27/06/2025
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ππππππ | The Day When My Classmates Were My Teachers
On June 19, 2025, the Philippine Normal University South Luzon (PNUSL) ITEC Hall became more than just a training venue, it turned into a shared classroom where students and faculty became one and learned valuable insights together.
Three student representatives, Mr. Arnold Monticalvo, the Student Government (SG) President, Ms. Charlet Jean Maravilla, Head Layout Artist of The Torch Publication; and Ms. Chrizza Templatura, Senior Editor of The Torch, joined faculty and selected staff in a Professional Sharing and Workshop titled βUsing Backward Design as a Tool to Support Empowermentβ, facilitated by Dr. Adrian Rodgers, a visiting professor from Ohio State University, USA.
But this was no ordinary academic session. For a few hours, students and faculty sat side by side as equals, engaged in activities, discussions, and reflective exercises. The usual hierarchy dissolved. For a day, everyone was a student and it showed in the most endearing ways.
As Dr. Rodgers set the tone and facilitated, he allowed his students, both seasoned professors and aspiring educators to build the learning experience together. Guided by the principles of backward design , a method that begins with the end in mind, participants first identified what students should read, hear, and view. From there, participants established their desired Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude (KSA) outcomes, formulated specific learning objectives across domains, planned instructional strategies, and evaluated alignment through a final reality check.
It was during the break that the workshopβs most human moment surfaced. Everyone was just happy, realizing that even the most dignified professors were once and still are students at heart. These realizations grounded the experience. The workshop was no longer about frameworks alone. It became a mirror of how learners differ and how learning is universal. There were the obedient ones who followed instructions down to the last word. Some were quiet and observant, barely speaking but fully present. Others were lively, unafraid to share, laugh, and energize the room. There were also students who were competitive and enthusiastic, always on top of the class. Some worked in silence but had minds teeming with thoughtful analysis.
And just like in any classroom, there was no one-size-fits-all. The room echoed the reality every teacher faces, a classroom is a complex blend of personalities, energies, and learning styles.
For the students, it was not just a chance to learn about instructional planning. It was an invitation to see their professors as co-learners, as humans, and as individuals with their own learning curves. The pressure as student representatives faded. In its place was a sense of belonging, a space where abilities were not judged but encouraged.
βAlthough there were expectations from us as student representatives, it became a more comfortable space to show and enhance our abilities. We got to know our professors more, not as authorities, but as fellow learners.β β Ms. Templatura reflected.
At the end of the session, everyone was grateful and expressed their gratitude to their teacher, Dr. Rodgers, for his generosity in sharing his knowledge and for his passion in education. It was clear the event had achieved something deeper. It wasnβt just about professional development, it was about building empathy, breaking down barriers, and learning together.
For one meaningful morning, students glimpsed a different side of the people who usually stood in front of the class. In doing so, they rediscovered themselves not just as students, but as future educators ready to embrace the diversity of learners they, too, will someday teach.
Written by: Chrizza E. Templatura
Photos by: Prince Eduard Panol
Layout by: Paul Meneses
