Teaching in Transition: How Do Filipino Teachers Face the Migration to Cyberspace amid the Pandemic?

Abstract

Abstract Prior to the pandemic, remote learning in the Philippines was not a widely popular mode of teaching and learning. The COVID-19 health crisis, however, turned such modality into a norm. In this context, this study examined the experiences of Filipino teachers caught in the transition from traditional face-to-face interactions to virtual or distance learning. Findings were drawn from 86 teachers from private and public institutions in the Philippines, whose survey responses were collected online. The results indicate that the transition is seen both as an opportunity for professional growth and as a phase of tremendous challenge for discharging teacher duties. The narratives, however, are dominated by the latter. Logistical constraints brought by limited resources, heavier workload, and the anxiety rooted in the quality of online teaching are some of the challenges that arose. We contend that the perceived suddenness of such need for change, as reflected in these narratives, revealed how alien online learning is to teachers in the broader context. We argue further that the challenges in this transition are rooted in decades-long underinvestment in distance learning evidenced by the inadequate information and communication infrastructures in the country. This failure to invest in digital modality may suggest a lack of foresight about the power of technology in streamlining educational processes and improving outcomes under different settings and circumstances.