Learning Under the New Normal: Remote Learning Readiness among Students of a Philippine State University

Abstract

With the outbreak of COVID-19, education shifted to a new norm with remote learning becoming the primary mode of instruction. This transition highlighted the need to understand students’ readiness for this new educational set-up. This study was conducted to assess students’ readiness for remote learning at a Philippine State University. It aimed to determine the expectations of the students on remote learning set-up, the challenges faced, and the assistance needed to propose recommendations and interventions to address the challenges and ensure an effective delivery of education through remote learning. The study was conducted through an online survey administered to 238 undergraduate and graduate students. The remote learning readiness survey was adapted from the Online Readiness Assessment by Vicki Williams (2014), which covers areas such as expectations, self-direction, learning preferences, study habits, learning strategies, language skills, technology skills, technology-mediated communication skills, and hardware/software requirements. Results showed that most of the respondents strongly agreed that remote courses are not easier than face-to-face courses. Moreover, a majority reported being self-directed to finish what they started and dedicated specific time to do their coursework. The majority also expressed confidence in navigating the internet and communicating via email and other synchronous platforms. Challenges encountered are poor or unstable internet connections, financial cost of study, heavy academic workload, time management difficulties, unavailability of gadgets and internet data, difficulty in managing distractions, and mental health issues concerns such as anxiety, In response to these challenges, the study proposes several interventions, including academic support, financial assistance, and mental health services.