What awaits us after learning resumes?
The 2023 Annual Educators Conference (AECON) acknowledged and discussed this topic at a 2-day event that was held largely recently. Nearly 20,000 education practitioners, policy makers and thought leaders gathered at AECON under the theme “From Learning Resilience to Learning Resilience” to address emerging issues and trends in education and most importantly, continue the direction towards learning resilience develop.
AECON 2023 strives to help DepEd achieve its goal of developing the resilience of learners and educational ecosystems to advance research on learning recovery. Drawing inspiration from the organisation’s 2030 Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP), the event explores issues of quality and inclusive education, learner empowerment and a good learning environment.
“In a sense, it’s an affirmation for us that what we’re doing contributes to a larger national goal,” said REX CEO Don Timothy I. Buhain in his opening remarks. “This affirmation has pushed us to be more enthusiastic and contributing people – a feeling and emotion we hope to share with you all.”
learn from experts
AECON has invited well-known local and international speakers from different disciplines. The keynote speaker was Hon. Gina O. Gonong, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, Ministry of Education.
The plenary session was opened by Dr. Yolanda Quijano, Party Leader, Project Gabay, on the theme of “Expanding access to education for disadvantaged groups to ensure inclusive and equitable quality services”. Dr Quijano highlighted how limited access to formal education is for disadvantaged youth. She cites children in remote or impoverished areas (GIDA), youth in Indigenous cultural communities (ICC), Muslim students and people with disabilities as some of the forgotten groups.
Dr Alison Atwell, International Whole School Improvement Consultant, was also present at the session on ‘The Teacher’s Toolbox: Six Essential Tools for Whole-Student Growth’. Dr. Atwell elaborates on the different tools education professionals can use to optimize classroom success, namely creative interactive instruction, positive school environments, inclusive classrooms, participatory shared leadership, supportive school culture, and engagement with families and communities.
AECON concluded the plenary session with Dr. Amy Berry, International Education Consultant and author of Reimagining Student Engagement: From Disruption to Facilitation, her The speech was “Quality-focused to ensure all learners meet learning standards at every key stage” in the K to 12 program. Berry focuses on what she calls the building blocks that develop language, partnership, and engagement processes in one’s classroom. Each is linked to specific actions, such as developing effective Collaboration and activation of fundamental skills that facilitate learning.
In any case, Ms Rita Atienza, Director of the Ateneo Teachers Center, moderated the Q&A session after each plenary session.
In addition to the different lectures, participants can freely choose 2 out of 10 breakout sessions covering different topics such as basic education, early childhood care and development, and higher education. These sessions are jointly organized by a number of partner organizations within the industry and allow attendees to deepen their experience through topics of interest to them.
The organizations that facilitated the breakout sessions were Early Childhood Care and Development Council, Pambansang Samahan sa Linggwistika, Ink., Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas, Philippine Teachers University Graduate School and Teacher Education Research Institute, Social Studies Teachers’ Organization in the Philippines, Filipino Reading Association , Department of Values Education, College of Education, University of the Philippines, Association of Overseas Schools of the Philippines, Guidance and Counseling Association of the Philippines, Association of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, etc.
Paving the way for recovery and resilience
The conference officially concluded with a general session by Dr. Jerome Buenviaje, Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of the Philippines Diliman. “We must understand that resilience is a weapon in the fight to empower our learners [and] Create positive learning environments so we can have a quality and inclusive education,” he said. “In looking forward to learning about resilience, We will stand up because we are Filipinos (We will recover because we are Filipinos). “
Over the years, AECON has been a testament to Rex Education’s commitment to public and national service. “The worst may be over, but the journey of learning recovery and learning resilience is far from over. It has been a joy to travel with you,” Buhain said of the AECON attendees, whom he called Edukampyons, ie Advocates of education. “Ultimately, we all make a difference.”
Through the power of AECON and Edukampyons, Rex Education remains committed to the journey from learning recovery to learning resilience.
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