iACADEMY gears up for flexible classes

The Philippine Star | May 10, 2020

 

MANILA, Philippines — iAcademy is gearing up to implement a flexible learning arrangement in response to the Commission on Higher Education’s call for a “rolling” opening of classes for colleges and universities for academic year 2020-2021.

Owned by STI founder Eusebio Tanco, iAcademy specializes on computing, business, and design courses.

“The school continues to strive to cultivate a culture of learning by seeking alternative ways of delivering the lessons using the available resources. We rise above this unprecedented situation by being ready and open to radical changes and unconventional ideas while continuing to be creative and innovative in overcoming these difficulties and adapting to the inevitable ‘new normal’,”said Vanessa Tanco, iAcademy’s president and CEO.

Since iAcademy has started online learning and given the new development and directive of CHED, the school has been and will continue to implement a flexible learning mode approach,” Tanco said.

For students to complete their term, classes will continue through flexible learning modes until May 30. These learning modes may be synchronous or asynchronous.

Synchronous learning refers to conducting learning sessions where students and professors interact and collaborate in real time. This includes teleconferences, live broadcasts, webinars, and chats using various online platforms such as Learning Managament Systems, Google Meet, and the like.

In asynchronous teaching and learning, the professors provide offline learning materials or resources that students study or work on. This includes tutorial videos, recorded class sessions, modules, learning guides, PowerPoint presentations, etc. Students and professors communicate via SMS, phone calls, emails, or instant messaging for consultation or feedback.

For students who opt to wait for face-to-face classes, iAcademy scheduled the start of its onsite classes on June 1 until July 15. However, if school operations are still not allowed by June, students will have to wait for their subjects to be offered next school year.

To give consideration to its students who will not be able to attend virtual classes, iAcademy allows its students to file a pandemic break if they decide to discontinue to take the classes they enrolled during the term.

The school reiterated it would not give a failing grade to students who are unable to fulfill the course requirements based on the set deadlines. Instead, they will be given a deferred grade and one-year grace period to fulfill the course requirements.