The University of Baguio recently hosted a significant seminar aimed at enhancing the advising, coaching, and mentoring skills of its teacher education faculty. Held on September 28, 2024, the seminar brought together educators from the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED), Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED), and Bachelor of Physical Education (BPED) programs. The event underscored the value of collaborative professional development in shaping the future of teacher education.
The seminar was led by Dr. Bernardita C. Ayunon, PhD, former dean of the School of Teacher Education. With her extensive leadership experience and deep understanding of the field, Dr. Ayunon enriched the session with practical insights, drawing on her wealth of knowledge and years of experience guiding students and faculty alike. Many of the participants had been her students during their undergraduate and graduate studies, and several had worked with her during her tenure as dean. This shared history fostered an atmosphere of familiarity, respect, and trust, making for an engaging and interactive learning experience.
Dr. Ayunon’s presentation was highly interactive, with participants actively contributing their thoughts and experiences. Having a close understanding of their professional backgrounds allowed her to tailor the session’s examples and strategies to resonate with the group. Her realistic examples, drawn from her own career, were directly applicable to the challenges educators face, making the seminar both relatable and practical.
A key theme of the seminar was the importance of personalized support for students. Dr. Ayunon emphasized that effective advising goes beyond academic guidance, urging faculty to provide holistic support that helps students navigate their educational journey and career paths. Coaching, she noted, is essential for helping students develop key teaching skills, classroom management techniques, and reflective practices. Mentoring, which was another focus of the seminar, was discussed as a transformative, long-term relationship that can significantly influence a student’s personal and professional development.
The collaborative nature of the seminar, which brought together faculty from three different programs, encouraged the exchange of diverse perspectives on advising, coaching, and mentoring. By sharing their unique experiences, the faculty members gained a richer understanding of how to provide comprehensive support to future educators. This collaborative effort demonstrated the importance of working together to improve teaching practices and student outcomes.
The seminar highlighted that advising, coaching, and mentoring are foundational to the success of future educators. By empowering faculty with the skills to support students beyond the classroom, the seminar contributed to enhancing the quality of teacher education at the university. Faculty left with a deeper understanding of their roles in shaping well-rounded, competent, and reflective teachers who are equipped to meet the challenges of modern classrooms.
