Being the third department on the consecutive College consultation meeting, the School of Computing department discussed the usage of Canvas as the online learning platform for the blended online classes with the Holy Angel University Administration this Academic Year 2020 – 2021.
“Ang kaibahan ng Canvas, may video conferencing. Magstick tayo sa schedule. Walang mag-ooverlap, walang mag-oovernight,” said Kevin Aldrin Espinosa, Information Technology (IT) Program Coordinator.
The schedule for online classes will be the same with the in-campus schedules. Therefore, if in-campus classes start at 7:00 AM, online learning will exactly be at the same schedule.
“We recommend to have a live orientation to help those students na hindi marunong gumamit ng Canvas”, said Mr. Robby Tantingco, Vice President for Student Affairs and Service, with regards to those students who do not know how to use or access the said application.
Tantingco also requested in the meeting that the School of Computing department hold tutorial-like video thru online to cater those who do not know how to use the Canvas application.
“With the Three Angel ng OSA, dapat ang isa doon literate para maturuan”, added Tantingco referring to the Three Angel program of the Office of Student Services and Affairs that provides three mentors (Guidance Counselor, Adviser, and a fellow senior co-student) to a bonafide student of the University.
Besides the usage of canvas, concerns such as scholarship grants, class schedule for both online and blended learning, the devices to be used for SOC students, open source software, and the discouragement of downloading pirated software were also raised and discussed in the meeting.
SOC syllabus still on the works
“In the case of the EMC students, maliit lang ang size, ma-eensure ang social distancing”, said Kevin Aldrin Espinosa, Information Technology (IT) Program Coordinator.
The department is still trying to fix the syllabus in which lectures will be given through an online learning and the Animations and/or any related programming courses will be set upon the campus in the coming semester. This set-up has no finality yet as the university adheres on the rules of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Licensed, Open Source Softwares
“Ang Animation on campus talaga. Hindi pipilitin mag animation sa bahay kasi mahirap talaga. Even the teachers mahihirapan because of the poor devices”, added Espinosa.
When asked about the licensed software that the university can provide to students, Dr. Francisco Napalit, Dean of School of Computing answered that it is possible and that there are free licensed softwares because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.
“We will never encourage students to download pirated software. May mga open source for free. We recommend software na cheaper than those in the market. Nagkakatalo lang sa version but the difference is minimal”, said Dr. Napalit when asked about pirated softwares.
[Translation: …pirated software. There are open source for free. We recommend software that are cheaper than those in the market. There is variation in the version but the difference is minimal.]
Last year scholarship grants retained
With the university’s scholarship grants, those students who have been receiving grants since last semester will be retained. However, academic grades will still be evaluated. The university will not accept new scholars, but there will be financial assistance to be given for the freshmen and the academic scholarship – 100%, 75%, and 50% depending on the grades they have acquired from their previous schools.
“Aayusin ang schedule ng mga bata para they can compensate the lost hours because may required hours yan. Everything will be taken care of”, Ms. Edna Marizza Santos, Assistant Academic Vice President explained regarding the Student Aids’ Requirement.
The next Zoom video conference will be on May 5, 2:00 PM with the fourth department to conduct a consultative meeting, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM).
