STUDY NOTEBOOK

LEARNING DELIVERY MODALITIES COURSE 2

MODULE 2:
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
(MELCs)
MODULE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this Module, you will be able to:

1. explain the background and development of the MELCs

2. unpack the MELCs

3. combine related competencies into learning objectives

MODULE CONTENT:

Lesson 1. Background, Rationale, and Development of MELCs

Lesson 2. Unpacking and Combining MELCs into Learning Objectives LAC Session 2

LESSON 1: BACKGROUND, RATIONALE, AND DEVELOPMENT OF MELCS

ACTIVITY 1.
Answer the following reflective questions in your Study Notebook:
 1. The closure of schools around the world due to the global pandemic posed serious challenges on the delivery
of quality basic education. As a teacher, what do you think are the fundamental concerns in terms of
curriculum standards that need to be addressed in order to ensure learning continuity? Cite a specific
example. Do you think these concerns could be solved by teachers alone? Why or why not?

With this global pandemic we have today, this make education for children more difficult to achieve. As a
teacher. The best way to address the problem is adapt this new normal learning by shifting to distance or modular
learning. With this strategy, we can ensure learning continuity. This concerns are not alone but also with the
collaboration of all the DepEd forces teaching and non-teaching personnel. And ofcourse through parents’
learners and stake holders support.

2. Even prior to the spread of COVID-19 that eventually led to the closure of schools nationwide, the congested
curriculum has been a perennial problem of teachers (Andaya, 2018). This is perceived to be one of the
hindering factors on the poor performance of Filipino learners. Do you agree with this observation? Why or
why not?

I totally agree to this. In the Department of Education several curriculums had been laid and adapt for the
purpose of achieving higher standard education and can produce a globally competitive learner. The purpose of
the curriculum is solely to achieve a higher standard of education and to produce competitive learners. But due to
its congested nature, students cannot cope up with it and more often than not, teachers find it hard and time
consuming to teach all these competencies which seem to be repetitive and redundant resulting to poor
performance of the learners as well as the teachers.

ACTIVITY 2

1. What are the general and specific purposes of the development of MELCs?
The MELCs is a part of the the department’s response to develop resilient education systems, especially during
emergencies and will enable DepEd to focus instruction on the “most essential and indispensable” competencies.
The MELC is developed to allow students to study based on their abilities to learn skills or competencies at their
own pace. The Department of Education’s Bureau of Curriculum development developed MELCs to cope with the
extreme change in the educational atmosphere due to Covid 19 pandemic. MELCs can be used as a mechanism to
ensure education continuity.
2. How does curriculum review aid in the identification of essential learning competencies?
It can identify the gaps issues and concerns moreover areas of improvement that would enhance the
learning engagement, experience and outcomes were identified and consequence solutions were
recommended. In addition, it analyzes the interconnectedness of prerequisite knowledge and skills among
the learning competencies for each subject area.

3. What is the difference between essential learning competencies and desirable learning competencies?
Essential learning competencies are defined as what the students need, considered indispensable, in the
teaching-learning process to building skills to equip learners for subsequent grade levels and subsequently, for
lifelong learning. On the other hand, desirable learning competencies were defined as what may enhance
education but may not necessary in building foundational skills.
 4. How were the most essential learning competencies identified? What were the decisions made in order to
trim down the number of the essential learning competencies further?

The MELCs were identified according to the gaps, issues and concerns across learning areas and grade levels.
The decisions were made due to the limited number of school days and the absence of face-to-face instructions at
this time of pandemic. Hence, narrowing down the learning competencies is the best option the DepEd has come
up with.

5. What is the importance of the MELCs in ensuring the delivery of quality instruction?
MELCs serves as a teacher guides in preparing our lesson (weekly home learning plan and instructional
materials (Self-Learning Modules. The MELCs are made aligned with the national/local standards, applicable to
real-life and are the most essential competencies that students are expected to learn despite this pandemic. The
Department of Education has made sure that with limited resources, time, and the absence of face-to-face
instructions, learners would still get the the necessary competencies the need to acquire through these MELCs.

