Interviewer: Cedrick L.

Señal
Interviewee: Arlene M. Mengote
Occupation: Teacher
School: Pagbalican Elementary School, Calbayog City
Date: October 13, 2024
Time Started: 8:31 AM
Time Ended: 8:39 AM
Place: Virtually (Zoom Meeting)

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Interviewer: Hi, I’m Cedrick L. Señal, and I’m conducting research on how online teaching
has impacted educators during the pandemic.

Interviewer: Today, I’d like to hear about your experiences with online teaching during the
pandemic and how it’s affected your role as an educator.

Interviewer: The first goal of this research is to learn how the pandemic has affected
educators and their institutions. I’m interested in how the shift to online learning changed
teaching methods, student engagement, and the overall learning environment.

Interviewer: My first question is, what were the biggest challenges you faced when you had
to switch to online teaching during the pandemic?

Interviewee: Um, During pandemic the biggest challenges I faced on online teaching is
primarily due to technical issues, like the availability of gadgets like cellphones, laptops and
internet connection and availability of (inaudible) learner because the barangay I teach is
they kinda, they couldn’t afford to buy gadgets, so it also became my basic problem at the
same time.

Interviewer: Uh, yes sorry, I would like to inform you that you could use any language you
are comfortable with, uh, using.

Interviewee: So I can speak in Waray-Waray?

Interviewer: Yes.
Interviewee: Okay sure.
Interviewer: My second question is, How did these challenges affect your daily routine as a
teacher?

Interviewee: Hmm, I find it hard, which made me more stressed, uh, it was hard, I tried to
balance the lesson planning and the adjusting of the lesson techniques.

Interviewer: Okay.

Interviewee: That was it.

Interviewer: For the adaptation and solutions, What adjustments did you make to
successfully teach online during the pandemic?

Interviewee: Um since my school and the learners do not have any devices or internet
connection I made and printed modular materials to help them engage in my lesson much
more easily.

Interviewer: Were you quick, uh, How quickly were you able to make these changes?

Interviewee: Umm, During pandemic because of how urgent the issue was, I was able to
make these modifications, they call it modifications in a matter of weeks, but I was also
thankful because the school and the school head gave assistance by giving online training
sessions.

Interviewer: Okay.

Interviewer: Since the pandemic greatly affected, uh, teaching methods ng teachers.

Interviewee: Yes.

Interviewer: How did you change your teaching ways?

Interviewee: Uh, can you repeat the question?.

Interviewee: Hmm, The spontaneity changes multiply when it comes into distance learning,
and I don’t think that it will stay in place kasi teachers are resourceful and learning should be
continuous so we should always move forward, and past is past [Giggles].

Interviewer: [Smiles] Have you found any new teaching methods you now prefer over
traditional ones?

Interviewee: Ah yes, I come to prefer a collaborative activities over traditional lecture based
methods, so that the learners will (be) encouraged to cooperate each other and use critical
thinking and since we didn’t utilise online learning that much we used modular more often,
then I modified the curriculum with interactive assignments and flexible assessment options.

Interviewer: Okay.

Interviewer: How did you manage students who struggled with your new (teaching)
methods?

Interviewee: Hmm when it comes to modular method, it became difficult because some
students don’t really come to school to get their modules, some students claim their modules
but they are not the ones who are answering the modules, instead of the students it’s their
parents or guardians who answers the modules, but at same time they really need to answer
the modules given because, without their answers, I couldn’t give them any grades.

Interviewer: Okay so, let’s talk about the learning environment of you and your students.
How did the pandemic affect the environment of your teaching?

Interviewee: Um, The pandemic transformed the learning environment to a more difficult,
really difficult (environment), why? Because as what I’ve said earlier regarding the gadgets,
they don't have any gadget, that causes them to not be participative to online activities and if
the teacher asks them to provide gadgets for their online activities, they couldn’t afford to
buy one because they would use their money to buy food and necessary things for their
everyday life, that’s what makes it difficult to switch to modular method, but as times goes
by, it’s like, if you are going to compare it, it’s like a wound healing, the learners get use to
the modular method as we go on, so far at the moment, um, that was all. [Giggles]
Interviewer: Since we know how the pandemic really affected the learners and the
educators, How did you balance these new demands while continuing your professional
development?

Interviewee: Balancing? Or, or how I interacted with the learners?

Interviewer: No um, How did you balance these new demands while continuing your
professional development?

Interviewee: Oh okay, I balanced them by having a good communication with them, because
without communication, it’s like, you know, it’s like there is no learning..

Interviewer: Hmm, so.

Interviewee: Yes.

Interviewer: For my closing questions, Looking back, do you think the shift to online learning
brought any lasting positive changes to education?

Interviewee: Hmm, The shift to online learning has ended brought lasting positive changes to
education such as increased of accessibility because we now greatly use the internet in
terms of learning, but as we move forward, uh, education should continue to adapt by
embracing blended learning, do you know what is blended learning?

Interviewer: Yes po.

Interviewee: The um, the collaboration of modular and online methods of teaching and of
course prioritizing social-emotional support so that the learners will, you know, will be
participative in class.

Interviewer: Hmm.
Interviewer: Do you have any final thoughts on how education should continue to adapt as
we move forward?

Interviewee: Uh, final thoughts about education, that was it, embrace, embrace the new
models of learning and prioritise social-emotional support for the learners.

Interviewer: Okay, that would be all, Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I really
appreciate your insights and the time you have given today.

Interviewer: Thank you Ma’am.

Interviewee: Thank you.

Interviewer: Bye Ma’am.

-End-