My insights on the five-day Virtual inset August30-September 3,2021

DAY 1:
In-service trainings serve as a reminder to us teachers that the learning process never truly ends. As a result,
it's critical to approach these gatherings with an open mind and an open heart, acknowledging that there are
still things we don't know.
Because of the move to online learning, we need to step up our game and get more conversant with new
education platforms that utilize information and communication technology. As a result, despite the
pandemic, we are able to meet the challenge of executing our obligations as teachers.
DAY 2:
The threat of COVID-19 is still very real, and resuming face-to-face classes anytime soon is quite perilous.
That decision by the national government is correct.
The education of Filipino young, on the other hand, cannot be halted. “Education must continue,” said
Leonor Briones, Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). So it was spelled out in today's session
that the Department of Education is taking a "all-hands-on-deck" approach to ensuring that courses are
provided to children in every way feasible.
DAY 3:
The morning session covered a variety of topics that are directly related to my work. Despite the fact that
I've been using Microsoft Office apps for as long as I can remember, I'm aware that there are still many
features to learn. Not to mention the fact that the company releases new items and features on a regular
basis.
The two subjects discussed in the afternoon were admittedly bold and futuristic, and to be honest, neither
professors nor students found them particularly interesting. Why am I saying this? The continued adoption
of blended learning demonstrates that our issues are fundamental - a lack of reliable Internet access and
appropriate technology.
In urban regions such as Metro Manila, it may not be a significant issue, but in the provinces, it is. It's nice
to fantasize about the things we want, but we must work with what we have.
DAY 4:
The Department of Education's Virtual In-Service Training 2.0 was jam-packed on the fourth day. There
were seven seminars in total, covering themes such as mental health, Google Educators Group, picture
manipulation, and video development. To be honest, it was overwhelming.
I love the mental health workshop since it is pertinent to us as educators. However, it appeared to be more of
an empty gesture on the part of the agency, because if they truly care about teachers' mental health, they
should not assign us so many responsibilities that are unrelated to the work that we were hired to do. We
have a lot of paperwork to accomplish and very few vacation days!
And, once again, I believe that the issues presented in the afternoon will not be useful to most teachers,
particularly those who are not proficient in using the programs. It takes more than just sitting through a one-
hour seminar with no hands-on activity to become used to these things.
DAY 5:
I'm glad the five-day virtual in-service training for preschool, elementary, and high school teachers that
took place this week is ended. The week has been jam-packed with seminars on issues as diverse as
cyberbullying, mental health awareness, instructional video games, and more.
Despite the fact that all of the sessions were educational, some topics are more relevant than others due to
the disparities in teacher and student situations across the country. There have been ongoing technical issues
with accessing the agency's website, which has definitely hampered teachers' ability to complete the so-
called "exit quizzes" required to obtain certificates. The problems undoubtedly added to the stress felt by
instructors who are still ostensibly on vacation.
I applaud the Department of Education's determination to consider all solutions – some more realistic than
others – in order to ensure that Filipino children' education continues despite the growing uncertainty
generated by the COVID-19 outbreak. I should also express my gratitude to my teachers for their continued
willingness to rise to the occasion in the face of insurmountable obstacles.

Prepared by:
Jency T. America