I.

Context and Rationale

Globally, not only the economy was devastated by the COVID-19

pandemic but the education sector as well. Government around the world close
their doors to face-to-face classes. Specifically, the Philippine government,
orders the cancellation of classes and other school activities for the remaining
weeks of the School Year (SY) 2019 - 2020.
With the directive of the Secretary of Education, Leonor Magtolis Briones,
to find ways for learning to continue in a safe and healthy environment amid
COVID-19 for SY 2020 - 2021, distance learning was implemented.
Distance Learning refers to a learning delivery modality, where learning
takes place between the teacher and the learners who are geographically remote
from each other during instruction. This modality has three types: Modular
Distance Learning (MDL), Online Distance Learning (ODL), and TV/Radio-Based
Instruction.
Modular learning is the most popular type of Distance Learning (Quinones,
2020).
In the Philippines, this learning modality is currently used by all public
schools because according to a survey conducted by the Department of
Education (DepEd), learning through printed and digital modules emerged as the
most preferred distance learning method of parents with children who are
enrolled this academic year (Dangle and Sumaoang, 2020).
According to Nardo (2017), the use of modules encourages independent
study, develops a sense of responsibility, and they are learning how to learn;
they are empowered. Also, students learn to reflect on their experiences, thus
developing new skills, attitudes, and ways of thinking. Moreover, experiential
learning trains students to be responsible for their learning because they are
involved in active roles for learning.
 However, the use of modules has also its downsides. A recent study
shows that most of the learners are having difficulty in this new learning modality,
90% of the participants had a hard time answering their modules, half of them do
not have enough time to accomplish all their modules within a week. Additionally,
the subject that they are having the greatest difficulty with is Mathematics.

This is also evident in Lourdes Integrated School - High School Department.

It has been observed that Grade 7 students who do not have any means to
communicate with the teachers for instructional needs perform very poorly in
Mathematics as shown by their first quarterly grades. This can be verified by
evaluating the students' activity notebook. Mostly, activities are skipped and
some are not complete. Two (2) students give up and dropped themselves from
school.
It is the responsibility of the teacher/s to assist and clarify the instructional
queries of the students promptly without endangering the safety of each
individual. Thus, the proponents will be using a two-way radio to bridge the
communications of the teachers and learners. This project intended to cater to
the instructional needs of learners towards modular learning delivery amidst a
pandemic where internet connectivity, availability of mobile phones, instructional
assistance from parents, and home visitation are not an option.

II. Action Research Questions

The study aimed to answer the following research questions:

1. Is there any difference in learners 1st quarter and 2nd quarter grades after
utilizing the two way radio?
III. Proposed Innovation, Intervention, and Strategy

A two-way radio innovation is used to bridge the communications between

the teacher and learners.

IV. Action Research Methods

This action research utilized the experimental design since its main
purpose is to determine the effectiveness of two-way radio and its possible effect
to the 2nd quarter grades of leaners. The participant was delimited to the Grade 7
students of Lourdes Integrated School, Division of Valencia City, School Year
2020 - 2021. The five (5) students were purposively chosen based on their
performances on the 1st grading period. These are the students who perform
very poorly in Mathematics and do not have any means of communicating with
the teacher.

After seeking the approval of the said innovation from the principal, the
teacher-researcher started the experiment for 8 weeks. The teacher monitor,
discuss and attend to the queries of the students promptly.
The mean and the standard deviation were used to determine the level of
performance of the learners, while the t-test, specifically paired sample t test will
be employed to determine the significant difference of the mean scores on 1st
and 2nd quarter grades of the learners.

V. Action Research Work Plan and Timelines

Activity Date of Person Involved Budgetary

Implementation Requirement