The UP Resilience Institute participated in a two-day writeshop on designing and developing online courses for DRRM at the UP Open University (UPOU) campus in Los Baños, Laguna last 10-11 November 2023. A total of 24 staff from the different divisions and offices of the UPRI participated. The writeshop was conducted with the aim to develop micro-certificate courses on the topics of Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, and Resilience, which will be offered through UPOU’s online platforms. The vision of the writeshop is to launch a standalone module on DRR basics by 5 December, with the other specialized courses and modules being developed and rolling out gradually throughout 2024.
Asst. Prof. Ruben Gamala, Director of the UPRI Education Division, started the writeshop with an opening message, thanking the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) for hosting the writeshop. Dr. Joane Serrano, Dean of the UPOU FMDS gave the welcome remarks, welcoming UPRI to the UPOU campus.
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, Executive Director of UPRI, highlighted the importance of the activity and UPRI and UPOU’s partnership. “I cannot over-emphasize the potential of this endeavor, this activity, na may micro-certificate that can lead to a graduate degree. Malaking bagay ito sa confidence building ng DRR officers, ng mga tao, at mga LGUs outside Metro Manila”, according to Dr. Lagmay in his message for the UPRI staff participating in the writeshop.
Mr. Lianne Depante of the UPOU also emphasized the goal of the writeshop and program which aims to make DRRM education more adaptable and accessible, not only in the Philippines but also internationally.
Dean Joane Serrano was the lead resource person from the UPOU, teaching UPRI staff about resource-based course package and how to do a backward design of online courses. The writeshop also introduced UPOU’s course development process, open and distance e-learning (ODel), and micro-credentials.
From the writeshop, the UPRI was able to create horizontal plans and discuss the alignment of learning outcomes, teaching activities, and assessment for the first course offering of UPRI through the UPOU platform. The writeshop paved the clear way for the realization of the long desired offering of DRRM and CCAM courses to a wider audience.
A Task Force, composed of UPOU and UPRI, will be established to work on developing the course into a possible graduate certificate or master’s program on Resilience.
Posted by UP Resilience Institute Education on November 20, 2023