The Big Shift: Examining Practices, Challenges, and Coping Mechanisms of Teachers and Students in Transitioning to Modular Distance Learning

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic threat, the Department of Education (DepEd) established the Basic Education - Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) to allow students to continue their education and teachers to conduct instruction in a safe working and learning environment. As a result, DepEd implemented the distance learning approach, including Modular Distance Learning (MDL), for the School Year 2020-2021. This paper investigated the practices, challenges, and coping mechanisms of teachers and students involved in the implementation of the MDL in Schools Division of Laoag City. This qualitative research utilized semi-structured interview guide to collect data from 20 teachers and 20 learners from elementary, junior high and senior high schools. Using the phenomenological study, data were analyzed and organized into themes. The study's major themes revealed that teachers and students began familiarizing themselves with the features of MDL but encountered challenges such as printing, distribution, and retrieval of modules, as well as monitoring of student progress on the part of the teacher and answering overloaded activities on the part of the students. They claimed, however, that they have unique coping mechanisms in dealing with the identified challenges by resolving issues independently and seeking help from family and colleagues. Finally, the Modular Distance Learning Adoption Framework (MDLAF) was developed and validated for teachers and students to effectively adopt MDL. The researchers recommended that relevant scaffolding such as capacity building, counseling and instructional support be provided to both teachers and students to effectively adopt different learning modalities such as MDL.

Biosystematics of Damselflies Zygoptera: Odonata of Pakistan

Damselflies or Zygoptera, an important group of predators and biodiversity indicator, has been neglected in Pakistan. Partially to redress this, damselflies were collected from various localities of Pakistan during 2004 – 2008. A total of 1061 damselflies collected, yielding 51 species in 26 genera and 5 families. Eight species, namely; Libellago lineata lineata, Libellago greeni, Protosticta hearseyi, Coeliccia vacca, Cylonolestes cyanea, Ellatoneura souteri, Ellatoneura campioni and Ellatoneura atkinsoni are recorded for the first time from Pakistan. A new species of Indocnemis ahmedi sp. nov. is described from Nouseri (AJK) and Dasu (N.W.F.P). All species incorporated into key are illustrated by their valid names, synonyms, measurement of body parts (abdomen, forewing and hindwing length), habitat description, sex ratio of collected specimens with their dates of collection, distribution range, differential characters from published description for new records to country and comprehensive characters description for new to science specimen has been provided. The known distribution of all the species is also updated. A map is provided of the distribution of each of them. Biodiversity indices study indicates that it was comparatively higher in AJ&K as compared to Punjab, N.W.F.P, Baluchistan, Sindh and Northern areas respectively. Comparison of all the collected damselflies was done on area basis as well as on time period basis. Results revealed significant diferences among 3 species and non-significant in 30 species on area basis. On time period basis, 33 species showed decreased length and 17 species showed increase in length. Sex ratio for whole collection was also calculated and it was found female biased.