16 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS USING BLENDED LEARNING AND FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION * Demie S. Borromeo, Jr. ** Noel E. Estrella *** Wendell Cabrera Paper Received: 21.12.2022 / Paper Accepted: 15.02.2023 / Paper Published: 17.02.2023 Corresponding Author: Demie S. Borromeo, Jr.; Email: demir.borromeojr@email.lcup.edu.ph; doi:10.46360/cosmos.et.620231002 Introduction The world has changed dramatically in the year since the pandemic outbreak. Although most of the challenges were directed to prevention and managing those afflicted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), another paradigm shift has unfolded and that is in the academe, where knowledge acquisition through virtual learning has become the norm not by choice but by necessity. Educational institutions learned to evolve, improvise, adjust and thrive in this new medium of instruction. The Executive Order No. 112 dated April 30, 2020 placed the entire Philippine archipelago under the enhanced community quarantine. Social gatherings which include the conduct of face to face classes were prohibited. Consequently, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) issued the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO No. 04 s. 2020) titled “Guidelines on the Implementation of Flexible Learning”. The guidelines emphasized the use of learner-centered approach through veriety of strategies which include the use of computer technology and internet connectivity. Most of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country, like the University of the Philippines in Manila and Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba in Laguna have been at the forefront of virtual technology, ahead of its time, investing a large amount of money in perfecting the science long before anyone could have foreseen the vital role it will play during a pandemic. Using the available technology such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-mail and social media, educational institutions were able to reach their learners and facilitate learning through the use of Blended Learning Approach without having face to face classes. Blended Learning was redifined during pandemic to consist synchronous online classes, asynchronous activities, and utilization of self- learning modules. Technology specifically in the field of information and communications is influencing every aspect of our lives. This field plays remarkable roles in government, business, entertainment, and education. It comes in many forms and structures all with the main focus of helping people perform their tasks and survive the challenges of the pandemic. Information Communication Technology (ICTs) is also similar to Information Technology as duly recognized by many as the catalyst for change - change in our work setup, exchanging information, teaching methods, and learning approaches. This includes the internet, wireless networks, smartphones, and other communication platforms. In this regard, we have a lot of opportunities to use ICT in improving the quality of teachers to deliver lessons confidently and effectively as well as for the students to attend classes even online. There are many courses in the HEIs that can be delivered using face-to-face, and blended learning modalities. With the help of learning management systems and other platforms, the class facilitator can deliver and execute lessons in a fully-online environment especially those which do not require Abstract Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine educational system has been dramatically affected by the “no face-to-face class policy” of the government. E-learning and modular instructions are the alternative learning modalities currently implemented nationwide. Thus, this study aimed to (1) determine the performance of BSIT students in some of their professional or major courses using blended learning modalities and traditional face-to-face instructions, (2) determine the differences in the performance of BSIT students in some of their professional or major courses exposed to blended learning and face-to-face instruction, and (3) determine the advantages and disadvantages faced by the teacher and the learner in blended learning. The findings revealed that the traditional faceto-face class remains an effective learning modality, while blended learning has been proven more effective as an emerging innovative learning modality. Keywords: Blended Learning, Face-to-Face Instruction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), E-learning. Cosmos Journal of Engineering & Technology A Refereed Research Journal Vol 13 / No 1 / Jan-Jun 2023 ISSN: 2231-4210 * _ *** Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, Philippines.