ACTIVITY 3
Prepare a copy of your learning area’s original K-12 Curriculum Guide and corresponding list of MELCs. Go to
the sections of the curriculum guide and MELCs that are relevant to your instructional needs. Copy and accomplish
the following table in your Study Notebook and compare the two documents to determine which learning
competencies were retained, dropped, or merged.

GRADE-2 ARALING PANLIPUNAN

K TO 12 LEARNING
MELCS
COMPETENCIES
8.nailalarawan ang panahon at kalamidad 7. Nailalarawan ang panahon at kalamidad
na nararanasan sa sariling komunidad na nararanasan sa sariling komunidad
8.1 nasasabi ang ibat’ ibang uri ng
panahong nararanasan sa sariling
komunidad(tag-ulan, tag-init)
8.2 natutukoy ang mga natural na
kalamidad o sakunang madalas maganap
sa sariling komunidad
8.3 nakakukuha ng impormasyon tungkol
Merged/clustered
sa mga epekto ng kalamidad sa kalagayan
ng mga anyong lupa, anyong tubig at sa
mga tao sa sariling komunidad
8.4 nasasabi ang mga wastong
gawain/pagkilos sa tahanan at paaralan sa
panahon ng kalamidad
8.5 nasasabi kung paano ibinabagay ng
mga tao sa panahon ang kanilang kasuotan
at tirahan
4. Naiuugnay ang tungkulin at gawain ng Naiuugnay ang tungkulin at gawain ng mga
RETAINED mga bumubuo ng komunidad sa sarili at bumubuo ng komunidad sa sarili at sariling
sariling pamilya AP2KOM-Ic-4 pamilya
DROPPED 7. Nailalarawan ang sariling komunidad
gamit ang mga simbolo sa payak na
mapa
 7.1 natutukoy ang lokasyon ng mga
mahahalagang lugar sa sariling
komunidad batay sa sariling
tahanan o paaralan
7.2 natutukoy ang lokasyon ng mga
mahahalagang lugar sa sariling
komunidad batay sa lokayson nito
sa sariling tahanan o paaralan
7.3 nailalarawan ang mgaanyong lupa
at tubig sa sariling komunidad
AP2KOM-Id-e-7

ACTIVITY 4
In your LAC Session, discuss and share your answers to Activities 1-3 in this lesson. Discuss any questions about the
MELCs that need clarification as well. Share your thoughts and let your co-teachers articulate their insights regarding
your questions. Jot down all the insights shared in the discussion, including your own, in your Study Notebook.

LESSON 2: UNPACKING AND COMBINING MELCS INTO LEARNING OBJECTIVES

ACTIVITY 1
1. What is the importance of unpacking and combining the MELCs?
By unpacking and combining the MELCs, we now have a clear path forward. We need to unpacked MELCs to
help us systematize learning activities and effectively address the varying needs of learners and the challenges of
instructional deliveries. This gives up a deeper understanding on how these MELCs are selected. It will be much
helpful for us to plan on how are we going to implement our LCP more efficiently.

2. What considerations must be taken in unpacking and combining the MELCs? Explain each.
Alignment on the Content and Performance Standards – the MELCs are not departure from the standard-
based design. The Most Essential Learning Competencies should be aligned to the content and performance
standards of the all the learning areas and learners needs. We must consider this to achieve a quality teaching
output.

3. Do all the MELCs need to be unpacked or combined? Why or why not?

The teacher may unpack or combined the MELCs depends on sequence of the lesson, the progress and needs
of learners as long as the content and standard will be achieved. Unpacking the MELCs are essential in order to
have a systematic learning activity so that the competencies needed by the learners are not congested or
repetitive.

ACTIVITY 2
1. Form a group of four members within your LAC, preferably with fellow teachers in your respective learning
area.
2. Using the curriculum guide and a list of the MELCs, choose MELCs in the first quarter and unpack these into
learning objectives.
3. Each team will present their unpacked learning objectives. Discussion and processing will follow each
presentation. Suggestions and insights from each group will be considered in enhancing the learning
objectives.
Repeat the above process but instead of unpacking, each team will now combine at least two MELCs of their choice.
Group deliberation will be observed in order to arrive at a consensus. Discuss and jot down the synthesis of the
presentations in your Study Notebook.