The Lived Experiences Aged Instructors in Online Classes: Their Struggles and Coping Mechanisms

The Senior-aged instructors are silent victims and defenseless armies of the arduous process of changing the educational setting during the onset of the pandemic. There is a significant scarcity of literature highlighting the experiences of elder instructors. With this, the researchers became more driven to extend ears to echo the lived experiences of the Senior-aged instructors and seek to find meaningful ways to address and support their concurring disposition. Grounded on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this study utilized the Heideggerian phenomenology design and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of Van Manen popularized by Moustakas with a 7-step analysis. The study applied bracketing to avoid researchers’ bias. Semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit pertinent information from the seven (7) senior-aged instructors of Cebu Technological University – Moalboal Campus. The outcome presented four (4) themes namely: (1) Crusades of Technical Struggles, (2) Compromised Pedagogical Delivery, (3) Coping Mechanisms, and (4) Conceptual Visions for Professional Development. It is recommended to construe management plan of initiating seminars and refresher courses intended for Senior-aged instructors. May this analysis bring forth the hopeful prospect of giving the opportunity for the elderly teachers gain innovative teaching strategies fit for 21st century learners.