NEWS FEATURES| #UPNotReady: First week struggles of UPM students
By Elaine Diaz
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (UP) System pushed through with the opening of classes for the academic year 2020–2021 last September 10 amidst concerns on the creation of course packs and the evident digital divide. After the first week, UP Manila students call for #UPNotReady citing the problems and difficulties posed by online classes such as internet connectivity, lack of access to software resources (UP Mail, SAIS, Canvas), as well as unreasonable workload.
Problems with the Online Set-up
Upon the opening of classes, freshmen students’ SAIS credentials, UP mail, and Canvas accounts were still not ready. A freshmen student shared that the lack of SAIS credentials caused problems in their schedules resulting in difficulties contacting their professors.
Faculty members were also not exempted from facing problems imposed by this new set-up. Their capability to conduct online classes, conference calls, navigate classroom-based applications, and messaging applications tested their technological literacy and dictated how they should approach their classes.
Despite the plans of the UPM administration to limit the number of Learning Management System (LMS) to two platforms, Canvas and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), students noted that some professors still prefer to utilize other LMS platforms which run a more user-friendly interface.
Meanwhile, another burden was passed down to the UPM community as the UP System Information Technology Development Center issued the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) emphasizing the use of software resources under UP solely for official academic and administrative purposes. The AUP states that “Users may not use the IT System for personal activities not related to appropriate University functions except in a purely incidental manner. Violators shall suffer a penalty ranging from suspension for one month to one year.”
Various organizations and students stated that it removes the right to education of students especially with the online set-up.
In a Facebook post, the UP Office of Student Regent expressed their concern on the release of the AUP stating that it is “insensitive for students who are depending on the the services that our UP accounts can offer at a time when online means are the only way for us to be able to communicate and learn with each other.”
First Week Experiences
Aside from aforementioned challenges, students also voiced out their concerns on the unreasonable workload furthered by internet connectivity problems.
“It’s really hard. We weren’t given any time to adjust and what’s happening isn’t really online class but self-study with lots of requirements, “ a student explained.
Furthermore, students also pointed out the ineffectiveness of the asynchronous classes implemented. They argued that as students were left to understand the lessons on their own, the quality of education they receive is at stake.
“Having few synchronous sessions is NOT the proper response to connectivity problems. Recorded lectures are better alternatives rather than having an outcome-based curriculum that does not foster learning. It only teaches students to pass requirements without actually learning anything,” a student lamented. “Recorded lectures that can be accessed by students any time is a better alternative for students to learn without the problems caused by synchronous sessions instead of piling readings and requirements for the so called “asynchronous sessions.”
Failure to address obligations
Amidst the struggles with online classes, others pointed out that the online blended learning set-up proposed by the UP administration failed to recognize that students come from different socio-economic statuses. Moreover, the students hold the government accountable for its inadequate response to ensure the safe resumption of face-to-face classes.
“Academic freeze is yet a compromising solution and it will affect those people who cannot opt to delay their education, some personnels and faculty will lose their source of living, and it will only let the government be as lenient to solving the main problem because of the “free time” the academic freeze will impose. The right call should be making the government accountable for this mistake. We can resume our classes if all students are ready and all their problems are addressed. No student should be left behind, ” a student emphasized.
On the other hand, demands for the UP system to consider the well-being and preparedness of faculty and students were also reiterated.
“UP should open classes when they know that the faculty and students are really ready. It has been just a week but now, students are overworked because it’s all going really fast.”
