in this “New Normal”
By MARIAN JOY L. CENIZA
Butuan Central Elementary School
Central Butuan District I
This COVID-19 pandemic, reshape how people do things normally. It even has changes that people needs to get used to for a long time. This pandemic also reshapes not just the normal routine, but also the policies and norms in the educational system. Since the pandemic, Department of Education has its ways in responding to the needs of this nation, more so in education. If there’s a new normal in formal education, DepEd official could not possibly forget our ALS Learners.
Alternative Learning System is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides a practical option to the existing formal instruction. Alternative Learning System includes both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills. Alternative Learning System has been always the resort and hope of the learners that desires to finish elementary and secondary education.
Alternative Learning System, in this “new normal” embraced blended learning to still and continue provide quality education to our out of school children, out of school youths and out of school adults. The blended learning offered by ALS gives two option to the learners. First is through “ALS Packages” that consists of printed ALS modules and CD’s or flash drives with ALS modules. Second is the Television, Radio Based Instruction.
In the first option which is the ALS packages, printed ALS modules or the CD’s and flash drive can be accessed through 4 ways. First is for the learner’s parents or guardians pick up the modules from the strategically – located drop boxes at schools/district offices, Barangay Offices and CLS’s. Second for the learners to personally pick up their ALS modules in the strategically-located drop boxes. Third is the delivery of ALS modules directly to the learners considering that they have placed drop boxes placed outside their homes. And lastly, for learners that have internet connection they can just simply search and download the ALS modules to their phones or computer. For the Television, Radio Based Instruction, learner will just tune in to the channel or frequency that will be provided for them.
ALS Facilitators will then employ remediation and checking of outputs until required competencies are complied by the learners. Assessment and giving of feedback will be done through texting and calling.
Indeed, quality education made easy even in this trying time that we’re in. ###
