Junior High School Students' Perceptions and Challenges of Online Learning Implementation during COVID-19 Pandemic

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Limuel J. Abelgas

Abstract

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) pronounced Covid-19 as a pandemic. Classes in all levels of education worldwide were suspended from curbing the virus transmission. This study used a quantitative-qualitative method wherein the students' perceptions on online learning implementation were treated using the weighted mean and standard deviation. While the challenges they encountered were analyzed through the Colaizzi method. There were 80 junior high school student respondents in Cebu, Philippines, selected through purposive sampling using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed consent, assent, and ethical guidelines were adhered to before, during, and after the data were collected. This research utilized a researcher-made questionnaire after it passed the validity test. Its part 1 contained 10 questions pertaining to the students' perceptions on measured with a 5-point Likert scale. Part 2 comprised 5 open-ended questions, written in both Cebuano and English, focused on the students' encountered challenges in online learning. Data gathering was done by posting the questionnaires on Google Docs, and the respondents were given 2 weeks to answer it. Based on the findings, in terms of profile, majority of the students aged 13 to 16 years old, composed of 21 males and 59 females. They represented grades 7, 8, 9, & 10 equally – 20 students per level. Their parents' combined monthly income ranged dominantly from 10,000 to 14,999 Php. The students believed that the online learning was excellently done as far as the 10 indicators in the questionnaire as concerned. In terms of the challenges they encountered, the students' responses yielded the following three (3) themes: 1) Unstable Internet Connectivity; 2) Inadequacy of Technological Devices; and 3) Unfavorable Learning Environment at Home.   

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