The Cure for Education During the Pandemic: A Reflection

By JVC Abatayo

We are not defeated yet and this pandemic can’t stop us from empowering learning and literacy for I believe that we, educators, are still fighting amidst the constrictions we experience, and with this misfortune, we are still determined and fervent to go beyond our limitations because we desire to uplift academic excellence, research development, and community success despite the scorching setbacks. As a student pursuing Doctor of Philosophy, major in Educational Management, I am so grateful for the action-packed and adventuresome learning experience in our subject, Management of Instructional Program, and with the guidance of our dynamic and benevolent professor, I have imbibed pieces of information and bits of fact about this domain.

The topics that struck me the most when it comes to the management of the Instructional Program are educational technology and online facilitation because they are very relevant in the new normal education. First, I really find the topic about supervision and administration of educational technology very enthralling because it clearly emphasizes the significance of technology in easing the burdens or adversities that we are facing because this pandemic really disrupts everything in the field of education. I know that through technological advancement we can still deliver quality education without neglecting the well-being of our teachers and learners. This also calls for the right time to embrace automation and computerization so that we can be flexible in giving instruction and in managing the classroom without being problematic about the hitches. Second, I strongly believe that online facilitation is also a top priority because we are now espousing online distance learning as part of the flexible learning modality and if we have enough knowledge about it, we can ensure that there will be effective and efficient interactive learning activities, especially if we are already familiar in utilizing the available ICT tools, facilities, and systems that can help us get out from the labyrinthine challenges that this pandemic has brought to us. Thus, being an educational leader in times of the pandemic requires you to be adept in planning and implementing policies and programs significant to educational technology and online facilitation.

To sum it up, as educational leaders, we need to be proactive in working on our responsibilities even if it is quite difficult to find the light at the end of the tunnel. We need to think that investing in education means that you need to do the best that you can just to maintain its eminence even if there are problems along the way. By having a positive and rich mindset that we are not yet defeated because we can still build an indestructible fortress by utilizing educational technology to aid learning and master online facilitation with fervor and dedication, we can still stand firm and reach the highest peak and find a cure for education during the pandemic.

The Art of Mentoring

By JVC Abatayo

        It is indeed true that an iron can also sharpen an iron, that is why it is very important to be with those individuals who are thriving and proactive about achieving their goals in life because they can inspire you to see life as a battlefield in which it is possible to lose for you to learn and bounce back and for you to be able to experience the real essence of triumph. With that, I strongly believe that mentoring is very significant in helping others to reach greater heights and unleash their hidden adeptness and brilliance. Having a mentor enables you to recognize that there is always hope amidst uncertainties and adversities. However, the only challenge in mentoring is the acceptance and provision of trust because sometimes others could become reluctant and hesitant in giving and accepting trust from those individuals whom they think are not trustworthy.

        As a Chairperson of the Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) Program of Saint Michael College of Caraga, I also do sessions of mentoring not only for my students but also for my subordinates and colleagues. I really make sure that I never fail to give my pieces of advice and words of encouragement and wisdom to them for them to have a support system that will help them in times of difficulties and setbacks not only about the program-related issues and concerns but also when they have personal problems. Moreover, I am so grateful to have genuine mentors who push me to become a more effective and efficient individual. I want to mention our dean here because I strongly believe she has the qualities of a good and accountable mentor. I actually seek advice from her on what will be the right things to do when I have problems with our program, especially in the instruction and marketing advocacies. I can still remember when I was just a newbie in the department, I went to her office and talk to her heartily when I committed something inconsiderable and unbearable. She praises me when I do something worth-appreciating and she slaps all of the truth to my face when I do something that is not proper. For these very reasons, I always trust her because I know it’s the right way to build a strong bridge that will lead me to the fortress of success.

        I am so privileged right now because I have acquired new inputs and takeaways about the mentoring process. This means a lot really for me as a program head. Though it is not easy to just lay down your trust and have someone to pick it up easily, we should always find those persons who can illuminate the excellence and beauty within you. We need to embrace the advantages of having a mentor who can empower us. If you have one or more, trust them, appreciate them, and listen to them because they can resonate with the truth about you. Good or bad, you need them for you to see the light and to win a good fight.

        The pieces of information and bits of facts that I have learned about mentoring, one way or another, I will apply in my work as a program chairperson. I will continue inspiring my students to be proactive and appreciative when it comes to learning and exploring Library and Information Science. I know that they know that I am always there for them when they experience complications and setbacks. They also know that I am very vocal when they commit mistakes or when they become irresponsible. That’s how connected we are. Furthermore, as I am handling a supervisory job, I promise that I will be a desirable mentor for my subordinates or colleagues because that’s the essence of servant leadership. I am here in this position to influence and encourage them to become the best that they can always be. I need to motivate them to help me up in my quest on honing future catalysts for academic excellence, research development, and community success. God is good and great. I know he will help me give sound and acceptable advice and instruction.

        To those who want to grow and evolve, don't hesitate to look for the right mentors. Be mentored. Be tailored. Be furnished.

LEADERSHIP IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF INSTRUCTION: Leadership Strategies that Support Teachers

 

By: JVC Abatayo

As a future school leader, I really have learned a lot on what would be the most appropriate things to do when employing leadership strategies that would help your teachers unleash their full potentials and for them to excel in the field of instruction. I’ve acquired so much information regarding the ways of solidifying and augmenting teacher career advancement, providing opportunities for teachers for them to collaborate and expand their horizon by sharing strategies with each other, formulating appropriate pieces of feedback that are constructive or transformative, and listening heartily and responding to their concerns. These strategies will surely be applied if I will become a school leader in the near future.

      To be specific, it is really a must for a school leader to encourage his/her subordinates to go out from their comfort zones to start rising from the ashes. They need to be enlightened about the beauty of career progressions so that they can be more effective and efficient in handling instruction. They need to be inspired in achieving greater heights and learning how to evolve as educators for them to be more and competent, which will also lead them to provide what’s just and fair for the students. At the end of the day, the learning of the students is the top priority.

      Another, I know it’s a cliché to say that “no man is an island” but it is really true because, in the field of education, no one can stand on his/her own. With that, it is obvious that collaboration is a must. By encouraging your subordinates to work together to thrive and prosper together, you can surely expect a great quality of instruction. Everyone should be supportive of each other because the bottom line here is that we all just have the same vision, mission, goals, and objectives. We all want to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Thus, fruitful collaboration must always be there to ensure organizational progress.

      Lastly, communication is always the key to have a smooth-sailing way of understanding teachers individually. As a school leader, you need to be there to listen heartily to their concerns because they need to voice out what they feel and you need to know as well what their experiences and struggles are (if there are any). You need to be willing to give appropriate and honest feedback and judgments because they deserve to be informed about what is really happening and why it is that they need to accept such constructive or transformative criticisms or comments from you. Thus, effective feedbacking is really necessary to avoid conflicts and to settle disputes.