The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, served as the Resource Person in the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) training series.
DMMMSU has a professional development training series for its faculty and staff titled “Project SAFE (Sheltered, Adaptive & Flexible Education).” The training aims to provide opportunities for growth and retool the DMMMSU faculty and staff in educational technology and ubiquitous learning during the pandemic.
Chancellor Bandalaria’s lecture was titled “Flipping the Classroom: New and Ubiquitous Learning Modalities in the New Normal.” She gave an articulation of the term “new normal,” stating that “the “new normal” starts now and is not just about the pandemic but about responding to the demands of the changing time and context of life. She discussed the imperatives of the new teaching and learning models and said that the response to these imperatives is ubiquity for a flexible learning model or “u-learning.” She further explained what ubiquitous learning is, as well as its advantages.
One model to consider when engaging in u-learning is the Flipped Classroom. According to Dr. Bandalaria, “a flipped classroom is a blended learning model in which traditional ideas about classroom activities and homework are reversed or flipped.” In this model, instructors allow students to interact with the homework first then use class time to discuss the new information and to put ideas into practice. Chancellor Bandalaria shared several reasons why flipped classrooms fit the new normal. These include (1) Flipping allows students to learn at own pace; (2) It is customized, active and engaging; (3) Flipped lecture videos help students review for exams; (4) Flipped content cas be richer through curation and continuous improvement; and (5) Students in flipped classroom perform better. She also shared several frequently-asked questions about flipped classrooms and provided the steps on how DMMMSU teachers will be able to flip and effectively manage their classrooms.
The training webinar was a combination of lecture and interaction with the participants through poll questions and direct sharing of insights. The training was held on 28 July 2021 via Zoom. One hundred sixty teacher-trainers participated in the event.
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas
Edited by Joane V. Serrano
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