POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Chapter I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

The world has been facing Coronavirus disease and has produced exceptional

challenges, particularly in Educational sectors. In the Educational context, to give a quality

education despite of the lockdown policy implemented by the government, the New Normal

Education arises. It should be put in consideration in order to continue the teaching-learning

process of an individual. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, different answers were presented by

many countries to be able to start the school year 2020-2021 – providing online sessions.

Online learning platforms such as Google, TV Broadcast, guidelines, resources,

video lectures, and online channels were introduced in the new normal education

(UNESCO, 2020). In Higher Education, students are exposed in the new normal way of

learning wherein they are involved in virtual meetings. The Commission on Higher Education

proposed to toughen online platforms such as but not limited to Google classroom,

messenger, zoom, Edmodo, Facebook, and YouTube (CHED, 2020). It is clearly stated that

learning should not be limited only for using these online platforms because not all students

are capable to have the strong internet connection. This is one of the challenges

encountered by the students in today’s new normal education.

In the New Normal Education, the way of teaching and learning is far different from

the way how it used to be wherein there is a face to face interaction among teachers and

students, unlike in the situation today teachers and students are doing virtual meetings.

According to Cottle (2020), as the remote learning trend like from the traditional face to face
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class to online mode of learning real quick, learning strategy has been the primary way to

cope up and still continue learning process. Students become more flexible and adaptable

because they acquire the ability to become more independent enough. Since the online

learning can turned out into synchronous and asynchronous, students can learn anytime

and anywhere. Additionally, this will be a great potential for them to become comfortable in

studying and allows them to grow individually. Most of the students are now experiencing

problems on how they will manage their time and also what will be the strategies that will

easily help them to learn in this kind of situation. Looking at how students encountered

problems and struggling on how they will cope up in the new normal education, how come to

those students who are studying and working at the same time.

Combining working with academic study is very typical nowadays. It is becoming a

normal phenomenon in every school and university in the country. Most of the students who

are engaged in part-time working are college students (Amour, 2019). Basically, they are

looking for jobs to cushion their needs during this pandemic with much demands need.

Student’s job become a sort of trend for those students who want to work while studying to

meet their needs and cope up with the constant increase of living cost. Previous studies

shown that working while studying can be beneficial for the students, it will help them to

gained experiences that will serve as a good background for them when they start to work

after graduation. Additionally, it is a good way for them to improve their time management

skills. Working student needs to master their time management skills as they balance to

study and work at the same time.

Time management can be one of the difficulties encountered by the students when

they are juggling work and school. Time management can be draw as an act of arranging

your schedule in a way that you achieve your goals efficiently and effectively (Chen, 2011).
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In the case of the working students, working while studying in college helps them to prioritize

their time. It is their way to survive in college as they study and work at the same time. Time

management is creating your timetable that will help you to be able to have routines for

studying. It is a to-do-list for which you are making every minute and second worthy and

efficient. Furthermore, using time efficiently allows students to accomplish more in less time

since their focus is not wasting their time.

As we get into higher level of education, it more requires deeper understanding and

effort to be exerted in learning. Education seems to have development that leads to have

new strategy that will promote, encourage and strengthen learning, providing more

meaningful and enriching experience for the different stakeholders in the process (Carillo,

2012). Learning strategy is for student’s strategy in acquiring and gaining knowledge.

Strategies in learning will be essential for the students to cope up with the situation as well

as in understanding a particular lesson. Learning strategy is an approach made by the

students to accomplish a specific task. It is a way for the students to be able to have their

learning setting that will help them to further understand the lesson.

Aside from the time management skills that is needed in order to balance the tasks

and responsibilities of students who work and study at the same time they are also requires

to have a specific learning strategy which will help them to learn and understand a particular

lesson. In an article written by Latheef (2020), human interaction and connection has been

the primary frustrations of online or virtual mode of learning. Professors and students want

the real time engagement rather than online engagement. Moreover, there are learning

strategies that students should take into consideration in today's learning. First strategy that

should acquire is to plan and organize thoughtfully every lesson in order for the students to

run lessons and learning smoothly. Another strategy is to build social interaction not just
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from the teacher itself but also from other students in order for those working students to

have peers that they can talk to whenever there are things need to accomplish and also to

help them boost their socializing skills.

