STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, CHALLENGES AND COPING MECHANISMS IN HIGH SCHOOL ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Most educational institutions made sure that instruction was uninterrupted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a flexible learning method, most schools chose online distance learning (ODL). Consequently, the Internet is among the many tools that ensures continuity in teaching and learning. Many schools have adopted ODL using their learning management system (LMS). However, schools are challenged in attaining the expected engagement among students. Students must cope with the new learning environment wherein they are physically separated from teachers and peers. This research aims to assess the engagement of senior high school in the ODL environment. Specifically, it describes the respondent’s engagement profile, preferred learning resources and activities, and challenges faced in ODL. Student logs from the university LMS during the second semester of 2020 – 2021 were utilized for engagement profiling. On the other hand, an online survey was conducted among 424 students to gather their preferred learning resources, activities, and challenges experienced in ODL. Results show that assignments and files are the most common resources used during the ODL. It shows that attendance and quizzes are what students often visit. Quiz and Wiki are where students spend their time. The result indicates that Slideshows and PDF or MS word materials are the most preferred learning materials. The Lesson is the most preferred learning activity, and students perceived that this activity is the most useful in the ODL. Lack of motivation or confidence earned the highest mean of 3.49, described as “every time.” Heavy workload, procrastination, lack of interaction, and technical issues are rated “every time,” showing that respondents are heavily challenged. In terms of coping, the result indicates that daily login and breaking down responsibilities were the most common mechanism. Communicating with the teachers yielded the lowest coping mean. The study concludes that engaging students in online distance learning are very challenging, especially when learners are not ready. Preferences in terms of learning resources and activities are multi-faceted. There is a need to improve the variation of asynchronous activities like interactive multimedia, such as gamification.