2nd Institutional Faculty Development Series of Seminars held
By: Prof. Virginia R. Fornias
Posted: Friday, June 29, 2012

The second installment of the Institutional Faculty Development Series of Seminars (IFDSS) was held on May 24, 25 and 29, 2012. This seminar is an annual gathering of all faculty members, administrators, librarians and guidance counselors of the grade school, high school and college units to listen and learn from various speakers on chosen topics that are relevant to the practice of their profession – that of being educators. The topics were based on the results of the survey on the needs assessment that the VPAA Office has conducted on all faculty members as well as per observations and suggestions of the Unit Heads and the President herself. The seminar topics include: May 24 - Business Etiquette with Mr. Roberto Ortiz; May 25 - Integrating Technology in Teaching for Understanding (with Introduction to Blended Learning) by Dr. Nenita Habulan and Therapeutic Education by Dr. Cecil Licuan, and May 29 - The Benedictine Values of Hospitality and Community with Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca, OSB.

Mr. Ortiz shared some basic and important etiquette to be observed by administrators and faculty members during parent-teacher conferences and office meetings. He also touched on dress code, teachers’ etiquette and netiquette. He said that we should always observe the following:

Basic Etiquette	Parent-Teacher Etiquette	Teacher’s Etiquette	Netiquette
Be polite Consider simple token for your host Hold the door Be on time Do not groom yourself in public Put your cell phone on vibrate mode not ring mode Keep the conversation polite Begin relationships formally Excuse yourself Remember the Golden Rule Do not bring out topics like religion, money and politics	Dress professionally and appropriately Be prepared Avoid comparisons Avoid judgments Offer other ways to communicate Back off when necessary	Improve yourself Collaborate with colleagues Advance intellectual and ethical foundation of the learning community	Obey copyright law – don’t steal Do not capitalize everything Remember the human nature of the one you are talking to in the social networking site Adhere to the standards of behavior you would have in real life Differentiate between personal and professional Use your real name Don’t approach strangers Avoid time wasters Do not over post or over tweet

For her part, Dr. Habulan shared with the faculty how instruction can be best delivered using technology. She explained about the utilization of distributed learning, open and flexible learning, e-learning and blended learning in instruction.

Dr. Licuan shared a lot about the psychology of learning where every teacher is expected to and should be able to understand the situation of every learner. She even emphasized the importance of the use of differentiated instruction to ensure meaningful learning. With all the characteristics and special needs of different kinds of students it is very important not to diagnose nor to judge but to understand and journey with them, thus making the teaching and learning process therapeutic.

The three-day seminar was capped by a very meaningful talk of none other than the prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of the Manila Priory, Sr. Lumen Gloria Dungca, OSB. Her words on the Benedictine values of hospitality and community did inspire everyone such that they became all the more accepting and seeing each one, their co-workers, students and those whom they encounter each day as Christ.

The VPAA Office would like to thank the emcees namely: Mrs. Mariefe Beltran, Mrs. Yasmin Fides Nuguid, Ms. Irish Sioson; the prayer leaders namely: Sr. Isabel Orito, OSB, Ms. Teresita Bautista and Ms. Carolyn Aquino; and those who introduced the resource speakers namely: Dean Charlie Azcuna, Ms. Jonna Marie Lim, Ms. Ma. Louisa Joaquin and Sr. Christine Pinto, OSB.

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