Serendipity: Student Readiness and Adaptation Model for Remote Teaching and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Benjamina Paula Gonzalez-Flor, Sheryll Edd Hermosa-Ebron and Joshua Michael Jonas University of the Philippines - Los Baños

Keywords:

Development Communication, Remote Learning, Online Platforms, Education

Abstract

This study attempted to develop a model of student preparation for the abrupt shift from traditional to remote teaching and learning. Guided by the Transactional Distance Theory (Moore, 1989), the model is dubbed SERENDIPITY, i.e. a mnemonic that stands for: Screenshot ready; Engagement (with content, co-learners, and teachers); Resiliency (maintaining sanity); Endless (adaptation); Nonchalant (being calm and relaxed); Diligent; Independent (learning); Procrastination (how not to procrastinate); Integrity; Tenacity (determination); and Yeasty (exuberantly creative). The model is a student readiness framework developed by the UPLB Learning Resource Center and operationalized through capacity development programs using webinars via zoom, Facebook, and YouTube delivered by various social scientists, psychiatrists, communicators, and artists. These webinars on readiness for online learning, mental health, mindfulness, netiquette, tutorials, bridging activities, daily doses of inspiration, and the like did not only capacitate UPLB students but also teachers, school administrators, and researchers in other universities and high schools in the country.  The multiple attribute setting amounting to more than six million does not matter but the emerging strategies to prepare students to study remotely enabled them to adapt to the new learning platform that may now become the new norm. 

Author Biography

Benjamina Paula Gonzalez-Flor, Sheryll Edd Hermosa-Ebron and Joshua Michael Jonas, University of the Philippines - Los Baños

Benjamina Paula Gonzalez-Flor, Ph.D., is a Professor of Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she also serves as Director of the Learning Resource Center. Concurrently, she holds the rank of UP Scientist and is the Chair of the Master of Development Communication Program at the UP Open University.    

Sheryl Edd P. Hermosa-Ebron is an extensionist at UPLB Learning Resource Center. She holds a B.S. and  M.S. in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines Los Banos. Previously, she was a host, producer, and scriptwriter for radio and television.

 Joshua Michael Gamboa Jonas is a University Research Associate of the Learning Resource Center, University of the Philippines Los Baños. He holds a BS Development Communication in UPLB, graduating with a cum laude in 2019.

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Published

2020-12-15

How to Cite

Gonzalez-Flor, B. P. (2020). Serendipity: Student Readiness and Adaptation Model for Remote Teaching and Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Asian Congress for Media and Communication Journal, 7(1), 3–30. Retrieved from https://acmcjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/7