Distance Education: Lens View of College Students in Southern Philippines

Education must continue. Many forms of e-learning (such as online courses with authentic tasks and computer-supported collaborative learning) have become essential in distance education. A descriptive survey was conducted on 125 college students to explore college students’ profile and perception of distance education in the new normal. The study revealed that most of the respondents were 18-20 years old, 1st-year college, engineering and technology, and General Santos City. Respondents answered open schedule-asynchronous as the top option for the type of distance learning they want to enroll. They will be using smartphones as their device, accessing internet connection at home through prepaid plans.  Respondents expect online enrolment as student support service under distance learning mode, time and money saved to commute and live away from home as the benefit of distance education and would like to enroll in the distance learning program. The majority of the respondents believed that traditional and conventional class is essential. They have a problem with the supply of electricity, internet connection, and financial and teacher-related problems.