Create. Connect. by Switch: Learning the Language of The Learners Through Innovative Digital Education
Switch, an authorized education reseller of Apple products conducted “Create. Connect. By Switch” last January 29 – 30, 2020, in partnership with Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MapúaMCM). The event aimed to raise awareness among teachers and help them understand iPad integration in education and the different possibilities that come with it.
The event was open to all faculty members from different schools. All in all, there were around 60 participants, who are educators from DepEd Region XI, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Holy Child College of Davao, Holy Cross of Davao College, University of the Immaculate Concepcion, ACES Tagum College, Sultan Kudarat State University, University of the Southeastern Philippines, Jose Maria College, and University of Mindanao.
CitySavings was also made available to the participants of the event, offering a salary loan for them, because they understand that not all instructors can afford Apple products.
For Day 1, the morning and main session of the program was held at the MapúaMCM Auditorium where two keynote speakers were invited to give a talk to the participants of the event.
Mr. Henry Magahis, an Apple distinguished educator from De La Salle–Santiago Zobel, was the first keynote speaker of the event. He put emphasis on 21st century education—and how schools should keep up with the digital learners, not the other way around.
“My focus and my role today is to give you a clear direction or clear understanding of the “why” we have in mind. Why do we need to upgrade from our traditional classroom?” Mr. Magahis said during his talk.
He highlighted that as educators, they must spark curiosity, encourage creativity, free imagination, apply critical thinking, and empower the culture of collaboration among the students.
Mr. Paolo Balinas, the Channel Manager for Education from Microsoft, was the second keynote speaker who gave a talk about tools and technologies for the modern learner. He also noted how in the present generation, the roles of teachers have evolved in how we promote active collaboration inside our classrooms, as well as the various learning preferences of the students.
His talk was centered on how instructors can leverage technology to be able to cater to the different learning styles of the students, through Microsoft’s various features such as collaborative classrooms, digital inking feature, learning tools, and more.
In the afternoon, there were a series of breakout sessions about Microsoft Office on IOS, From Coding to Computational Thinking, and Appreciating Music Through GarageBand held on the fifth floor of the school building.
For Day 2, the Switch team conducted a demo at the 1900 Store. Students from Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao and Holy Child College of Davao, accompanied by their teacher, participated during the demo presented by Switch. They were shown different features that can help them with studying and note-taking on the iPad using Microsoft Office.
