by (contributed news)
As the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) commits to enhance modalities of curriculum delivery, the Master in Business Administration (MBA) program of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) and the Sustainable Development Studies (SDS) program of MSU-IIT started implementing blended learning this August of this school year. This is in response to the BOR Resolution No. 158, s. 2013 allowing for the 30% face-to-face and 70% online delivery of instruction.
This development is seen as a prelude to a more inclusive advanced education considering that MSU-IIT can now cater to a more geographically dispersed clientele.
As part of the various launching activities, the Center for MSU-IIT e-Learning (CMeL) also conducted the MSU-IIT Online Learning Environment (MOLE) orientation and training on August 10, 2019, to more than 50 graduate students enrolled in the MBA and SDS programs. MOLE is MSU-IIT’s online learning platform. The objective of the activity was to improve students’ efficacy in navigating the different features of MOLÉ.
During the orientation, CMeL Lead Trainer, Nenen S. Borinaga, emphasized that the move to deliver courses using blended learning mode is designed to engage the learning community beyond the confines of a traditional classroom. However, some issues and challenges were raised: the problem of poor internet connection in their respective locations; students’ technical efficacy; confidence on the effectiveness of online learning; and availability of faculty members handling the blended learning courses to answer queries online.
Borinaga assured the participants that the concerns raised will be considered so that the benefits of blended learning will be truly enjoyed by the learners.
Prior to the implementation of the blended mode delivery of instruction, a series of workshops on Blended Course Design and Development were conducted by CMeL, which were participated by faculty members who will be delivering courses on blended mode.
Through the workshops, faculty members of the MBA program developed MOLÉ classrooms for the First Semester of Academic Year 2019-2020:
- Pamela F. Resurreccion (Applied Statistics for Management Research and Organization Theory)
- Alita T. Roxas (Organization Theory)
- Prof. Antonio T. Cabatingan, Jr. (Marketing Management)
- Lecturer Farrah Marie P. Separa (Operations Management)
- Prof. Joana Marie C. Edera (Strategic Human Resource Management)
Some of the courses of the SDS program for blended learning mode of delivery were developed by:
- Maria Pia M. Sison and Dr. Annalyn Tampus (Foundations of Sustainable Development)
- Alita T. Roxas (Environment-Friendly Economics)
- Ruben F. Amparado, Jr. (Principles of Solid Waste Management)
- Peter D. Suson (Environmental Impact Assessment)
- Aileen S. Espra (Methods of Research), in collaboration with Dr. Peter D. Suson
Other faculty members also developed blended MOLÉ classrooms for the Master of Science Education program and for other various undergraduate programs:
- Edna B. Nabua and Dr. Manuel B. Barquilla (Philosophical and Psychological Foundations of Education)
- Christine Cherry E. Solon (General Zoology)
- Prof. Bryan Montalban (Chemistry for Engineers)
- Prof. Elizabeth Edan M. Albiento (Hydrology)
- Prof. Carol Socorro B. Maguinsay (Science, Technology, and Society)