The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization – Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH) invited Dr. Bernardo D. Lamadrid, DMMMSU-MLUC Head of Students Affairs Services and IT professor, to review and evaluate the course content, methodology, and other features of the Southeast Asia Teaching Competency Framework Course (SEA-TCF) which run from June to August 2021 via self-paced learning.

As a pilot course, SEA-TCF was opened to teachers all over the Southeast Asia Region last June 25. Dr. Lamadrid facilitated the teacher-learners from Malaysia and the Philippines.

For the total duration of the course, learners were expected to navigate the course—14 lessons in total— and share their insights, thoughts, and experiences about joyful learning, recalibrating teaching philosophy, adapting learning delivery modalities, curbing burnout and enhancing wellness, designing learning experiences, building and practicing empathy, and designing authentic assessment.

“As the course facilitator, I ensure their participation in all forum discussions, submission of requirements, and live sessions”, said Dr. Lamadrid of his role and responsibility in the said framework course.

Live and synchronous sessions were usually scheduled during weekends to guarantee full participation from participants— making sure that these sessions will not be in conflict with their work schedules during weekdays.

Dr. Lamadrid’s teacher-learners come from various levels in the academe. They are pre-school teachers, elementary, high school, and senior high school teachers teaching science, language, mathematics, visual arts, among others.

Participants from the Philippines come from Baguio City, Caloocan, Cabanatuan and Aklan; while Malaysian participants come from Melaka, Sabah, Kajang, Malacca, Kota Samarahan, Bandar Seri Begawan, Sarawak, Labuan and Butterworth.

SEA-TCF is an online course for teachers based on the framework. Throughout the course, learners developed the Four Essential Competencies namely, (i) Know and understand what I teach, (ii) Help my students learn, (iii) Engage my community, and (iv) Become a better teacher everyday. An International Certificate of Competence was given to all learners who completed the course.  

Dr. Lamadrid reflected that this course gave him a “broader perspective as to how the teaching-learning process is being done not only in the Philippines but also in Malaysia”.

“It is important, as the flexible learning tutor, to keep the learners highly engaged during live sessions. As they come with a lot of experiences of different backgrounds, creating a conducive online session is a priority”, he added.

Meanwhile, he hopes to have the chance to share best practices of the course as to how teachers and learners can adapt better to the new normal, and looks forward to facilitating the course with teachers not only in the Philippines but also from other countries in the region.  

SEA-TCF was developed by the Teachers’ Council of Thailand (TCT), in partnership with the SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES) and SEAMEO INNOTECH. It is intended as a reference framework for pre-service teacher education, recruitment and selection, in-service training and continuing professional development for teachers in Southeast Asia. In August 2018, the SEAMEO Council approved the Southeast Asia Teachers Competency Framework (SEA-TCF) to be used for teachers in the region. (Jesus Rafael Jarata)