One hundred thirty two faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) attended the training on the new general education (GE) courses, which will be taught to Grade 12 graduates of the K-12 curriculum for the first semester next year.

Held at the Information Technology Center on July 21-28, the training was conducted in two batches where the participants were oriented on the nine new GE core courses. In the new GE curriculum, eight are core courses and one is mandated. Collectively, all these are referred to as the nine GE core courses.

The GEC core courses are interdisciplinary and they accommodate a range of disciplinal perspective and approaches. The goal is the holistic development of a person who possesses intellectual, personal and civic competencies and practical responsibilities.

The conduct of the training was in line with the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, series of 2013. The CMO sets the goals, outcomes, and competencies, and the minimum standards for the GE component of all degree programs that applies to all higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. Likewise, it also includes capacity building for start-up and for continuing sustainability program.

The first batch of training included four GE courses — Art Appreciation, The Contemporary World, Mathematics in the Modern World, and Readings in Philippine History. The other five GE courses were tackled in the second batch where the subjects were in line with Purposive Communication; Science, Technology and Society; Understanding the Self; Ethics and Life and Works of Rizal.

The CAS faculty members who were awarded the certificate of completion in the 18-day CHED trainers’ training on the new GE courses in October 2016 and January 2017 served as resource speakers.

They were James M. Bandayrel and Editha B. Valdez (Art Appreciation); Rommel M. Dascil and Lorma G. Quibilan (The Contemporary World); Ciriaco T. Ragual, Liliwa A. Olalo and Dinah C. Vidad (Mathematics in the Modern World); Mee Jay A. Domingo, Alma A. Sierra and Nelie S. Salvador (Purposive Communication); Ma. Tereza A. Blanco, Rhoda T. Garcia, Napoleon M. Cacanindin, and Karina L. Damo (Science, Technology and Society); Jerry C. Buenavista and Bella G. Ramos (Readings in Philippine History); Leslie Kay S. Rivera (Life and Works of Rizal); Fides Bernando A. Bitanga and Rex-belli L. Alejandro (Ethics); and Marlyn S. Cacatian and Elizabeth Marfel F. Gagni (Understanding the Self).

In collaboration with the Extension Directorate, the training involved faculty members of CAS, College of Teacher Education, College of Industrial Technology, College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology faculty. It was also attended by the faculty members of Northwestern University, Northern Christian College, and Divine Word College of Laoag.

The participants learned the new GE courses from which they will be able to develop teaching materials that will be used next school year. Moreover, it provided a venue through which the participants identified and shared their practices and strategies in teaching the new GE courses. (By Marivic M. Alimbuyuguen)