Teaching and Learning in this Extreme Weather Condition (HE Memo#Y2.30)

HE Memo#Y2.30
1 May 2024

We begin the month of May with a smile despite the heat around us! J

The Higher Education administration has been monitoring the situation of the rising heat index in Metro Manila which concerns all. We have likewise been weighing options for how we can carry out teaching and learning judiciously and with care, given this situation, for the rest of the semester.    

Onsite vs Online Modality
After having considered many factors that affect learning and teaching, we maintain the onsite modality for the Schools of Education and Learning Design, Humanities, Management, Science and Engineering, and Social Sciences. This is without prejudice to the decisions of faculty (in consultation with students in individual classes) to go online based on the needs of their class and the particular circumstances of the students. We know that final exams in these schools take place from May 13 to May 18. For many classes, the finals are onsite. Teachers may not want to move final exams online for many legitimate reasons. 

For the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Law, Government, and Business, the respective Deans of these schools have got their teaching modalities in place, appropriate to their contexts.

During this time of various adversities, I have seen the wisdom of teachers bringing up their change of plans to their chairs and the latter taking appropriate action to address the concerns. In a particular situation, with the approval of the dean, classes were switched to the desired learning-teaching mode. I commend the faculty, department chair, and dean who proactively dealt with the emergent situation. I am confident that there are many more who play their role in a similar efficient fashion.

Flexibility
The key is flexibility according to context and good discernment practice on the part of the teachers in responding to the needs of the students based on what is reasonable and compassionate. The particular circumstances are on the ground – in the classes and the schools. The schools have discerning deans who are there to help in such decision-making processes. I trust in the integrity of department chairs/program directors and deans in handling these matters very well.

I would like to ask that the faculty be more proactive in discussing with their students what is feasible and what is reasonable. Negotiations are important at the level of the classes. We have always emphasized this, especially in emergencies such as what we are facing now.

Choose the Dance!
I’ve heard it said that we cannot always choose the music that life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it. So let’s make that choice well within our parameters of teaching and learning in this kind of weather-music that is being played for us!