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of time management and the

learning strategies of working college students in the new normal education. To be able to

know the level of time management of the students, the students should effectively using

prioritizing, scheduling and goal setting as a result of an effective time management. The

researcher seeks to find out if these students are effectively managing their time and what

learning strategies they used in order to achieve their goals as they work and study at the

same time. This is also helpful for those working students to cope and learn strategies to

overcome the challenges they encounter in the new normal education. This will also serves

as motivation and inspiration for those non-working students.

Theoretical Framework

This presents the relevant theories in this study, “Time Management and Learning

Strategies of College Working Students in the New Normal Education”.

An article in 2020 posted by Serene stated that there are seven major theories about

time management that are already tested and reviewed. These are the most popular time

management theories that can be a help for all students to be more productive.

Theory of Covey Time Management Matrix. This theory was formulated by

Stephen R. Covey(1989). He popularized this theory on his book entitled “7 Habits of Highly

Effective People,” explaining that managing time itself in this generation is no longer the goal

but addressing where to focus at any particular time. Covey developed a technique on

setting priorities and uses a four quadrant system to categorize each task based on its
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urgency and importance. This will help the learners to choose what tasks need to address

immediately or the tasks that you can delay.

The “Theory of Covey Time Management Matrix” can be very helpful for all the

students, particularly in working students, because it talks about the ways in managing time

effectively and efficiently. This can be a guide for those working students to set priorities,

give more importance for things that are much needed attention, and knowing what should

be put first when juggling time for studying while working. In that way, students who are

working can easily manage their time when they finally know and learn about these

techniques by Covey. This can be a help for all working students to accomplish all the tasks

they needed to comply in a particular subject area.

The Pomodoro Technique. It was developed by Francesco Cirillo and a technique

for time management wherein it is a tool that breaks work into 25-minute sessions to assist

an individual to stay focused and get more done. There are six steps for it to be done, first is

to choose a task; second is to set a timer for 25 minutes; third is work on the task until the

timer goes off, fourth is once the time goes off, check off the item on a piece of paper; fifth is

take a short break and lastly, in every four Pomodoros, take a longer break.

The Pomodoro Technique can be one of the time management that can be very

helpful for working students for them to be able to manage their time effectively and

efficiently. This can be the time management that may be apply by students especially

working students whose most likely to have difficulties in juggling their time as they study

and work at the same time.

The Pickle Jar Theory. It uses metaphor to demonstrate basic point of time

management: an individual must do the foremost important tasks to begin with; otherwise,

you will never get around to them. The metaphor is when you imagine a table in the front
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having an empty pickle jar, some rocks, some pebbles and some sand. The jar represents

the time, the rocks represent the important tasks, the pebbles are less important tasks and

the grains of sand are the unimportant tasks in life. Knowing this theory, an individual must

start with the rocks as it is the most important tasks and the next thing is to pour all the other

tasks based on its importance to be able to fit in the time needed.

The Pickle Jar Theory will help the students to distinguish tasks that are important,

less important and those tasks that are not important. It is very much important for students

specifically for working students to know what tasks should be put first for them to

accomplish what needs to accomplish.

The ABC Method. This method was developed by Alan Lakein, he is the author of

the popular book How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life. It is a strategy on setting

priorities for the tasks that is included in the to-do list. This method makes an individual to

categorize tasks as A, B, and C. For A, these are the important tasks that should be done

right away, B are the tasks that are important but not needed to be done right away while C

are those tasks are not important and have no deadlines.

The ABC Method is a method wherein it will help the learner to set priorities for all

the tasks that is needed to accomplised within a specific time. Learning this strategy can be

a way for an individual to easily distinguish tasks that are more important from those tasks

that are not needed too much attention. It is related to this study through its technique that

can be adapted by students specifically for those working students.

The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule). This 80/20 rule was created by economist

Vilfredo Pareto and this is applicable rule for all area that will be very helpful in managing

time. The Pareto Principle would attest that 20% of the activities tha is being done in a day
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that produces 80% of the outcomes Or, by lessening distractions by 20%, it will increase the

productivity of an individual by 80%.

This Pareto Principle is a technique wherein it will help an individual to manage their

time effectively and efficiently. An individual may choose to produce 80% of the outcomes or

lessening distractions by 20% in this case, every learner can be very productive in way that

they are fulfilling what needs to be done before the deadline.

