GE N E R AL BAPTIST
via Facebook Messenger. Their activities, quizzes, and exams are written on notebooks and the students take photos of their answers and send the images back to their teachers. Many of our college students are from rural areas By Dr. Joyce Porcadilla-Rubia where internet connectivity is a problem. Most of them need to travel to find signal to download their weekly It has been a little over a month since school year lessons and activities. 2020-2021 started here at the General Baptist Bible We are busier than ever because our learning College. We opened this new school year with the packets have been made from scratch. In the basic theme, “In gratitude, we bow down Before Christ.” Our education department, the students have textbooks so theme verse is found in Psalm 138:2 (NASB): “I will bow the learning packets are supplemental. down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your However, for our college students, we have to put name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You all the content in their modules since they do not have have magnified Your word according to all Your name.” access to our library or have their own textbooks. This school year has been a We also need to produce our very challenging journey. By and own instructional videos. Teachers through the sustaining grace of our are not used to teaching in front of Abba Father, we have been able to a camera. This has added pressure make it through a day at a time. to their work. The new normal of teaching Our campus has been and learning has posed a lot of transformed to cater to all the adjustments. Since face to face production needs, as well as classes have been prohibited by accommodating health protocols. the government, everything is The covered court is the main distance learning. We have put in internet hub. This is where our place a blended learning approach, teachers work on their learning which involves online and offline packets, since our classrooms GBBC classroom in a virtual environment. modalities. For those who have do not have WiFi. The weekly reliable internet access, they distribution of packets is done from opted for online learning. We have made use of Google this location as well. Classrooms are used for audio Classroom. recording of lessons. On the other hand, for those with no internet All the printing is done manually in the library. connection or have very limited connectivity, we print Video recording and filming of instructional videos learning packets. Every week, parents come to pick up and virtual lessons is done in the periodicals area. The the learning packets. editing of videos is also done in the library. We have used all sorts of communication platforms The non-teaching staff had to step up and learn to keep in touch with our students and parents: text, the technology of video production. Some of the call, email, Facebook Messenger, group chats, video administrative staff have helped in the checking and calls/chats, and Google Meet. editing of learning packets for quality control. Our It is also challenging with our college students, school nurse has become our entrance gate keeper, as since most of them rely on mobile phones and free she takes the temperature of all those entering. Our data on Facebook. All the modules are sent to them security officer is stationed at the exit gate.
B I B LE COLLE GE U PDATE
18 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020
