BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon 8700

Tel (088) 813-5661 to 5663; Telefax (088) 813-2717, www.buksu.edu.ph

Name: REMAR I. PABALAY Date: February 22, 2021.

Professor: DR. NORNIE B. MICAYABAS
Subject: SE 302. Theory, Research and Classroom Practices in Science Education

REFLECTION ON PAGE 10 WEBICON

It was a great privilege to attend the one-day Webicon conducted by the

Philippine Association of Graduate Education (PAGE 10) with the theme "Exploring
research priorities in the new normal". I learned lots of things from the different
speakers of PAGE Webicon. I realized that as an educator and researcher, we need to
embrace change in our education system, shifting the traditional teaching to new
normal of teaching.
As we all know that the only constant in this world is change. However, change
is a painful process if it will happen in a revolutionary way because it takes time to
adapt to a certain change of system that we are not familiar with. There were sudden
changes that happened in our lives brought by the COVID-19 pandemic that causes
an emergency attack on everyone, especially in the education sector. Students and
teachers alike are fearful that everything will change. Many universities worldwide
have stopped their traditional teaching and closed campuses, and some also began to
implement online class models for teaching. The changes that took place in our
education were so abrupt and unexpected that the teachers were only thrown into a
situation where they unprepared.
But we don't have the power to control the spread of the virus, what we can do
is to adjust and think of the possible ways to deliver quality education to our students
despite the pandemic. Thus, it is a great challenge for us teachers to be flexible and we
need to go with the flow of the ever-changing aspects of education. This has become a
paradigm shift that we need to embrace. We need to find alternative modes of learning
to continue education in our country. Research plays a vital role to attain this goal.
There is a need to appropriate the new pathways of inquiry to search for other
alternatives to provide quality education to our students.

Additionally, we should appreciate the new normal and prepare for the new
normal since it is about to come and it is a long way to go. That is why there is a need
to improve the change and adjust to a new perspective in education that we have to
realize that our students can learn most essential things anywhere, anytime and any
modality which they can apply their knowledge not just in a short term but in a long-
term run. We have to begin researching about the new normal and everything else will
follow. As a researcher, conducting research that is timely and relevant to the current
situation is very significant that will help to reshape and innovating education to
adapt to the new normal of education.
 BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon 8700
Tel (088) 813-5661 to 5663; Telefax (088) 813-2717, www.buksu.edu.ph
Further, as we direct the nodes of the physical and digital spheres in our lives,
the new normal is calling us to develop essential skills that can help us to adapt and
thrive in an uncertain future. One thing that the pandemic has taught and reminded
us is to have the skills of flexibility, adaptability, and empathy to face the unknown.
These skills are not learned and mastered instantly. They are developed over time
through our life experiences. These are invaluable skills that we can add to our
toolkits in facing life's challenges and thriving in an uncertain future. In the end,
regardless of what mode of work or learning we are called to do or be part of, the skills
of flexibility, adaptability, and empathy can surely help us to make sense of and
adjust well to the immediate call of the times without burning ourselves out or losing
our sanity over things.

According to Dr. Edison Fermin, we need to change the research format to

inquire about new knowledge that will have a great impact on humankind during this
crisis. The first step in finding a useful topic is to know if the topic makes much noise
that is worthy of conversation. Then, gathering the information of the conversation
that is worthy of exploration. The next step is the data sets you get from various
information sources worthy of investigation. Lastly, the knowledge that is formed from
the data set should be worthy of experimentation.

In addition to this, Dr. Alexander Acosta stated the importance of using the
mixed methodology in research to process all data quantitatively and qualitatively to
come up with the novelty of your study. In mixed methodology, we can use both
quantitative and qualitative methods of research. This is to come up with the better
products that would use in our current situation. It is helpful for me since I'm a senior
high school teacher handling practical research, I can introduce it to them so that they
have prior knowledge of it that would be used in the future.

Moreover, we need to go out in our comfort zone and look for a timely solution
for our problem that is helpful and impactful to mankind. According to Dr. Edison
Fermin, giving the best quality education is not a measure of how much the students
learn rather on how they performed certain learning that would be beneficial to the
industry or the workplace. Learning should not be defined as burdensome
requirements. During this time of the pandemic, what matters is the students enjoy
the learning process that is applicable in the real life. It should have an impact in our
new setting and have useful to the people around us. It is bridging the gap between
the demands of the industry and the learnings of our students. Preparing the students
to the real scenario of the workplace. We are now allowing hyper flexibility based on
the different learning modalities. Feeling alive and life-wide are the main reasons for
learning not just for living alone. We enjoy what we do while we are making a living.

For the new normal in education, assessments and grades should be reviewed
and reimagined so that they continue to be relevant to the students. Schools should
deeply think about their purposes and priorities in designing assessments or grading
students. Beyond making students accountable for their learning, an educator should
 BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY
Malaybalay City, Bukidnon 8700
Tel (088) 813-5661 to 5663; Telefax (088) 813-2717, www.buksu.edu.ph
bear in mind that in times of emergency remote learning, the higher call probably is to
continue encouraging and supporting student learning.

We should enjoy the process. Always look for the purpose and to the core of
what we do for us to be guided in all the best possible actions to achieve our plans to
make the change because we are the agent of change that makes things different
differently. For our students, giving them more opportunity to practice and develop
these skills is one way of preparing them for life beyond the physical or virtual walls of
the classroom. A growth mindset, appreciation of mistakes, and being resilient are
important life lessons that we can impart to our students at this of pandemic.
Teaching them to empathize with other people and challenging them to help the other
members of the society can make the new normal more bearable, especially for those
who are in the margin of the society.

Finally, education is not the work of educators alone. Cooperation and

partnership play essential roles in nourishing learning at this time of the crisis.
Teachers, parents, school leaders, and external partners have to work together to
address the many perplexing issues of remote learning. In the end, collaboration
makes life's challenges-not necessarily easier but more manageable.