U-SPEAK

What is more effective in learning? Face-to-face or online setup? Why?

“The face-to-face setup offers numerous perks that are effective in learning compared to the online modality such as spontaneous interaction with the class facilitator, innate motivation to be attentive in class, and the condition to be prepared every time in the class. These make the learning more meaningful and authentic compared to what the online class could offer because the students’ and teachers’ interactions simultaneously substantiate the learning process. Thus, faceto-face learning is more effective because the setup builds more connection and essence between the teacher and the students, unhindered by intermittent internet connections.”

What are the challenges you have experienced so far having limited face-to-face classes?

“There are challenges that I have encountered during face-to-face classes such as fixing my body clock to match the fast-paced modality, the arduous task to be updated both online and offline setup, executing my organizational task as a student-leader, keeping up with academic demands, and managing my household responsibilities. Although these challenges are all arduous, it is also fulfilling.”

What are the things you look forward to this Academic Year?

“In this academic year, I look forward to a life-changing academic experience. I am lookin forward to the road I have taken will lead me to become mature as a person and as a future educator by triumphing in my responsibilities as a student, a student-leader, a son, and a citizen. I hope that this academic year will become meaningful to me and all the students in their field.”

What is more effective in learning? Face-to-face or online setup? Why?

“It is more effective if it’s Face-to-Face since it is more understandable and we can easily ask questions directly to our teachers and we can interact with our classmates especially if we have group activities.”

What are the challenges you have experienced so far having limited faceto-face classes?

“In my part, I lived in our province, in Bansalan Davao del Sur. That is why I really need to go here every Monday to Wednesday morning to attend my classes. I actually travelled 2 to 3 hrs. The reason why I need to go home every day after class is that I am an online english teacher and I don’t have stable connection here. Tho it is incredibly challenging, But I won’t let this stop me.”

What are the things you look forward to this Academic Year?

“I’m manifesting that this academic year will be full of happiness and fun. That we can enjoy each moment we have here and we can adopt the quality education of UM.”

Mac Odnalor B. Sumampong College of Arts and Sciences

What is more effective in learning? Face-to-face or online setup? Why?

“The face-to-face setup offers numerous perks that are effective in learning compared to the online modality such as spontaneous interaction with the class facilitator, innate motivation to be attentive in class, and the condition to be prepared every time in the class. These make the learning more meaningful and authentic compared to what the online class could offer because the students’ and teachers’ interactions simultaneously substantiate the learning process. Thus, faceto-face learning is more effective because the setup builds more connection and essence between the teacher and the students, unhindered by intermittent internet connections.”

What are the challenges you have experienced so far having limited face-to-face classes?

“There are challenges that I have encountered during face-to-face classes such as fixing my body clock to match the fast-paced modality, the arduous task to be updated both online and offline setup, executing my organizational task as a student-leader, keeping up with academic demands, and managing my household responsibilities. Although these challenges are all arduous, it is also fulfilling.”

What are the things you look forward to this Academic Year?

“In this academic year, I look forward to a life-changing academic experience. I am looking forward to the road I have taken will lead me to become mature as a person and as a future educator by triumphing in my responsibilities as a student, a student-leader, a son, and a citizen. I hope that this academic year will become meaningful to me and all the students in their field.”

Adrian V. Jala College of Engineering Education

What is more effective in learning, face-to-face or online set-up? Why?

“For me, it’s more effective when it’s residential or face-to-face. Because you get to see your students’ reactions, even just the subtle facial expressions, you would decipher whether they understood what you were saying or not. And when they show such expressions then you would automatically, let’s say, repeat your discussion, or you would focus on which part of your lessons has to be reiterated or not anymore. And also, face-to-face is more effective because we aim not only to enhance students’ mental or cognitive abilities and capacities but also their affective, motivational, and social factors as well. So, the latter was nonexistent or not present at all during the online setup or online modality of learning. So, that’s the gist. In short, face-to-face is more effective, although both have their pros and cons, if you’re going to weigh things and deliberately think through them, face-to-face is more effective.”

