CHED Caraga and CSU Conduct Free Webinars on Virtual Capacity Building for HEIs Stakeholders

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Caraga partnered with Caraga State University (CSU) in conducting a series of free webinars as part of CHED Caraga’s project entitled “CHED Caraga Virtual Capacity Building for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Stakeholders.” CHED Caraga conducted a series of webinars to help Higher Education Institutions in Caraga Region prepare for the opening of the Academic Year 2020-2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

CSU, recognized as the only Level IV SUC and a Center of Development for IT Education in the Caraga Region, assisted in conducting the series of webinars. Some CSU professors with related expertise served as resource speakers on topics related to HEI Continuity Plan, Virtual Classrooms, e-Learning for Distance Education, Digital Instructional Materials, Blended Learning under the new normal, to mention some.

The series of free webinars commenced last June 23, 2020,with resource speakers Prof. Michelle V. Japitana, D.Eng., Director, Office of the Planning and Development(OPD) and Prof. Joey Arles O. Vergara, MoP, Director, CSU Pressdiscussed onEstablishing Educational Continuity Plan Among HEIs and A Glimpse to Virtual Classroom.

On June 26, 2020, Vice President for Executive Operations and Auxiliary Services (OVPEOAS) Dr. Luisito I. Tabada presented Managing e-Learning for Distance Education. He talked about the history of Distance Education, the pros and cons of Distance Education, Online Learning Modalities, Status of e-Learning in Caraga, among other things.Returning as resource speaker, Prof. Vergara talked about Creating and Innovating Digital Instructional Materials.

The last session of webinars scheduled on June 30, 2020, had Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Rolando N. Paluga and Dean of College of Computing and Information Science (CCIS) and at the same time Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Center Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil as resource speakers. Dr. Paluga discussed Flexible and Blended Learning under the new normal while Dr. Daguil elaborated on Webinars for Students: An Approach to Blended Learning under the new normal.

The series of free webinars were conducted using Zoom, an American communications technology company that provides services like video webinars. A total of 1,212 individuals who are faculty members from public and private HEIs joined the webinars.

Some of the inputs provided by the resource speakers include 1) Use of Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver courses online, 2) Development of online learning materials – Online Modules, Audio/Podcasts, and Video, 3) Development of offline learning materials – Portable offline LMS and Printed modules.MMGD/OVPEOAS/pico