Over 100 Project FREE Paglaum participants joined the “Teaching Diverse Learners in the Digital Age” seminar organized by the Continuing Education Program on September 6.
Featuring reputable speakers Dr. Jasper Alontaga and Dr. Aime Guarino, the seminar aimed to equip educators with inclusive and practical strategies for effectively addressing the needs of 21st-century learners.
The Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program is part of the scholarship grant for Project FREE Paglaum alumni and faculty members, provided by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental under the leadership of Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson.
Project FREE (Flagships to Reach Educational Excellence) – Paglaum Program, is a partnership between the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and the University.
It offers post-graduate studies to public school teachers and reflects Governor Lacson’s vision of preparing educators with the skills needed to make schools more responsive to the evolving demands of education.
The first session, “Accessibility, Equity, and Inclusivity: Using AI for Diverse Learners,” was led by Dr. Jasper Alontaga, Director of the Online Distance Education Office and Associate Professor of the Department of Educational Leadership and Management.
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He emphasized the importance of embedding accessibility, equity, and inclusivity in classrooms and discussed how AI can help broaden teachers’ approaches to delivering effective, inclusive instruction.
The second session was facilitated by Dr. Aime Guarino, Chair of the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department of De La Salle University, Manila.
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In her talk, “Strategies in Handling Learners with Academic and Behavioral Problems,” she revisited practical approaches to addressing common challenges and shared authentic classroom-based experiences as models for teachers.
Participants also collaborated in developing role-play scripts, which allowed them to simulate and reflect on real-life teaching scenarios.
The seminar not only enhanced participants’ understanding of AI in education and reimagined classroom practices in the context of 21st-century learning, but also strengthened professional competence in line with international standards mandated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).