Date Posted:
February 23, 2021 | 9:00 pm
by: Roselle Ann A. Sigue | EAO Secretary

The new mode of learning through virtual classes is a big transition in education where learners are expected to stay at home and connect with their teachers and classmates through the use of the internet. The global pandemic brought by COVID-19 stopped the face-to-face classes and with that, we, pre-service teachers are expected to be flexible, face the new mode of learning, know how to manage and engage in online learning, face the challenges, and look for some opportunity that this online learning can offer.

On February 18, 2021 (Thursday), the first webinar conducted by UPHS College of Teacher Education with the theme “Management and Engagement in an Online Learning: Challenges and Opportunities” was held via Zoom and more than four hundred Students, Faculties, Deans, and Guest participated. This webinar is hosted by the President of Educare Alpha Omicron Shannel Padilla and Vice President – External Wowie Mapakit. The event starts at 9:20 in the morning. It began with preliminaries (prayer, national anthem, and perpetual hymn) followed by the opening remarks from the Dean of Arts and Sciences and Education of UPHS – GMA Campus, Dr. Bethel N. Hernandez who expresses her gratitude to all the participants especially to the Deans of different UPHS Campuses. It was followed by the inspirational message from the Dean of UPHS – Biñan College of Education, Dr. Elena Salinas who shares a motivational message to the pre-service teacher despite the pandemic were facing right now. The resource speaker was lively and jolly introduced by Mr. Anthony Dela Cruz, Faculty of UPHS – Pangasinan College of Education. The resource speaker is a Chief of Public Affairs Unit (Spokesperson) of Department of Education Region 2, Dr. Amir A. Aquino. Dr. Aquino shares a presentation showing how to manage and engage in online learning. Another presentation shown was the challenges we faced in online learning as well as opportunities we can acquire in this new mode of learning. The new mode of learning is three times harder than face-to-face classes but the opportunity to learn is endless. Indeed, learning never stops. We can learn if we embrace these changes. The talk was ended by Bro. Glenn Galinggana, Dean of UPHS – Isabela Campus College of Education who shares his insights about the talk. Some of the students shares their insights too.

These speakers filled our brains with ideas on how to manage and engage in online learning. The talk made me realize that “Teaching in a new way of learning might be a work-intensive job nevertheless the knowledge they imparted to the learners is incomparable.”