i

Challenges of Senior High School Students Amidst Pandemic: Implicting

A Research Paper
Presented to the
Faculty of the Senior High School Department
Agusan National High School
Butuan City

CATHERINE S. FERRER
CHRISTIN S. RECKER
JANFRYLE JETH A. Cagape
JOANNA MARIE T. MUSICO

APRIL 2022
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
ABSTRACT iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iv
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 LITERATURE REVIEW 3
3 DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 9
Overall Approach and Rationale 9
Site on Population Selection and Sampling 10
Access, Role, Reciprocity, Trust and Rapport 10
Ethical and Political Consideration 11
Data Collection Method 11
Data Analysis Procedure 12
Procedures to Address Trustworthiness and Credibility 12
4 RESULTS 13
5 DISCUSSION 17
Implications for Educational Practice 19
Recommendation for Future Research 19
Concluding Remarks 20
References
Appendices
Curriculum Vitae
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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

According to government data obtained by the South China Morning Post, the first

incidence of Covid-19, the sickness caused by the novel coronavirus, was reported in China on

November 17, 2019. (Ma, 2021). “The emergence of the COVID-19 as the global pandemic

with its social and physical distancing consequence has affected educational practices.” (Maru

et al., 2020) Online and modular learning had risen alongside the COVID 19 Pandemic, it was

the alternative for the Department of Education (DepEd) for the students to cope with learning.

In most common cases, students can select between three flexible learning modes:

1) Online, which uses available online classrooms for instruction delivery.

2) Offline, which involves printed modules or digital media stored in storage

devices; and

3) Blended, which mixes online and offline modes.

With the emergence of these types of learning modalities, this research identifies the

areas that cause the Senior High School Students’ challenges in the learning environment with

the pandemic. This research identified the learning modalities or learning systems set by the

Department of Education as the ones that mainly caused major challenges to the students. This

research intends to provide information on what coping mechanisms the students did to surpass

their anxieties and depression in the modern way of learning alongside the pandemic. The

presence of a COVID-19 pandemic has been evident since the outbreak's inception. Its

emergence and propagation instill a tremendous deal of terror in the hearts and minds of the

public, adding to an increase in anxiety levels. Coping skills are factors that impact how an

individual responds to difficulty and how effective they are at dealing with the challenge. It is

more likely for someone to react confidently to a tough scenario when they believe they are in
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command of the issue. A person's capacity to employ tactics that attenuate and manage the

stress reaction is referred to as their stress coping skills. In addition to the many different types

of coping styles, the authors discuss the two basic coping strategies that they have found to be

most effective: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. The researchers

investigated the difficulties that students had during their senior high school years at Agusan

National High School in Butuan City, and how these difficulties affected their academic

performance. The information and evidence were acquired using survey questions and the use

of a purposive sample technique.

LITERATURE REVIEW
 

The COVID-19 problem has impacted Philippine education as well. Lockdown caused

classes to be postponed. Virtual learning was also a problem for the majority of colleges and

institutions at the time (Talidong & Toquero, 2020). People, especially the senior high school

students are highlighted in this chapter and totality alongside their coping mechanisms. To

compile literature on research that has already been published and is connected to this subject,

a literature review is conducted. Additionally, this chapter will discuss some chronological

areas of how the pandemic had caused turmoil in the youth. The second area to analyze is the

key themes by starting with: "How the pandemic had caused negatively to students". On the

other hand, this chapter would present a source that relates to an observational perspective on

how students perceive the pandemic. Some theories, models, and definitions are also shown in

this chapter.

History of Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

                Alongside the rise of the internet, different approaches to learning had already

existed. To clear the idea that Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning had only existed

during the pandemic. No, online classes were already seen on the internet and modular learning

was already applied to some students like those who are homeschooled because of various

reasons. In other words, these were designed for people who cannot afford the time to go to

physical schools. According to Writers (2020), it may appear that online education began in the

late 1900s, the notion of remote learning was first put into effect in the United States around

the mid-19th century. The United States Postal Service was established. A preoccupation with

the idea of dependable, long-distance correspondence resulted in the invention and

implementation of what was known as commercial "correspondence colleges," which were

Because of the widespread use of the internet and digital technology, distant education

programs have become increasingly sophisticated and accessible in recent years. Elite schools

around the world are now offering open courseware, online degrees, and online classes, which

are helping to legitimize and popularize the idea of obtaining an education through the use of a

computer or the internet.

On the Negative Effects on Students

  The students' experiences in the courses differed with the delivery format. In the hybrid

course, the students viewed the flexibility of arranging the class face-to-face and online, and

instructor availability as favorable. On the negative, the rigid schedules for the face-to-face

sessions and technical challenges with computers and internet service were highlighted. For the

online course, the favorable characteristics were categorized into convenience, class

expectations, and teacher availability. Technology problems and feeling lost in cyberspace

were noted as negative experiences for the online class." (El Mansour & Mupinga, 2007).

According to this source, even with or without the COVID 19, synchronous and asynchronous

ways of learning were already a problem.

 The Coping Mechanisms

An article entitled "From stress to success: Exploring how Filipino students cope with

remote learning amid COVID-19 pandemic" has to be the basis of this section of the research

because the researcher intended to explore how students cope with remote learning amid the

COVID-19 pandemic. Entailing a qualitative research design adopting a descriptive technique.

"It emerged that the students employ the following coping strategies: looking for good space

and time; borrowing learning resources; seeking support from peers; approaching the teachers;

practicing time management; doing learning tasks ahead; extending the time for learning tasks;
diverting attention; regulating the self; taking extra jobs; crying, and praying." (Rotas, 2021).

