DepEd Commons is a virtual learning platform developed by the agency to address the problem of physical classes due to COVID-19.
Checking in the new DepEd Commons project
With the COVID-19 outbreak paralyzing the education system in almost every country worldwide, the idea of going virtual has been an option in some countries. Just recently, the Department of Education announced the launching of its DepEd Commons project, an online platform developed for virtual lessons to be used by public school teachers nationwide.
The project is still on its trial stage and is not yet on a compulsory implementation. A possible option if the suspension of classes in the country gets extended due to the existing outbreak.
Benefits of virtual learning
Virtual learning is quite new to the education system in the Philippines, though it is possible since the technology is readily available, the biggest obstacle to this is affordability. Admittedly, most of the families sending children to public schools belong to the below and within the poverty line, which means, access to technology such as gadgets and internet connections will be a major problem.
But DepEd Commons does have its advantages and perks that make it a project worth considering and work on. Here we list three of the most relevant reasons why this project should push through.
- No need for physical contact. Everything is virtual and can be accessed by the internet. This is very timely right now with the suspension of classes due to COVID-19. Internet access being available to most areas of the country makes the project easy to access, even at home. Might be more effective in urban areas compared to rural school areas.
- Parents’ supervision. Since the platform can be accessed while at home, parents can now oversee their children as they attend their virtual classes. It also promotes interaction between parents and children, which can help improve their parental bond.
- Comfortable and Innovative. Virtual learning is usually practiced in affluent countries where students prefer doing homeschooling rather than being in actual physical classes. Studying in virtual classes gives children on the lower economic strata the comfort only the rich can afford. With the internet, faster download and access to information are possible. Any questions can be answered directly by just a few clicks, as well as data from different sources can be accessed quickly.
Stay tuned for more updates on the implementation of the DepEd Commons project soon.
Featured image by DepEd
