Clay Pots & Wooden Spoons

I just received in my email a message from the Student Council’s VP for Academics regarding the changes that will happen in the class schedules for the coming terms brought about by the movement from a lecture based class into a transformative class where students would actively participate in the learning process. The following is the letter I received:

Dear Students,

This e-mail intends to help clarify many points that have been coming up regarding the standardization of class hours. Although it is with sincere hope that we arrive at a genuine appreciation for this initiative, there will definitely be people in the community who would prefer otherwise. However, this scheme was done not only for operational efficiency but for us to better the quality of education in DLSU.

Although the proposal came about because of the implementation of the Transformative Learning Pedagogy, there is a general consensus among the faculty that learning in the classroom may be furthered given a 1.5 hour class period. The scheme intends to foster a deeper and more cohesive discussion of topics given in our curriculum and is given great regard as we gear toward becoming a research University.

Trust that the Student Council will be vigilant in monitoring the Administration’ s promise to strictly implement the Library Development Plan and the Faculty Development Program.

We encourage you to attend the various forums to be sponsored by the batch units regarding the implementation of the said scheme.
For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to approach any SC officer. Thank you!

Nicole Marie R. Villarojo
VP-Academics
DLSU-Manila Student Council
0917-xxxxxxx

The following is included in the message which gives the students some ideas as to what changes would be implemented:

THINGS TO KNOW REGARDING THE STANDARDIZATION OF CLASS HOURS

1. The Council of Deans has agreed to implement the pilot run during Term 3 of school year 2007-2008.
2. The following time blocks will be used:
   1. 0800-0930
   2. 0940-1110
   3. 1120-1250
   4. 1300-1430
   5. 1440-1610
   6. 1620-1750
   7. 1800-1930
   8. 1940-211
3. The proposed lecture day combination is: Monday-Wednesday and Tuesday-Thursday with Friday as an “extra” day.
4. Fridays 1430 onwards will be proposed as common free time or “U-break”. No make-up class is to be scheduled during this said U-break.
5. Based on the simulation study conducted using SY 07-08 Term 1 data, the college Academic Assistants and COS Vice-Dean affirmed that the existing classrooms and laboratories would be able to accommodate on a 1.5 class hour basis. However, CCS, COE, COS and CLA (Com Arts) will need to schedule some spill-over classes on the free day for laboratory classes.
6. Science laboratory and PE classes will also be able to conform to the standard time.
7. On the laboratory schedules, since some of these classes are less than 3 hours and will occupy less than two time blocks, a standard time block that will not cross standard lecture time blocks will be adopted, as follows:
   1. For three-hour laboratory classes, the standard lecture time blocks will be adopted.
   2. For two-hour laboratory classes, a 30-minute grace period from the standard lecture time block will be adopted, occupying two standard lecture time blocks.
   3. For one-hour laboratory classes, a 30-minute grace period from the standard lecture time block will be adopted, occupying one standard lecture time block
8. Saturdays will adopt the standard lecture time blocks. Specific standard blocks for graduate classes will be identified.
9. During the remainder of the weekdays, all student organizations may continue to sponsor activities for the student body.
10. AVC for Academic Services, Ms. Agnes Yuhico will hold a press conference open to all students regarding the new class scheme. Details still TBA.

These changes affect me since I still have another term left in DLSU to finish off my remaining 12 units. I’m not that excited about the schedule changes simply because there are some classes which really makes it hard for students to concentrate or remain interested even for an hour. I’m sincerely hoping that the new structure in the classroom and the learning process makes it possible for students to cope with the condensed lessons we have and fully maximize learning. Hopefully the new process would make some classes lively since there really are some professors who teach in a monotonous way. Also, I’d have to try harder for next term I suppose since I have a short attention span. I really enjoy my MWF 1 hour classes because I learn more from it than my TH (Tuesday, Huwebes) classes which have 1.5 hours per subject.

I really don’t think time is the issue on maximizing learning because in my experiences, I have many professors who teach a one hour class and I really learn a lot from them. I really think that its the concise and straight to the point teaching that helps students learn and successfully utilize the lessons learned in the class, than the amount of time they spent per day in the classroom. One hour is enough to understand something, even the theories, if the professor teaching it can explain the lesson in terms a normal person understand. Its just weird how some professors can explain a concept in 2-5 sentences and hit it right, while others take more than that and still be unable to pass the right idea to the students.

I just hope that the changes for next term doesn’t delay me much more. I want to graduate already and I’m really hoping that nothing goes wrong with the implementation of the new class schedules for next term, especially like the one caused by the “No Failure due to Absences” policy implemented for a term then had been faulty when the midterms came.

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