Learning Delivery Modalities
⏱ 10-15 minute activity
The pandemic caused a massive shift in the way education is delivered. It forced the whole education system to rethink how education and learning can happen and still continue despite the unpredictable disruptions.
Take a moment to reflect on your teaching and learning context – How would your day usually go? What are the different activities and preparations you need to do? List these down.
Next, think of how each of these activities feel for you – Which parts do you enjoy doing? Which ones are particularly challenging for you?
Get a piece of paper to write these down, or you can use this worksheet for a more structured approach, through a charting activity we call “Day in the Life”. Here’s what it should look like:
Whether you’ve experienced teaching in the classroom before the pandemic or started your teaching career immersed in a distance learning modality, the future of education and the context of teaching and learning is uncertain. We are at a point where disruption and rapidly changing situations are becoming the norm, and we need to be more creative and flexible in order to swiftly and easily respond to whatever situation or scenario is thrown at us.
We can start by better understanding the different ways in which we can deliver learning in different contexts. There are 3 Learning Delivery modalities (LDMs) that we can familiarize ourselves with which could help us be more agile in addressing our learner’s needs in any context:
The typical mode of learning from before the pandemic, where learners and teachers are both physically present in the classroom. This particular modality presents opportunities for direct and active engagement, immediate feedback, social or peer-led learning and collaboration, and socio-emotional development, but can be challenging or difficult to do especially when risks (from the pandemic or otherwise) are still present for both learners and personnel.
Where learners and teachers are geographically apart from each other. This LDM was the default modality used for most of the pandemic, and may be synchronous or asynchronous/self-paced. According to DepEd, there are 3 types under this particular LDM:
- Modular Distance Learning – Individualized instruction using self-paced learning materials and resources in print or digital form, whichever is applicable for the learner. Teachers monitor the student’s progress and possibly do home visits if needed.
- Online Distance Learning – learning and instruction are facilitated by the teacher through an online platform or learning management system, and are typically synchronous learning experiences should participants have access to the technology and stable internet connection needed.
- TV/Radio-based Instruction – learning materials are converted into videos or radio scripts to be played over tv or radio.
Combines face-to-face and distance learning modalities to address limited face-to-face time. This particular modality was already popular even before pandemic, because it allowed face-to-face time to be more focused on collaborative work or direct feedback, and the distance component to be dedicated to simpler and more individual learning activities.
Once we get acquainted to the principles and strategies behind these different LDMs, we can apply learning experience design to create effective and meaningful learning experiences