SEAMEO TED, in collaboration with its partners, co-organized an international Webinar on “Transformative Learning in the Digital World” on 09 June 2021 virtually (09:00-12:00, Bangkok Time). The webinar aimed to share the good practices and theories, and insights on the roles and strategies of digitization in transforming learning and teaching in different countries. Four different topics were shared by four speakers from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United States of America. 779 participants registered from different countries including Philippines (630), Malaysia (46), Cambodia (42), Indonesia (20), Singapore (8), Myanmar (3), and Vietnam (1) and Other countries (12 participants).
(Photo: Dr Kritsachai Opening the Webinar)
Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, Deputy Director of SEAMEO Secretariat, offered his opening remarks emphasizing the increasing roles and importance of digital technology on education during the pandemic. People need to be smart to survive in this new era of digital world. Therefore, education is the only key to generate smart people, especially through technical and vocational educational training (TVET). Finally, Dr. Kritsachai appreciated SEAMEO TED for organizing various trainings programs online and particularly the webinar today which is very crucial and increasing demand of digital age which can surely fulfil the needs of learners, teachers, and practitioners.
(Photo: Eminent Speakers, Moderator, and Director of SEAMEO TED)
Dr. Chheang Sangvath, a teacher trainer of national institute of education (NIE), Cambodia presented “Role of Principals for Transformative Learning in the Digital World” by highlighting key points related to digitalization and technological development and transformation of education in the era of openness and flexibility, transform education for all 17 SDGs particularly and the role of principals as a transformational leader for transformative learning in a digital era in the 21st century. Finally, he addressed the important tasks of principals in transformative learning and school effectiveness which are the curriculum design, instructional strategies, and learning environments integrating appropriate technologies for the best learning and teaching environment.
Assoc. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Agus Maryono, dean of vocational college of University of Gadjah Mada, Indonesia presented “Development Strategy of Education Institution in the Digital World”. He addressed challenges which need a big changing in education during the pandemic and the strategies to adapt and take advantage and succeed in coping with these changes by digital supports in education, particularly systemic thinking (Education for Sustainable Development, Linkage of Thinking World and Living World, Comprehensive, Organismic, and Synthesis), Dynamic Networking (Personal Networking, Institutional Networking, and Personal and Institutional Networking), and Kknowledge Management (Creating Knowledge, Explicit Knowledge, Contents, Funding for Creating Research).
Prof. Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, president of Quezon City University, presented “Transformative Learning in a Digital Environment: From Theory to Practice”. Dr. Atienza stressed the pedagogical framework of transformative learning, its challenges for technical and vocational courses and the need to adapt for the digital environment. She mainly shared the opportunity of taking advantage of digitalization from the traditional face-to-face class to synchronous and asynchronous online classes and the need for a shift from instructor-led to a learner centered approach during the pandemic.
Dr. Ronald L. Jacobs, professor of Human Resource Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and president of SiTUATE, LLC, presented “Work-Based Learning and Technology: Introducing SiTUATE – the Digital Version of S-OJT”. The digital version of S-OJT which allow employers, and employees to conduct work analysis, manage trainings, auditing information by using tool kits in doing job analysis, task analysis, occupational analysis, skills gap analysis, training guides, and onboarding guides. He also introduced some important materials for work and training management such as templates for work analysis techniques, flexibility in conducting performance checks, integrate performance check, and training plan. Finally, Dr. Jacobs also discussed work-based learning by highlighting an instructional strategy that provides students with authentic work experiences where they can apply academic and technical skills, and develop their employability, and shared the detailed process, steps and key elements of SiTUATE pilot projects
The closing remarks were given by Dr. Songheang Ai, director of SEAMEO TED. He expressed his sincere appreciation and thanks to Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, all keynote speakers and participants for their time and efforts in making the Webinar successful with fruitful results. He highlighted that the webinar is an alternative solution for learners and practitioners for their continuous professional development. He hoped that today’s important topics shared by the resourceful and experienced speakers were beneficial for work settings adapting to participants needs and contexts.