The Learning Design subunit of the Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL) at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) recently conducted a synchronous online orientation for newly appointed Faculty-in-Charge (FICs) on 31 January 2026. The activity introduced new faculty members to UPOU’s open and distance e-learning (ODeL) environment, including details about the course orientation and learning management system (LMS).
The orientation was led by Dr. Juvy Lizette Gervacio, CODTL Director, and Dr. Joseph De Mesa, Deputy Director for Learning Design. New faculty members also introduced themselves, sharing the courses they would be teaching, and their affiliations.
Dr. Gervacio emphasized the importance of synchronous communication in fostering a sense of community among online learners. She explained that the orientation course was designed to simulate online teaching methods, allowing participants to learn at their own pace.
Dr. De Mesa discussed the UPOU Workspace, a faculty-facing learning management system used for capacity-building training. He provided a walkthrough of the FIC orientation course site, highlighting its structure and key modules on open and distance learning (ODeL) principles, faculty duties and responsibilities, resource-based course packages (RBCPs), and online learning facilitation. He further introduced the tiered faculty training courses and encouraged participants to complete the Tier 1 courses to better understand online teaching principles and earn digital badges and e-certificates from UPOU.
The facilitators also discussed guidelines on the use of UPOU’s LMS, emphasizing its role in assessments, learning resource delivery, and communication to ensure proper documentation and facilitate course tracking. The session also highlighted best practices in course material management, including the use of open educational resources, limiting synchronous sessions to two to three per semester, and providing timely feedback to support student learning in the online environment.
The activity is part of the CODTL’s progressive tiered capacity-building initiative for faculty members across the university. Through orientation programs and succeeding training courses, the Center continues to support faculty in strengthening their competencies in ODeL, promoting effective online facilitation, learner engagement and quality teaching practices in the university’s digital learning environment.
Written by Lovelyn P. Petrasanta | Edited by Dr. Joseph De Mesa
