INNOTECH and DepEd jointly organize webinar on pedagogical approaches

SEAMEO INNOTECH and the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) jointly organized the webinar, “The Making of Teacher-Experts in the New Normal: Deepening the Understanding of Pedagogical Approaches.” The webinar was held via Zoom and broadcasted on Facebook and YouTube on 22 June 2022. More than 1,500 teachers joined the event from different platforms.

“Hopefully, the better implementation of these pedagogical approaches will also be the key to our pursuit of higher learning outcomes,” said Usec. Diosdado San Antonio, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction of DepEd, in his welcome message.

The webinar is part of the preliminary activities for a research study that the Center will conduct as a technical assistance to DepEd. The study entitled, “Examining the Extent of Implementation of Pedagogical Approaches in the New Normal in Philippine Public Schools,” will look closely at how the different pedagogical approaches are implemented in the classrooms, especially in this new education setup. The study, once completed, will provide DepEd and other policy makers with research-based recommendations to enhance existing policies and programs, and develop new interventions to sustain learning and quality of teaching in the new normal.

“The research project of INNOTECH and DepEd looks at the extent of the implementation of these pedagogical approaches. But before we can really tell the extent of implementation, we need to understand the teachers’ level of familiarity with these approaches,” said Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, SEAMEO INNOTECH Director, in his opening message. He mentioned that some teachers might not be that familiar with the approaches, or they may be practicing it already but are unaware of it.

As support to this research study, the webinar focused on understanding the theories, practices, and strategies related to the pedagogical approaches—reflective, integrative, inquiry-based, constructivist, and collaborative. The webinar also tackled the factors affecting the implementation of these pedagogical approaches, considering the current setup of teaching and learning.

Thousands of teachers watching the livestream and joining via Zoom were re-introduced to the five pedagogical approaches through the discussions of the invited experts. Dr. Jessie Barrot from the National University discussed the constructivist approach. He highlighted that the approach focuses on finding meaning through the leaners’ own context and experiences. In this approach, it is important to not just look at the product, but also the process.

Dr. Felicia Yeban from the Philippine Normal University shared about the collaborative approach. She highlighted that learning is better when done in collaboration with peers than individually. In collaborative learning, there should be different groups addressing different goals. Diversity allows learners to have wider perspectives.

Dr. Nympha Joaquin from the University of the Philippines tackled the inquiry-based approach. She highlighted the importance of encouraging learners to ask questions, investigate, and find answers. This allows them to make discoveries and develop products which they may find purpose with.

Dr. Lizamarie Olegario from the University of the Philippines discussed the reflective approach. She mentioned the importance of active and experiential learning, highlighting that students learn more by reflecting on their experiences.

Lastly, Dr. Rita Ruscoe from the Philippine Normal University shared about the integrative approach. This not just integrates different approaches; it challenges learners to make meaningful connections among their experiences and learnings. This approach encourages holistic thinking among learners.

It is important to remember that no single approach is considered the best—there is no “one-size-fits-all” in teaching. Every learner is different, and they should be given the right opportunity to learn in the best way.

Watch the replay of the webinar.