CNU - JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION

From Striving to Thriving: Understanding the Resilience Frameworks and Practices of Educational Leaders during the COVID-19 Crisis

Ray Ferdinand Gagani — 2024-06-03

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly transformed education systems worldwide, presenting unprecedented challenges for educational leaders. This paper is a Heideggerian phenomenology which implements Van Manen's phenomenological methodology. The research delves into the resilience frameworks employed by educational leaders amidst the unparalleled challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. Through the lens of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study elucidates the nuanced experiences of educational leaders as they navigated the tumultuous terrain of the pandemic. By employing qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this study uncovers the experiential characterization of resiliency in the context of education based on the experiential narratives of the informants. The research reveals elements that characterize resiliency in leadership in higher education institutions through the education leaders' persistence in navigating uncertainty, resourcefulness and innovation, agility and creativity, efficient communication, adaptability, and supportive behavior. It was concluded that these elements have a leadership character as a manifestation of resiliency that promotes persistence in maintaining organizational activities and innovations in times of unprecedented challenges. The findings of this research may shed light on the pathways from mere surviving to thriving amidst adversity and challenges in the education niche. Through the exploration of lived experiences and sense-making processes, this study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of resilience within the educational leadership context but also offers practical insights and recommendations for fostering resilience in educational settings amidst crisis.

Modeling the Economic Growth of the Philippines with Structural Change: A Case of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jacque Bon Isaac Aboy — 2024-06-03

The structural change brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in the behavior of economic growth in the Philippines is not yet fully analyzed and understood. This paper answers whether the pandemic caused a regime switch in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines, and if it is cointegrated with the Peso-Dollar exchange rate, import, and the Philippine stock market, in the presence of a structural break. The period used is from the 1st quarter of 2012 until the 1st quarter of 2022. An ARDL model is then proposed that describes a linear relationship between the variables. Results from the analyses show that the variables are cointegrated with a structural break in the first quarter of 2020 using the Gregory-Hansen test of cointegration with regime shifts. However, the structural change does not have a significant relationship with GDP based on the long-run coefficients in the proposed model. Findings suggest that policymakers should monitor and adapt economic policies for structural changes and utilize econometric models sensitive to events that significantly disrupt the dynamic behavior of the economy of the country.

Graphic Organizers Pedagogy and Retention Skills of Students with Intellectual Disability: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Inquiry

Jerrianne Mae Bacarro — 2024-06-03

Retention is the capacity to hold information in the mind. It is crucial for learning, especially in transferring knowledge to long-term memory. This study examines the impact of Graphic Organizers (G.Os) on information retention among students with intellectual disabilities (I.D.) at Guadalupe SPED Center in Cebu City, Philippines. Using purposive sampling, ten (10) students with I.D. enrolled in the upper-level SPED center were selected and divided equally into control and experimental groups. A pretest-posttest design, validated lesson plan with G.Os, assessment questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews were employed. Results show significant benefits of graphic organizers, including improved comprehension, enhanced memory retention, increased appreciation for visual learning, and a preference for these methods over conventional pedagogy as themes emerged. Several recommendations are derived to optimize the use of G.Os for students with I.D. Teachers should increase the number of item questions to assess G.O. effectiveness better and seek regular feedback from students to refine their use. Given the positive effects on retention, teachers are encouraged to incorporate lesson exemplars with G.Os into English instruction.

Wikang Filipino: Wikang Mapagbangon

Maria Fe Hicana — 2024-06-03

Ang papel na ito ay binasa sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino noong 2023. Minodipika ang ilang bahagi upang umayon sa pormat ng Sourcebook. Sa bahaging ito, dinalumat sa pamamagitan ng analohiya ang estado ng wikang Filipino mula simula hanggang sa pagbangon pagkatapos ng pandemya sa apat na dimensiyon: politikal, kultural, sosyal, at sikolohikal. Ukol sa kaliwanagan ng wikang Filipino, inilahad ang epistemolohiyang kalikasan nito sa ikalawang bahagi ng papel. Binalangkas ang talakay sa pamamagitan ng tatsulok at pinatungan ng baligtad na tatsulok. Inilatag ang limang premise: (1) Wika bilang Instrumento at Pamamahagi ng Kaalaman, (2) Pagsusuri at Interpretasyon, (3) Konstruksyon ng Katotohanan, (4) Pag-usbong ng Diskurso, at (5) Sosyal na Konteksto. Panghuli, ay dinalumat ang praksis (praxis) ng wikang Filipino bilang wikang mapagbangon sa bagong kadawyan. Tinahip ang dalawang praksis. Una, binigyang-diin ang husay ng wika ay nasa taong gumagamit nito. Sumunod, ang wika ay may katutubong kakayahan. Sa madaling salita, ang kalayaan ng ating wika ay nakasalalay sa ating mga taong gumagamit. Sa pamitawan ng papel na ito, nilagom ang wikang Filipino bilang isang wikang mapagbangon na nagdaan sa mga hamon ng kasaysayan at patuloy na lumalago. Isang malaking patunay nating mga Pilipino na ang ating lakas at katatagan ay hindi matitinag lalo na sa pagmamahal sa ating kultura at pagkakakilanlan. Bilang panawagan, maniwala sana tayo na sa pagkilala at pagsasabuhay sa kapangyarihan ng ating wikang pambansa ay pinapahalagahan natin ang mayamang kasaysayan ng ating bansa.

Evaluating the Impact of Braille Signage on Wayfinding System: A Phenomenological Study of Campus Accessibility for Students with Visual Impairments

Irene Bacalla — 2024-06-03

Accessibility within educational institutions poses significant challenges for students with visual impairments, particularly in navigation. This study evaluates the impact of a Braille signage wayfinding system on enhancing campus accessibility for students with visual impairments. Using a phenomenological approach, the study focused on the experiences of three (3) college students with visual impairments before and after implementing the Braille signage wayfinding system at a higher education institution in Cebu, Philippines. A semi-structured questionnaire with open-ended questions was employed to gather data, which was then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed three key themes: (1) difficulties faced when navigating without the Braille signage wayfinding system; (2) positive feedback on the Braille signage's readability and placement; and (3) overall positive impact on the students' ability to navigate independently. In theme 1, participants described challenges such as difficulty identifying rooms, encountering obstacles, and getting lost due to the absence of navigational aids. In theme 2, students highlighted the effectiveness of the Braille signage, noting the raised and clear dots, appropriate placement, and its contribution to their navigation. In theme 3, students shared how the system increased their independence, reduced anxiety, and allowed them to familiarize themselves with routes and obstacles. The study recommends adding indicators for left-side placement of Braille signage, installing markers on vacant rooms to avoid confusion, and expanding the Braille signage system campus-wide to promote a more inclusive and accessible learning environment.