By Genno Gabriel Rabaya | October 5, 2023
To “upskill faculty, staff, and students,” the Silliman University (SU) Lao Global Studies Center launched Open Online Courses (SOOCs) for the school year 2023–2024.
Initially intended for teachers, SOOCs recently became available for all students, members, or non-members of SU; and do not require any fees to register.
Dr. Dave Marcial, Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL) Director, said, “The objective [of SOOCs] is basically [for] continuous professional development or for continuing professional development to anyone.”
He also said SOOCs are self-paced, indicating that enrollees can study at their own pace and time. However, there are specific periods that they have to follow, especially when it starts and when it ends.
The content for the SOOCs was curated from previous online courses.
Meanwhile, grants offered by external organizations such as the United Board for Christian Higher Education Institutions aided in course making and presenting.
When discussing the enrollment process for the SOOCs, Fredlie Bucog, SOUL training specialist, said that it is through self-enrollment.
Individuals interested in enrolling may go to the website “ourSOUL.su.edu.ph/lms.”
Bucog also said that one of the current open online courses is “Fighting Information Disorder on Social Media,” which runs from August to Oct. 30.
This course is intended for student leaders and focuses on “how to combat information disorder on social media.”
Completers of the SOOCs will receive a certificate of completion by the end of their courses.
The courses will run until July 2024. The duration of the courses will depend on the period of asynchronous engagement from learners with the materials in “ourSOUL,” a platform used for the SOOCs.
Other courses offered are “Digital Safety and Security,” “Gamifying your Virtual Classroom,” and “Emerging Innovations in Teaching and Learning,” among other topics.