What are the challenges you’ve experienced as faculty staff so far in having limited face-to-face classes?

“First challenge in teaching and learning context alone is that we only get to meet the students thrice a week. Unlike the pre-pandemic setup where we get to meet our students Monday to Friday, that’s every day, which is five times a week. What comes with that challenge is that you must be quick with your discussion and in reality, not all students will get what you were saying during the first discussion. You have to revisit certain topics, but because of the time constraint, it’s like you’ll just let the students read the instructional materials. Unlike the five days classes, we can review, but then again, there is a pro which is we can also focus on our asynchronous schedules with the online task that we should be given to the students. And also, I guess for the student’s part the asynchronous schedules serve as their rest days because they get to work on other tasks at their convenience.”

What are the things you look forward to this academic year?

“The things that I look forward to honestly, it’s everyone’s concerns and problems being here on the campus even on weekends. It is insufficient and exhausting and it’s just too much for both teachers and students. We understand that we want to deliver quality education, or we have to deliver our tasks and work but then again, the effectiveness of the quality of our work is not actually synonymous with the number of hours that we have to render on campus. We always find ways to complete our tasks, jobs, and responsibilities as early as possible. Let’s say we have 10 tasks for this week, we actually finish that, let’s say until Friday because we want to rest on Saturdays and Sundays, and I guess that goes the same with the students. The new system will be more convenient for everyone, especially for the MSAT1 and MSAT2, so I’m looking forward to it. Because we need rest—both instruc- tors and students—I hope it should just be from Monday to Friday. Since it is difficult to get sick nowadays due to COVID, even machines cannot work or will be damaged if they are overused, how much more so for us humans where our health is only our investment?”

“ In addition, in the entire process of teaching and learning, whoever makes the decisions somewhere in the higher-ups, I hope will consult the teachers where we are the ones who personally faced the students. They would consult the teachers first if it is okay if we’ll implement this kind of schedule or not. Is it okay to work even on Saturdays? And since they didn’t consult us the teachers, most of the faculties are also studying for master’s and doctorate degrees. What’s ridiculous is that when you try to lobby your concern and it’s valid? Like Ma’am, we can’t teach on Saturdays because we also have our classes for our master’s and doctorate degrees where we are the students considering that part of the policy of the university, we are mandated and encouraged to proceed and pursue higher studies as part of our faculty development. And now that we actually do it, how come they gave us this Monday to Saturday schedule and then told us to find ways in managing this kind of schedule? Of course, we can’t do that because we only have one body. To tell you honestly, we can really find ways if we want to, but it’s not really feasible. Thus, it’s not really a smart decision to include Saturday classes.”

Anonymous

What is more effective in learning, face-to-face or online set-up? Why?

In terms of effectiveness, I can say it’s face-toface since there is pressure. If there’s pressure, we push ourselves to learn. We don’t want to feel left behind that is, why for me, face-to-face is just like survival.

What are the challenges you’ve experienced as a student so far in having limited face-to-face classes?

“First, murang shocking pa siya noh kalit lang siya.

I was shocked by the update at first. The first struggle I experienced is when traveling more than 1 hour from Mintal. Aside from this, the fare and other expenses. In terms of schedule, in addition, It is quite challenging since I have both MSAT1 and MSAT2 classes. Another thing is, sa quizzes and sa exams. Kay dati man gud if mag quiz merong oral muna first, ngayon kay deretso nag anon. Tapos nung exam pod, we have no idea kung ano ang mga naglabas because wala kami nag quiz, deretso exam, so we don’t have any idea though merong syllabus pero marami masyado kaya so overwhelming siya.”

What are the things you look forward to this academic year?

“One of the things I look forward to is the Intramurals. Because I heard a lot of people before saying that intramurals have a lot of activities and booths, and it is our chance to meet new people from different programs.

Thea Belo Dela Peña