The research provided evidence as regards the contextual coping methods of students in

seeking to succeed in remote learning during a worldwide crisis.

Models and Theories

The study "University students' stress-coping strategies during the coronavirus

pandemic: Data from Poland" presented a model called "The Participatory Intervention Model"

(PIM), which is based on participatory action research and provides a mechanism for

integrating theory, research, and practice, as well as promoting stakeholder involvement in

intervention efforts (Babicka-Wirkus et al., 2021).

The PIM is a collaborative process in which the partners work together to develop interventions

that help individuals and communities transform. Representatives from constituencies having a

vested interest and/or requisite resources are included as partners in program development

(Nastasi et al., 1998).

Based on this approach, it appears that the year mentor's job should be revised to include

screening evaluations of students' expected sources of support. In addition, a university

counselor position should be developed. It's worth emphasizing that the design process for such

solutions should include the youngest children in particular. (Babicka-Wirkus et al., 2021)

The most commonly reported successful method was "behavioral activation," whereas

the most frequently reported common strategy was "distraction." Many empirically validated

depression therapy include behavioral activation, and treatments that target engaging in joyful

activities and increasing reward sensitivity through behavioral activation are useful for

depression and anxiety. (Wasil et al., 2021). To put it simply, "Behavioral activation" is a

mental health strategy in which someone uses their behaviors to alter their emotional state

(Villines, 2021).

"Behavioral Activation," or BA, encourages individuals to investigate the link between

provide gratification, delight, or a sense of mastery? BA members then include at least one

pleasant and one mastery activity into their daily routines to make them a habit." 2021

(McPherson).

CHAPTER III

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

work, it is a qualitative study that examines the perspectives of senior high school students on their

situation during the pandemic and their coping techniques. Its objective is to increase awareness of the

subject. The article made use of primary data gathered by the researchers.

Overall Approach & Rationale

           The researchers were interested in learning about the students' opinions and perspectives on their

situation as senior high school students in the pandemic. This will allow the researchers to have a better

understanding of the factors that led to each student's coping techniques during the pandemic. This

research has been written to better grasp the aspects of the topic that are weak. It covers the student's

coping strategies, as well as the coping mechanisms of another student from another research study that

was referenced in the research review. This research is a qualitative study in which students were the

respondents.

Site, Population Selection and Sampling Strategies

           The data collection was done online, and the researcher made certain that all the respondents

were students from Agusan National High School - Senior Highschool who had participated in both

synchronous and asynchronous kinds of learning during the investigation. To support their

investigation, the researchers used simple random sampling techniques. The process by which a

researcher picks a selection of participants from a larger group using probability sampling. There is an

equal possibility for every member of the population to be chosen for this task. The information is then

gathered from as large a percentage of this random group as is reasonably practical (Thomas et al.

2020). Twenty (20) randomly selected senior high school students from Agusan National High School

online were the ones selected.

Access, Role, Reciprocity, Trust & Rapport

The researchers have decided to write a permission letter to the principal's office to obtain authorization

to conduct the research online. The researchers' responsibilities included seeking and collecting data

through the use of an online survey, as well as compiling all of the material gathered to respond to the
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"study questions". These, in turn, would be beneficial to the participants, as the researchers would keep

them informed if applicable about the study's progress and conclusion. The subject was assured by the

researchers that his or her identity would be kept confidential. It is ethical for the information gathered

would be used purely for research reasons and that the Agusan National High School Department, as the

institution would receive credit for the work. It was important for the interviewers to have a nice and

harmonious relationship with the interviewee; therefore, they created a safe setting.

Ethical & Political Considerations

           General ethical principles such as informed permission, privacy, secrecy, and risk were the most

important ones that the researchers followed to obtain information from the respondents. The survey

was carried out with informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity, and it

solely examined pertinent components for the overall study.

Data Collection Method

    The researchers used the interview technique for the data collection method. Interview according to

Brinkmann (2014), is a conversation where information is produced through a one-to-one interaction

between the researcher and the participant or interviewee. The research subjects were interviewed via

face to face technique. The researchers prepared questions that avoided the use of discriminatory and

offensive language. Along with that, the materials needed for conducting the research were also

prepared as well as the papers needed for jotting down the answers. After that, the interview questions

were finalized and maintained with optimum objectivity throughout the research. Participants were then

selected with voluntary participation from the research site via an availability sampling strategy. Those

who are conveniently accessible and of proximity were chosen as interviewees.

Data Analysis Procedures

           After the instrument was constructed and approved, the data collection procedure began. The

researchers went through different phases or procedures to gain a permit to the principal's office at

Agusan National High School in Butuan City addressed to Mr. DENNIS R. ROA, DPA Principle IV.

Mrs.Jerma P. Odoa served as the study's Research Adviser. Due to the extremely limited contact caused
by the COVID-19 Pandemic and as part of the adaption of the New Normal arrangement, it was

determined that the data collection method or survey for the respondents would be conducted digitally

via Google Forms. The procedure is only circumscribed. The data collection process took place using

Facebook Messenger; a link to the google form was emailed to twenty (20) respondents for this study.

For only a day, the instruments were recovered.

Procedures to Address Trustworthiness & Credibility

           Due to the rising numbers of covid cases, the researchers had adopted a new process of

determining the credibility and trustworthiness of the gathered data. The research would provide

different screenshots from respondents’ survey questionnaires via google forms. This would certify the

authenticity of the data collected regardless of having virtual contacts with the respondents.
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9

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