LEARNING PREFERENCES AND VACCINATION STATUS OF STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY INSTITUTION: BASIS FOR FLEXIBLE LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION 2.0

The objective of this study is to determine the learning preferences and vaccination status of students from a local college in Olongapo City, Philippines. The investigators employed a descriptive-survey research among 5,021 students who were currently enrolled in the academic year of 2021-2022.  Results show that 94.7% prefer online mode of learning; 79.7% show intention to enroll for the next semester of the new academic year; however only 51.7% of the students wanted a face-to-face class and 61.4% of the students’ parents/guardian approve their son/daughter to attend face-to-face classes. In terms of vaccination status, 95.3% of the students have their vaccinations shots already (fully vaccinated) and Pfizer was the brand of choice of the 38% students. The study concluded that students are still prefer online mode of learning. Also, majority of the students were fully vaccinated. The study recommends continue and enhance the implementation of flexible learning of the institution

From Face-to-Screen to Face-to-Face Learning: Students’ Vaccination Status and Willingness for Blended Learning Modality

The trend of transitioning back to face-to-face classes from an online, virtual, distance learning and other learning modality during the time of pandemic has started in the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the vaccination status, willingness of the students for the resumption of face-to-face classes as well as parental support or approval of the reopening of in-campus classes. Descriptive design is used in this study with the use of online survey as the primary data gathering method. Using a convenience sampling technique, it garnered 1137 responses at a local college in the Olongapo City, Philippines. Based on the survey result, 84.3% of the students are fully vaccinated with one booster shot while 9.4% are fully vaccinated as of the rollout of this survey. Exactly 50% of the students are willing for the resumption of face-to-face classes, 7.7% are willing with the intention to get vaccinated for the resumption of face-to-face classes. It may seem to have low willingness among the student but among respondents, of about 17.2%, are graduating students, will transfer to another school, and will stop for the next academic year. In terms of parental support and/or approval for the resumption of classes, 64.4% of the parents and guardians showed support to the resumption of in-campus face-to-face classes. Lastly, the result of this survey will serve as an input and basis for the preparation of the academic year 2022-2023 for the blended learning modality with shifting schedule of face-to-face classes

Readiness of Faculty and Staff for Alternative Work Arrangements: Implications for a Hybrid Workforce Model

The Pandemic thrust the workforce in the private and public sectors into alternative work arrangements. For higher education institutions in the Philippines, it was a sudden shift to a flexible learning modality to ensure continuity of learning. This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed the readiness of 219 faculty and 69 staff in a local college for alternative work arrangements in terms of access to transportation, their health condition, information technology resources, connectivity, and their preferences in terms of alternative work arrangements. Results show that most respondents use public transportation to work and a minor percentage have medical conditions that make them susceptible to the COVID-19 virus. The top information technology (I.T) resources available to the respondents at home are smartphones/iPhones, laptops, and printers. Most have intermittent internet connectivity, with DSL/Fiber Connectivity and mobile data the most common types. Finally, the majority believe they can work from home, given the nature of their duties. However, more respondents prefer a hybrid work arrangement to a full-time work-from-home placement. The researchers presented some essential implications for a hybrid workforce model at the end of the paper