The Effectiveness of Webinar in Improving Academic Performance of 3rd Year BSED Students at Bestlink College of the Philippines
Vol. 3, No. 2
Abstract
The new 21st century learner is now engaged in a digital world where the learner of this era uses the internet as access of learning. The internet offers some of the best opportunities and resources to improve the academic performance of the learners and one of the various technology training tools. Webinars are "online-based seminars, in which students and teachers are connected live across various geographical locations using shared virtual platforms and engage synchronously in real time using voice over IP and web camera equipment," according to Gegenfurtner and Ebner (2019).
A webinar is a specific type of web conferencing that has been designed with learning and teaching in mind. During this time of pandemic there is a significant need to innovations in teaching approach and the inclusion of webinars as educational tools would be a great platform due to its capacity to bring together people who are separated by distance through the provision of a digital classroom and real-time communication. Through the years technological training tools like webinar have become part of the new normal. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most activities have become web-based such as online workshops, e-classes, and virtual training. This makes for a safe way to develop educational and professional skills by maintaining social distancing. Webinars are a practical and adaptable teaching and learning tool. Even though webinars have benefits and drawbacks, when properly utilized, they can advance a culture.
It was 2019 when Covid-19 pandemic hit the whole world and it bring about a significant disruption on the entire education in many countries specially the Philippines. During this time of pandemic schools were forced to almost total closure to avoid the spreading of the disease. Assessing the learner’s academic performance became a challenge to educators and the needs of innovation to assist learners in enhancing their academic achievement, the most recent instructional methodologies and tools are now highly needed. Both learners and educators have difficulties in learning and coping with such changes. Bestlink College of the Philippines is not exempted with this. It has been difficult for both educators and learners to cope with this rapid switching of learning method, and it influenced their performance due to the change of today’s situation. The idea that everything is possible if you have the will.
Education must always find a way, just as life does has been significantly applicable nowadays. It was intriguing to realize that the idea of blended learning has been around since the World War, even before there were modern tools available today. If it functioned back then, it ought to function even better today. With the help of today’s technology, it could be very possible to address such challenges in education and the solutions are in reach of our hands. High-level innovations and programs for professional development are necessary to prepare teachers for the problems of the present.
