Pisay opens classes using KHub remote learning system
The youth today are introduced to the computer and digital media long before they learned to read and write.
As we begin to shift towards blended learning under the new normal, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School System (DOST-PSHSS) or Pisay is one of the educational institutions that quickly adapts and makes necessary adjustments when it comes to crafting its modules and developing the skill set of its teaching personnel.
With less than a week before the opening of its classes for the new academic calendar year, the DOST-PSHSS will introduce to its 16 regional campuses an online learning management system suitable for a more technology-savvy generation.
Called Knowledge Hub or KHub, it contains libraries of teaching guides for Pisay teachers and students to have a one-stop-shop for all their academic needs for the coming years.
“Tulad ng tradisyunal na classroom, dito nakikipag-usap ang mga guro at mag-aaral. Maaaring ilagay ng mga guro ang kanilang tala at pagsusulit para makuha at masagutan ng mga estudyante. Nilalayon nito na mapagaan ang pang araw-araw na gawain ng mga guro at mag-aaral”, said Francis Joseph Serina, Information Technology Officer II from the Office of Executive Director of DOST-PSHSS during the recent episode of the DOST Report aired on 21 August 2020 by DOSTv.
(Just like the traditional classroom, the teachers and students talk here. The teachers can put their records and examinations so that students can access and answer them. It aims to lighten the workload of the teachers)
KHub has various features, and Campus KHub is one of them. It is where teachers meet their students. Subjects with individual rules or courses can be seen here only by the students enrolled in these subjects.
It also has a feature called “Badges” that gives rewards to students. If the exercises are done correctly, the next activity can already be unlocked. Through this, the assessment will be quicker and there will be an assurance that the students have already mastered the skills for a particular subject. Additional to that, the teachers can also upload other learning materials such as records for the recitation and written tests.
“Kapag ang guro naman ang nakapasok, makikita niya ang mga asignatura na nakatakda para sa kanya at mga tala ng panayam na gagamitin niya para sa kanyang asignatura.” said Serina.
(As soon as the teacher logs in, he/she can see the subjects that are assigned to him/her, along with the records for the activities that will be used in the subject.)
Aside from uploading materials, it is easy to repeat a test using KHub since it serves as the learning and teaching repository. There are also learning resource materials from the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute, Department of Agriculture, previous researches from academe, and many others that can be accessed.
Also accessible in KHub is the guide in conducting webinars which was developed and prepared by the Research and Policy Academic Division of Pisay.
“Bagamat ang KHub ay fully online, iminumungkahi namin sa mga mag-aaral na i-download ang mga student learning guide para makapag-aral pa rin sila kahit walang internet connection o offline mode,” said Serina.
Although KHub is fully online, we encourage the students to download the student learning guide so they can still study even they don’t have an internet connection, or they’re on offline mode.
To ensure the effectiveness of its implementation, Pisay has developed a bridging program using distance learning. It is non-graded and designed for Pisay scholars. Serina explained that this is to fill in the learning topics that were removed due to the suspension of classes during the 4th grading period of the previous school year.
The teachers and students will also be given an allowance to facilitate remote teaching and learning.
By: Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII
