THE global health crisis has greatly affected the way we deliver and receive education as the abrupt halt in conducting face-to-face classes compelled schools to go digital. Many challenges became apparent, as both institutions and students strive to navigate learning during a pandemic and transitioning into the new normal.
In the past year, students continued their education digitally. Due to the sudden change, students voiced out various struggles about their online classes — voicing their struggle to strike a work-life balance at home, managing their time wisely, and keeping up with their academic requirements because of cluttered learning platforms, poor internet connections, or the unavailability of devices. Moreover, the social aspect of learning has made students feel isolated.
In the interest of innovation while keeping health and safety as a priority, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, A Mapúa School, delivers technology-driven education derived from Mapúa University’s culture of excellence and provides advanced facilities paired with the best online learning platforms -- guiding students to learn with ease in the new normal.
“MCM’s Unique Learning System is guided by the ‘Equity First’ principles. Equity in education requires putting systems in place to ensure that every student has an equal chance for success, reducing course failures and dropouts. It requires understanding the unique challenges and barriers faced by students and providing additional support to help them overcome those barriers,” stated Engr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, Malayan Colleges Mindanao and Malayan Colleges Laguna’s President and Chief executive officer.
MCM’s Unique Learning System supports learner-centered outcomes-based education that helps students become locally and globally competitive professionals. With a more comprehensive and more centralized learning management system called MCM Digital, students access their learning materials, modules, and grades all in one place.
MCM Digital (powered by Blackboard Learn) is an all-in-one learning management system where teachers can create courses with relevant learning materials. MCM also provides its students with a wide array of online materials through WileyPLUS, Panopto, Elsevier, Cengage, ALEKS, and more.
“MCM creates inclusive experiences to ensure that every student can engage in our courses by providing them with tools and resources that enhance the learning experience,” said Josef Mika-el del Corro, head of the Innovations in Digital Environments and Learning Solutions (IDEaLS).
Education in the new normal is made more efficient when student sentiments are heard, which allows the administration to work together with the students towards one goal as MCM continues to provide solutions to enrich student life and ensure quality education.
MCM provides solutions to resource requirements for distanced learning by forging partnerships with local telecommunication companies such as Smart, Globe, and Sky, as well as computer resellers to address our students’ connectivity and device problems. MCM also allows borrowing of the school’s iPads when students raise concerns of having no devices at home for online learning, Engr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo added.
“I’ve been practicing digital learning for two years and counting since MCM allowed us to access both traditional and online learning. However, this time, it is quite difficult and challenging [due to the pandemic], but I would like to take this new horizon of learning as an advantage. MCM’s online class is a fun and great tool for us students since it is self-paced learning... By this, I would like to encourage everyone [to not] be intimidated that you [won’t be able to] cope with online classes but take this as an opportunity to learn something new,” said Charlene Quindoza, first year BS Civil Engineering student from MCM.
MCM is now open for Senior High School and College applications for SY 2021-2022. Furthermore, there is much to look forward to at MCM as the institution waits for its approval to offer Junior High School in the upcoming school years.
For more information, check out MCM’s official website at mcm.edu.ph. (PR)