Parkinson’s Law. It was created by British naval historian and author Cyril

Northcote Parkinson, he mentioned that “work expands so as to fill the time accessible for its

completion”. This technique explains that if a work is needed to be done in a week, it should

be done in a week. It said that an individual is starting to schedule based on the amount of

time they have to accomplish all the tasks before its deadline.

The Parkinson’s Law is a technique for all students so that they can balance their

time as they work and study at the same time. They can apply this technique through

making a plan for all the tasks and responsibilities that they need to accomplish within a day,

week, month, or even in a year. Planning ahead is a way of managing time so that they don’t

need to hurry up things to be accomplished.

The ALPEN Method. This method was introduced by German economist Lothar J.

Seiwer, the ALPEN method’s name is an acronym for German words. There are five steps

to be done in this method, first is to create a to do list before you begin the day; second is to

estimate how long each item will take you; third is allow 40% as “buffer time” things such as

breaks and little tasks, fourth is to prioritize each task and delegate where you can and lastly

is to take notes during the day and check off items as they are completed.

This technique can be used by working students even non-working students for them

to be able to manage their time as well as to practice their time management skills that can
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be one important skills as they get into the field in the future. Aside from learning this

technique, it also enhances one’s ability to handle heavy loads that they may encounter

when working and studying at the same time.

As for the learning strategies, there are four major learning theories that are involved

on how an individual can learn.

Behaviorist Theory. Behaviorist Learning Theory or what we called Behaviorism is

an idea from B.F. Skinner which explains that learning starts through the use of rewards or

punishments. This theory is commonly used in classrooms as an instrument for behavior

management. There are two practices that are involved in this theory, the rote practice and

repetition. Skinner said that rewards can increase the likelihood that a behavior will be

repeated while punishments decrease the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.

This learning theory shows that an individual can learn through receiving a reward or

punishment. An individual who always receive rewards because of his or her action can be

more motivated to do good for the sake of the reward and as for the punishment, an

individual may lessen his or her bad actions that causes him or her to receive a punishment.

It can be a learning strategy for every student to be motivated to learn when they receive

reward as a return for the hard work they have done.

Social Learning Theory. This theory proposed by Albert Bandura (1977) highlighted

about the essentials of observing, modelling, and imitating the behaviour of other people.

Social learning involves two factors which are the environmental and cognitive factors, on

how will these factors interact to affect human learning and behaviour. He also added two

main ideas, which are the mediating processes occur between stimuli & responses and

behaviour takes place from the environment through the process of observational learning.
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The “Social Learning Theory” is a strategy for learning that can be acquire by

students, mostly working students, for them to be able to easily understand the lesson.

Applying this learning theory can be a help for those student who wok and study at the same

time so that they can understand the lesson in a way that they are also making interaction

with their peer groups. Social Learning Theory is a learning strategy that can be very useful

for every individual for them to have a better understanding.

Cognitive Theory. Cognitive Learning Theory is a work from Jean Piaget wherein

he focuses on how mind is involved in the learning process. Piaget relate his idea through

the use of a computer, he explains that a mind is just like a computer wherein it gets all the

idea and information, processes the ideas, then uses all the ideas to produce learning

outputs. He introduced the four stages of development that allows the ability of the learner to

understand abstract and complex ideas.

This theory explains that an individual is learning through his or her mind when they

are starting to takes all the information and process it to have a learning outcomes. It

suggested that some learners rely on what their mind takes and mentally process it to have

a learning. It is related to the study in a way that it tells that learners are continously learning

through his or her mind.

Humanist Theory. Humanist Learning Theory explains that learning is a way to

satisfy an individual’s potential rather than achieving specific learning goals. This theory is

much related to the Maslow’s research on the Hierarchy of Needs which emphasized the

cognitive and affective needs of an individual. It focuses on the self-actualization of every

individual to learn. Learners are assigned to identify their own priorities, goals, set standards

and to assess their own work. Students are the main focus of the Humanist classroom.
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This theory is related to the study wherein it focuses on how an individual learn to

evaluate their own selves. It can be a strategy for students to learn their own potential and

ability as a learner to have a better understanding in every lesson. It will helps student

specifically students who are working and studying at the same time so that they can learn

easily even they are having heavy loads and other responsibilities.

