“Our situation now is different. Our set up, [like this webinar], is also different from what we were used to.” Mr. June Bence L. Adelan, the Information Technology Officer of the Schools Division Office of Imus City, encouraged the teachers of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo National High School to adapt to the changes brought by the CoViD19 pandemic.

 

On his opening statement, he asked the teachers to focus on the webinar series as he added that a webinar set up is even more challenging to organize.

 

"Teachers should be open-minded in exploring the different educational platforms. This webinar series will not only give you knowledge but will also provide you with the opportunity to curate open educational resources and software which you may be able to use in the different modalities of teaching. We need to prepare for the new normal. A big change has arrived, and we need to adapt." Mr. Adelan quoted the Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop when he said, “We didn’t do anything wrong, but somehow, we lost…” He explained that others in the same indutry had outpaced the company. The ITO officer explained that just like the company, teachers should be able to adapt to change before its too late.

 

The webinar series, with the theme: POWER IT UP for the New Normal, held on July 1 -3, was the second Cyber Expo organized by GEANHS’ ICT unit lead by Ms. Mary Ann N. Villareal.

 

Virtual Environment, Our New Normal

 

"To capacitate teachers for the opening of the school year 2020-2021, the ICT unit of our school saw it fit to gather everyone virtually." Ms. Villareal, the ICT coordinator of GEANHS cited that this is the best way to disseminate information as everyone is encouraged to stay at home.

 

Ms. Villareal, on her statement of purpose also cited the outputs expected from the teachers after the webinar.

 

Before the webinar started, Mrs. Crisanta F. Caudal, Head Teacher IV of TLE Department, also encouraged to ask questions through the chat box as the webinar is broadcasted on YouTube. On the other hand, Mrs. Lerma V. Peña, Principal IV, informed the teachers that the school is also preparing for the new teaching set up, specifically for teachers who may be assigned to teach online. She added that the school will be upgrading its internet connection with the help of the city government.

 

Power It Up

 

GEANHS' second Cyber Expo does not only aim to skill up teachers but to prepare them for the new normal. The discussions focused on platforms and open educational resources that teachers may employ in teaching online.

 

To introduce the different applications under Google, learning sessions in the first day included: Google Drive by Mr. Ricky F. Mosquera, the IT Coordinator of English Department; Google Docs and Google Sheet by Ms. Kimberly Kate I. Arriesgiado, IT Coordinator of EsP Department; Google Forms and Google Slides by Ms. Marycon Carmela G. Mella, teacher from TLE Department, and; Google Classroom discussed by Ms. Helen Marie F. Carreon from MAPEH Department.

 

Sessions for the second day included discussions on Kotobee Author and Reader by Mr. Michael Joseph A. Lapid; Wondershare Quiz Creator by Mr. Norman T. Fortun, IT Coordinator of Science Department; Hot Potato and Flipgrid by Mr. Ernan Jeremiah R, Medina, a Math teacher who also create educational content for YouTube; and How to use Bitmoji for teaching and learning by Ms. Vabes Katleen P. Tabuena, IT Coordinator of Filipino Department.

 

Learning Management Systems (NEO LMS) by Ms. Jenielyn E. Padernal of Cypher Learning and DLSU-D was discussed on the third day of the webinar.

 

The webinar was concluded with a message from Mr. Henry C. Donsol, Head Teacher VI of EsP Department. "I hope that after you were equipped with the necessary knowledge, you will apply that in providing quality education". Mr. Donsol said on his closing remarks.