PE and NSTP go virtual amid COVID-19

Changes in instructing Physical Education (PE) and National Service Training Program (NSTP) classes were faced by the professors and students as online classes amid the new normal started last August 5.

In the old normal, various physical activities were done in the Immaculate Heart Gymnasium (IHG) for PE, including warm-up and light to moderate workout exercises. Students also produced and performed their own dances using these exercises as their dance steps. Some were done outside the premises, like the Physical Activity Log (PA LOG) which was one of the final requirements for students that required at least 150 minutes of  workout and was done weekly.

The department has since pursued alternatives to comply with the new normal. PE coaches oriented the students that there will be synchronous and asynchronous classes. They explained that even if there are no face to face classes, they will still teach the appropriate lessons by coaching the students in various physical activities covered by the course through Zoom, Google Meet, and MS Teams.

Submission of video clips, written outputs, and examinations through Canvas are their basis in grading the students. 

For the first semester, coaches will still instruct the students in doing the proper stretching before the discussion during their synchronous classes. 

The activities to be done for this semester are Dead Bug Series, Press Up, Push Up and Squats, Plank Series, and Locomotor Skills, but in the form of a video documentation. There will still be major examinations according to the coaches, although they are not yet sure how they will be executed. 

Meanwhile, according to a facilitator of the NSTP course, the students who took Literacy Training Service (LTS) for the past year/s were able to teach pupils in some public schools who have difficulties in literacy. Due to the pandemic, however, there is no assurance that this will happen for this semester. 

The instructors ensured the students that the purpose of this course will remain rigid as they prepare disparate activities such as doing videos and slogans.

According to some Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) students, the new ways of instruction have advantages. They will be having their own phase wherein they can decide on when they will answer their modules, they can read the lessons posted in Canvas in advance, and they can also get a recording video of the discussion if they missed an online conference due to reasonable situations as long as the assigned professor is aware.  

Disadvantages also occur such as unreliability of internet connection, the complications in student portals and other educational applications, and the students missing the chance to meet their new classmates and instructors.

LAYOUT BY: Cristine Joie Q. Bacud

PHOTO SOURCE(S):Yugantar Sambhangphe, Holy Angel University, Canvas