NH: The SAMAHAN Central Board hosts the first in a series of webinars on 1st Semester Exit Points via Zoom. AVP Dr. Gina Montalan and Assistant to the AVP for Online Education Fr. Ogie Cabayo, SJ attend the public forum on Assessments and Academics.

Secretary General of SAMAHAN, Sam Cayona, starts the forum and welcomes Kyle Gaite for his opening remarks

Gaite: The student body raised concerns on the online setups and in general, how to end the first semester. The SAMAHAN came up with a webinar series to talk about the concerns.

Academic Vice President, Dr. Gina Montalan, explains that to understand online class, one should acknowledge that there is less hours of expected real-time classes compared to in-person (face-to-face) class.

Montalan: In-person classes take all materials as one class. In online class, each learner is going to access learning material in their own pace of learning.

Montalan emphasizes the self-paced learning approach of students for online classes.

Montalan: Objective type of examination is practiced in face-to-face classes. In an online class, it is best to assess a student's learning through a performance-based/problem-based examination.

Montalan point out the 3 sub-modalities of online class: Asynchronous, Synchronous, and Hybrid (AS/Synchronous). More emphasis is given on the asynchronous online class modality, schedule of classes is in a self-paced approach which is not expected in a regular real-time class.

Montalan: For our assessments, we give bias on the performance-based assessment. But of course, teachers are not stopped from giving objective type of tests.

Montalan shares that the learning system of AdDU is highly connected to the philosophy of Jesuit education.

Montalan: We are doing our best to provide you quality online instruction. We are not saying we are doing it perfectly right now, but none of us has been prepared to give an online class.

Montalan: The good news is that AdDU is the first [institution] to get into the online instruction last summer.

Montalan: Even if we have inputted some improvements on online learning, we still need your feedback because only then that we will be able to provide high quality education.

Montalan: We need to have the pilot testing while we are finding the best formula for our online education. After all, we are not going to find the best formula if we will not do testing right now.

Montalan: We always see to it that the programs we provide are in line with the direction of the university, anchored from our vision, mission, and goals, and central to Jesuit education; we rely on faith that does justice.

Montalan: The Ignatian pedagogical paradigm is used as the basis for teaching with identified components namely: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

Montalan emphasizes that in conducting a class in this time of pandemic, we always have to consider flexible learning modality.

Montalan: Teachers are advised to set up experiential conditions of learning, and provide tools and instructions in ways of study and reflection that leads to application, action, and further inquiry.

Montalan: In online modality, we have lesser real-time classes which is the reason why teachers are asked to identify the most essential topics.

Montalan: Most essential topics are in the recalibrated alignment framework which is found in your Online Instruction Delivery Plan (OIDP).

Montalan: If you are more grade conscious, then I don’t think you really want to be trained well. Summative assessments are there for you to learn and improve.

Montalan: In the online mechanism, we assist you because we want you to pass in the online assessments.

Montalan: In the primer, we have emphasized that students will be granted access to the online classroom and all the uploaded e-learning materials of their respective course.

Montalan points out that grading can be delayed in formative assessments, so students can be fully prepared for summative assessments.

Montalan: The summative assessment could be given after the semester and is needed for your teacher to certify your proficiency in relation to the course's learning outcomes; certification is necessary.

Montalan reiterates that formative assessments are given for teachers to evaluate and help students in their progress or learning, and to help students pass the semester. She adds that students are provided opportunities to critically reflect on their learnings.

Montalan: You are adults and are responsible for your own learning. It’s not the responsibility of your teachers. The teacher only serves as your facilitator.

Montalan: We delay the grading because that is not what is important to us. What is important to us is the development of your competencies that will prepare you to become the professional that AdDU wants you to be in the future.

Montalan: When you are professionals, your boss will not gauge you based on those tests, you will be gauged based on your competencies in the office.

Montalan: For the final summative assessment, it will be a checking of the essential knowledge, skill to develop, and the attitude that you want to become in the future.

Montalan: If you feel that you are ready to take summative assessment, then you can take it during the schedule that has been identified by your teachers.

Montalan: Tomorrow we will be uploading the final summative assessments of your courses. These schedules will be spread out for the whole academic year.

Montalan: Because of the memo I have released, the final SA can be a performance-based one and can be in the form of portfolio type, oral examination, and objective exams for board exam courses.

Montalan: Will your grades bring you to a position you want to become in the future? Of course grades are important, but it will not define your competencies in the future.

Montalan: Go beyond your limitations by maximizing your possibilities or your strengths. We would like you to develop all those competencies based on the kind of profession you would want to be in the future.