Byaheng Klasroom: A qualitative study of the implementation and learning experience of students and teachers of UP- Manila and UST on the shift to limited face-to-face classes

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has disturbed the education systems worldwide. The students have been instructed to do online classes while the pandemic was still on its peak. After years of conducting online classes, the government had allowed schools to reopen and conduct face to face learning based on their capacity. As a result, the learning experience and learning outcome of students may vary depending on the implementation of classes. The researchers gathered data through conducting focus group discussions for the students and questionnaires for the teachers which is used as a means to triangulate. All participants in this study have experienced either attending or conducting face to face classes this Academic Year 2022-2023. Moreover, this study used a grounded theory to analyze the schools’ implementation of the switch to face-to-face classes and its impact on the learning experience of college students in University of Santo Tomas (UST) and University of the Philippines Manila (UPM). Furthermore, a constant comparative method was used to differentiate the implementation of the two schools.The research found out that students' learning experiences and outcomes may differ depending on how classes are implemented. As a result, students' learning experiences may suffer. In terms of their schools’ implementation of conducting face to face classes, it was found out that UST had better policies regarding the transition towards face to face learning.These best practices of UST can be replicated by other schools in order for them to not encounter issues along the way and that students’ learning experience would not be jeopardized. Policy makers can use this as a guide in creating guidelines for the complete conduct of face to face classes.