March 17, 2025 – West Visayas State University (WVSU) continued its teacher training workshop today, bringing together educators from colleges and external campuses to explore strategies for creating more engaging and inclusive classrooms in the 21st century.
Dr. Alona M. Belarga, Director of Instruction at WVSU, welcomed the participants and highlighted the significance of adapting teaching strategies to create more engaging and inclusive classrooms. “In today’s fast-evolving educational landscape, it is essential that we focus on developing student-centered classrooms,” Dr. Belarga said.
“Our goal is to empower educators to not only be the source of knowledge but to engage students as active participants in their learning journey”, she added.
The workshop featured Emily Box, an English Language Fellow from the U.S. Embassy, as the resource speaker. Box highlighted the critical role of collaboration in the classroom, stating, “When teachers engage with students in a dynamic way, they open up opportunities for deeper learning and richer educational experiences.” Box’s insights helped frame the workshop’s focus on practical strategies for improving classroom engagement, with particular attention to personalized instruction and collaborative learning methods.
During the workshop, participants were introduced to a variety of practical strategies for enhancing classroom engagement. They had the opportunity to reflect on how to integrate these strategies into their own teaching practices, ensuring that the learning environment becomes more interactive and responsive to student needs.
A key highlight was the exploration of resources from the “Teacher Toolkit,” a comprehensive online platform offering a variety of materials, including tips on classroom management. Educators were split into small groups to browse the toolkit’s website and select activities aligned with their specific teaching goals. Each group then developed a mini-lesson plan incorporating the tools, demonstrating how they could enhance student engagement.
One of the most innovative aspects of the workshop was the exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. Educators learned how AI can support personalized learning by generating custom lesson plans, creating interactive activities, and tailoring materials to suit the unique needs of each student. This technology offers new possibilities for teachers to differentiate instruction and improve student outcomes.
By the end of the session, the participants had gained valuable tools and insights into creating more dynamic, student-centered classrooms, empowering them to foster deeper student engagement and improve learning outcomes.
By Gladwyn B. Gustilo/ILLO
