Technostress among the Digital Immigrant Professors of Bataan Peninsula State University-Main Campus in the Flexible Learning Modality
Marlon Holgado1, Jayvie Villazor2
mcholgado@bpsu.edu.ph and jvillazor@bpsu.edu.ph
Bataan Peninsula State University Balanga City, Philippines
DOI:https://doi.org/10.54476/apjaet/41762
Abstract
The global pandemic led to widespread school and university closures, prompting a shift to online learning. In the Philippines, the transition to Flexible Learning Modality (FLM) raised concerns, particularly among older professors (digital immigrants), highlighting the importance of developing their digital pedagogical skills and addressing psychological issues such as technostress associated with technology use in education. The current study utilized descriptive phenomenology to know the essence of the experiences of digital immigrant professors in technostress. The findings revealed four themes, or 4G of technostress among digital immigrant tertiary educators, namely: go off, grow up, go with, and go down. Each theme generated subthemes that further elaborated on the experiences of tertiary educators on technostress. Go Off is divided into eight (6) D-subthemes: difficulty in online classes, discouragement in promotion, decrease in assessment credibility, desire for traditionality, deficiency in training, and direction in retirement. Grow Up has four (4) C-subthemes, namely, the centering on openness, crowning oneself, compassion for students, and care for others. Meanwhile, Go With consists of three (3) S-subthemes: skills-focused, succeeding psychologically, and seeking support. Lastly, the Go Down is composed of four (4) P-subthemes such as physical manifestation, pessimistic emotions, psychological distress, and problematic relationship. These findings can serve as a foundation for the development of programs and activities that are specifically tailored to meet the needs and difficulties of the participants. In addition, the findings of this study will contribute to the body of knowledge in the fields of education, technology, and psychology.
Keywords: technostress, digital immigrant professors, flexible modality, tertiary education, descriptive phenomenology