Unstable internet connection seen as major challenge in UC’s online distance learning

By: Eloisa Melody Reyes –Journalist/ @Jaguar Chronicles

Baguio City --- University of the Cordilleras offered online classes for the 3rd trimester on June 15, 2020 to help students continue with their studies amid COVID-19 outbreak. With this sudden shift away from the classroom, unstable internet connection seen as major challenge that may affect student’s learning process through online distance education.

Based on the survey results, 66.7% of the respondents who are enrolled in University of the Cordilleras for this 3rd trimester shared the same sentiment on unstable internet connection at home.

The Google form was answered by the 2nd year BSEd students. The survey results revealed that the leading challenge faced by some of the students was unstable internet connection at home.

Hence, the students without reliable internet connection are struggling to participate and join in zoom meetings with their teachers and classmates. Moreover, they are also having a hard time to upload and submit their requirements online.

On the other hand, the survey results also revealed that the second leading challenge in UC’s online distance education was insufficient load/data allowance, followed by the distractions of social media and noise from their community.

In response to a significant problem in UC’s Online Distance Learning, the dean of the CTE department along with the teachers offered an impressive solution for this matter.

According to some of the BSEd students, the teachers are very understanding when it comes to the issue of unstable internet connection.

“I’m glad that my teachers are very considerate every time I inform them that I cannot join zoom meetings due to poor internet connection.” Ms. Awakan said.

“My teachers are uploading recorded videos for the students who are not able to join zoom meetings. They also give us an ample time to submit the requirements online. ” Ms. Bayeng added.

For said reasons, the instructors from the CTE department are indeed very considerate and willing to offer other alternatives for the students who are not able to join zoom meetings due to unstable internet connection. This can either be a module or recorded video of the zoom meetings they have missed. In this way, they allow the students to read the module and watch the zoom videos at their own convenient time.