The  College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) curriculum committee headed by its chair and Associate Dean for Instruction, Dr. Adeliza A. Dorado conducted last January 25 & 27 a webinar titled,” Seminar Workshop on OBEdizing the CAFS Courses and Programs for New Normal and Post-Pandemic Tertiary Education” via Zoom.

In his opening remarks, Dean Elpidio M. Agbisit, Jr, shared that the webinar was organized because one of the concerns is the redesigning of courses and programs using outcomes-based teaching and learning approach that could complement with the teaching and learning through synchronous and asynchronous online classes, in person classes, and possibly the combination of these modes.

Concluding his message, Dean Agbisit enjoined the participants to achieve a sustainable curriculum that will hone and mold the country’s forerunners in agriculture and food science as one College with one goal trending the future in agricultural education.

Serving as the first speaker of the webinar was Dr. Rosella M. Torrecampo, English professor from the Department of English and Comparative Literature of the College of Arts and Letters in UP Diliman. Her talk focused on general concepts and application for tertiary education with agriculture and scientific agenda specific to CAFS’ concern with reference to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), and the ASEAN Plus Tree (APT). Dr. Torrecampo shared her assumptions that whether we like it or not, any course that uses OBE (outcomes-based education) requires PDCA (Plan, Do, Check and Act) and PDCA is the driver of curriculum adaptation and modification and vice-versa.

Dr. Torrecampo explained that doing PDCA is already part of the natural evolution of any OBE program. It is in the name of constructive alignment so are curriculum adaptation and modification. They are done to reconstruct and align the curriculum towards current environmental concerns of education including what would be environmental concerns such as natural diseases like the pandemic, natural disasters and the like. Furthermore, she emphasized that in talking about PDCA and how the faculty should consider curriculum adaptation and modification, they should ask themselves when adaptation and modification should occur. Finally, on what the faculty would go about or what would be their next step, Dr. Torrecampo presented a universal design for instruction as a pathway towards adaptation or change. It is a process which includes the following: 1.  Identify the courses you want to change; 2. Define the universe or context; 3. Involve the students, 4; Apply instructional strategies, 5; Plan for accommodations; and 6. Evaluate.

The second speaker of the webinar was Dr. Greg T. Pawilen, currently an associate professor at the Department of Human and Family Development Studies at the College of Human Ecology, UPLB and the UPLB director of the Office for Institutional Development for Higher Education.

Dr. Pawilen discussed the topic, “OBEdizing CAFS Courses and Programs for the Post-Pandemic Scenario”. He explained that OBE is about alignment to the needs of the society, the students and the nature of the subject matter. He emphasized that OBE is still and will still be the design of our educational system in a post pandemic world. Moreover, he said that OBE is a curriculum design that can be described as a way in which curriculum is organized and directed based on all the things that learners would learn and demonstrate successfully when they complete the study program. Dr. Pawilen also tackled on the problems, issues and challenges in flexible learning in terms of quality, efficiency, effectiveness, access, trust and mental health problems.

(IMGesmundo)