By Cyrus A. Natividad

CPUES Guidance Counselor Johanna Faith Candido conducting an online class.

Johanna Faith Candido, a Guidance Counselor and a Homeroom Guidance class teacher at Central Philippine University Elementary School, is in her 5th year of working when the Covid-19 caused the University to use an online learning management system that required them to teach students in this new normal.

“I felt as if the new online system of education has made a change on me. When we prayed that the virus will not affect us, I found positive values through the daunting experience in teaching students online. It has really taught a lot with regards to my attitude and perceptions.”

Apart from her regular classes, she conducts the Homeroom Guidance class for 20 sections (from grades 1 to 6); 4-5 sections every Friday, in which the schedule is distributed within the whole day. The Guidance class includes a worship segment that includes value formation, self-awareness, and personality development.
“As a teacher, the Covid-19 crisis has taught me to help the students not only on basic learning but to inculcate spiritual, moral, and emotional values to the students. Central Philippine University inherently teaches us these values to be lived by.”

CPUES teacher Ma. Theza Faye Garuan during one of her online classes. She shared that the pandemic has changed the way she looks at hardships and challenges.

There are several changes in the “new normal” educational system that I thank the Lord for so much”, said Ma. Theza Faye Garuan, also a CPU Elementary teacher. First, she said, “I changed my outlook on appreciating challenges, especially during this time of the Covid-19 crisis. It strengthened my faith so that I could readily understand every problem. I also became disciplined in managing my time and requirements.”

Secondly, she said, “I greatly put more focus on preparing lessons for my students. I make sure that I know everything I have to impart to them. I make sure that I am prepared to teach the values of the lessons before I start the online class.” “This new struggle is a new experience that should be giving us strength and sustain us in contending with the new normal system in teaching and learning,” she added.

Teachers in Central Philippine University help each other in adapting and learning the new normal, and the process of transmitting education to their students online, respectively.