Conceptual Framework

The research paradigm shows how the research will take place through the I-P-O or

the Input-Process-Output system. The input is consisting of the following questions like what

is the level of time management of the working college students in terms of prioritizing,

scheduling and goal setting; what are the learning strategies being used by the working

students; and what are the lived experiences of working students in the new normal

education. On the other hand, the process being used is through survey questionnaires,

conducting an interview and the collected data will undergo analysis, and interpretation. The

results were assessed and interpreted in the output to find out the students’ level of time

management and their learning strategies during this new normal education.
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INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Working College
Survey
Students’ level of time Assessment of
Questionnaire
management in terms of working students’

Prioritizing, Scheduling Interview time management

and Goal Setting and learning

The Lived Experiences

FEEDBACK

Fig 1. Research Paradigm

Assumption of the Study

The data gathered were analyze with the assumptions that the participants of this

study answered the survey questionnaire with all honesty. The researchers also assumed

that the responses of the participants showed that they have an effective time management

and learning strategies during this new normal education.

Statement of the Problem

The general problem of the study is: How do working college students use their time

management and learning strategies in the new normal education?

Specifically, this study sought answers to the following questions:

1. What is the level of time management of the working college students in terms of:

1.1 Prioritizing

1.2 Scheduling

1.3 Goal Setting

2. What are the learning strategies used by working college students to cope in the

New Normal Education?

3. What are the Lived Experiences of working college students in the new normal

education?

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study undertaken to know the level of working college students in managing

their time and what learning strategies they use in the new normal education in Polytechnic

University of the Philippines, Santa Maria Campus. The study was limited only for working
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students who are currently enrolled in the campus in the First semester Academic Year

2020-2021. The researcher conducted a pre-survey to know the number of working students

inside the campus as the respondents of this study.

This study was mainly focused to those working students in Polytechnic University of

the Philippines, Santa Maria Bulacan Campus specifically, from the program of Bachelor of

Secondary Education Major in Mathematics and English and also from Bachelor of Science

in Hospitality Management. The researcher chose the two programs as the respondents of

this study because they know how capable these students in managing time and also in how

will they learn during this pandemic. The researchers were purposively selected 80 random

college students as the respondents of this study. The aim of this study was to determine

the time management and learning strategies of working college students in the new normal

education.

The descriptive research design and phenomenological research design was used in

the study. The instrument that was used in gathering data will be structured interviews and

surveys on time management and learning strategies use by the college working students.

Significance of the Study

This study would benefit those who are directly and even indirectly involved in the

teaching-learning process.

Specifically, the researcher conducted the study to know what are the learning

strategies of working students and students’ level of time management in the new normal

education and its usefulness to school administrator, parents, teachers and researchers,

and of course, to the learners. Hence, the outcome of this study is deemed beneficial to the

following:
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Learners. Through this study, learners will be able to discover different strategies they

should use to learn and to manage their time efficiently and effectively in studying while

working. This study will serve as guide for all working students and also for non-working

students.

Teachers. The first person in the school who can help and encourage the students to

balance their time and use it wisely. It will allow the teachers to have a better understanding

on how a working student is learning while working. It will give them an idea on how a

working student will learn and how they can help them.

Parents. With the finding of this study, parents would have better understanding on how

their child are trying to learn while working in the school. This will help them to show support

and motivate their child to achieve their goals.

School Administrators. The results of this study will serve as a guide for the administration

to be aware on how working students learn. It can give them ideas to help the teachers to

understand those students who are working. It can also encourage them to have ideas on

how they are going to teach in a certain techniques.

Researchers. To gain information and to become knowledgeable on what are the problems

in the field of education and it is also a great help to the future researchers. This study will

serve as a reference and foundation for their future studies.

Definition of Terms

To have full understanding of this study, the following terms are defined operationally

as needed in this study:

Education – it refers to the process of acquiring knowledge and skill. Teachers and

students has the major involvement in the field of education.

New Normal Education – it is the new system in gaining knowledge and skills. Due to

pandemic, teachers and students are in blended learning wherein face to face classes is not

allowed, and learning can be done through modular or virtual sessions.

Learning Strategies – it refers to different strategies used by every student when studying

and working at the same time for them to be able to understand a particular lesson.

Time Management – it refers on how the students use their time effectively and efficiently

so that they can balance their time as they study and work at the same time.

Working student – these are the students who are juggling their time to work and study at

the same time so that they can support their selves and also for them to acquire work

experiences.