BY DOMINGA C. AGHON, PHD
THE ILOILO State College of Fisheries (ISCOF) system quickly responds to the urgent challenges posed by the new normal by making a move through Project CARES (Collaborative Actions in Response to Educational Setback). Project CARES is a series of training through webinars with workshops, a complete migration to the use of a learning management system to address the academic challenges, and the abrupt shift to online learning in this pandemic time.
ISCOF CARES was the brainchild of the campus administrator of ISCOF–Barotac Nuevo Campus, Dr. Emelyn Ligasan, with key members helping her along the way: ISCOF SUC President Dr. Godelyn Hisole, who gave her encouragement and full support; ISCOF MIS director Prof. Ryan Agsaluna, and ISCOF – San Enrique Campus faculty Dr. Wenda Panes, who provided technical assistance and creative efforts to this project.
This proposed series of online training was based on the data gathered from the faculty members of the five campuses of the ISCOF system on the faculty level of capability on teaching and learning in the 21st century, which focuses on the media and technology infuses classes with the use of digital learning tools in the classroom.
Additionally, ISCOF CARES – a CHED-funded project – with a Memorandum of Agreement signed between both agencies this year has a one-year training duration. It started in April 2021 and will end in April 2022, with the hope of helping faculty members to become media and technology literate in teaching and learning for the proponent.
Dr. Ligasan believes that technology has the power to transform teaching by ushering in a new model of connected teachings.
ISCOF CARES has outlined plans to address the present problem in conducting online classes or blended learning and has enacted responses to the pandemic.
In addition, this project focuses on offering and giving faculty members training on how to respond to the new normal of teaching; and how to be at par with the current technical standards of teaching, which includes Module Design and Delivery, Online Class and Student Performance Monitoring, and Flexible Learning Tools.
This project also aims to develop intervention guidelines to address common distant-learning issues such as slow internet connection and lack of access to a computer system.
After completing a full circle, the project will conduct an assessment on all its participants to gauge its efficiency.
Additional support is given to faculty of every campus of ISCOF to address their concerns by giving them a unit of laptop, and providing them fund for connectivity load when holding online classes; and to strengthen preparedness and response in the teaching and learning in this new normal, since pandemic challenges the academe at many different levels.
Given the increased urgency and gravity of the purpose of teachers’ training to equip faculty members with 21st-century media and technology skills and ensuring that students receive a quality education to increase their learning engagement, Dr. Hisole said this proposed one-year faculty training through webinars will be participated by all full-time and part-time faculty members, with its key response collaboration across the campus of ISCOF units and other higher institutions paired with a shared commitment and responsibilities for successful teaching and learning activities./PN
