Students' Lived Experiences on Blended Learning, Allied Health Sciences, University of Bohol, Tagbilaran City

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the way schools operate in ways never seen before. Students and schools demonstrated they could adjust and keep going even when they faced financial difficulties, health hazards, and sudden changes in their everyday lives. The crisis is still ongoing, but it has also led to fresh ideas and long-lasting changes in how schools operate. As the number of infections changed, governments all over the world used different strategies to stop the virus from spreading. In the Philippines, maintaining access to quality education during lockdowns meant modifying rules and finding new ways to navigate the "new normal." The Department of Education (DepEd) set up various forms of distance learning, such as blended learning, to ensure learning could continue. DepEd describes this modality as a combination of face-to-face instruction and one or more methods, such as online learning, modular learning, and TV or radio-based instruction. This approach sought to reduce physical interaction, support social distancing, and help manage the movement of people outside their homes. Within this context, the present study explored the lived experiences of students enrolled in allied health programs at the University of Bohol during the implementation of blended learning in SY 2020–2021. The study also aimed to propose enhancement strategies that could strengthen the University’s adoption of blended learning moving forward. Using a qualitative design, data were gathered through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide that encouraged participants to share their insights through open-ended questions. As such, the responses were primarily descriptive and non-numerical. The research focused on students from four allied health courses-Midwifery, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy-to provide a rich, contextual understanding of how blended learning shaped their academic experiences during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.