July 30-31, 2025
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The Benguet State University-Open University (BSU-OU) hosted a two-day seminar-workshop for its faculty members on July 30β31, 2025, at the BSU-OU Conference Hall and simultaneously via Zoom. The activity, titled “Faculty Retooling Workshop on Module and Course Guide Development, Learning Management System, and Research Ethics Process,” was conducted as part of the Open University’s continued commitment to advancing distance education for its students through Open Distance eLearning (ODeL).
The first day of the seminar-workshop was set in tone by Dr. Samuel S. Poliden, OU Director, through an opening message. Poliden welcomed all the participants who attended onsite and virtually. He emphasized that the activity was intentionally designed with the following objectives: to equip BSU-OU faculty with the essential skills and competencies needed to develop inclusive and effective instructional materials tailored for the online learning environment; to promote the use of the Learning Management System (LMS) as a vital tool for teaching and learning in an Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) setting; and to update faculty members, particularly those serving on student advisory committees, on the latest guidelines for the research ethics process, enabling them to better guide their advisees and apply ethical standards in their own research activities.
The seminar-workshop session began with a module development discussion led by Dr. Imelda G. Parcasio, Special Assistant to the VPAA and former Chair of the University Instructional Development Committee. In her discussion, Parcasio highlighted how a course facilitator can deliver effective learning materials to students. She provided a walkthrough of the module development process, guiding participants through each stage. She also discussed the processes and requirements followed by the university in instructional materials development.
The second session was the presentation delivered by Dr. Florence V. Poltic, Chair of the Research Ethics Committee (REC). Her talk covered the key elements and major considerations of research ethics, as well as the processes and guidelines set by the REC. Dr. Poltic emphasized the importance of applying ethical standards to both graduate students’ thesis work and faculty research. For the third session, Dr. Igrelyn P. Pinos-an, OU Assistant Director for Open Distance Learning, discussed the topic Course Design for Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL). She encouraged faculty members to adopt ODeL-aligned approaches in developing engaging and pedagogically sound instructional materials for online learning.
The second day of the activity was slated for a series of workshop sessions. The morning session focused on horizontal syllabi and course guide development aligned with the principles of Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL). These workshop outputs were designed to support faculty in effectively delivering their courses and to guide students in successfully completing their coursework throughout the semester.
Finally, the afternoon lecture-workshop on the use of the Learning Management System (LMS), specifically MOODLE was delivered by Assistant Director Dandy P. Tindaan. The session provided faculty members with an orientation on the platformβs features and functionalities, including account creation, course setup, and navigation. The hands-on component of the workshop allowed participants to explore LMS tools that can be used to facilitate online teaching and learning more efficiently. Tindaan emphasized that the workshop will be followed by a series of sessions to support the continuous learning and system familiarization of all faculty members with the system.
The two-day seminar-workshop not only served as an avenue for enhancing knowledge and skills in the delivery of open and distance eLearning but also provided a platform for updates on developments within the Open University. It offered faculty members the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback, and contribute ideas for improving various university processes.
//RSanowan