So we got invited to witness how ATI Regional Training Center in Calabarzon held their blended course on goat management with the students of Batangas State University – Lobo Campus. Our KM Coordinators from the ATI Training Centers are given leeway to innovate in promoting and conducting e-learning in their own respective areas. This time, KM Coordinator Dr. Rolando Maningas, (whom we fondly call Doc Olan) from ATI RTC IV-A partnered with BSU in Lobo, Batangas for their students taking up BS Agriculture and BS Forestry.

Taking the opportunity to get to know more the students who got hooked into e-learning, our e-learning process advisor Jose Rey Y. Alo initiated a focused group discussion with selected students together with some faculty – Ms. Myrna Garcia, head of Academic Affairs and Ms. Rowena Anyayahan, extension coordinator. Mr. Rafael Romulus Catada from the FITS Center in Lobo Municipal Agriculture Office also joined in the discussion.

The students willingly shared how the insights they gained from the e-learning courses have been useful to them since some of them are actually being tasked to take care of the goats raised by their parents or relatives. They added that the lessons in the e-learning courses serve as advanced lessons for their subjects ‌in school.

However, one major constraint encountered by the e-learners in the areas was the intermittent internet connection, to which they said there’s ‘bu-wan’ (or moon in English, hyphenated to highlight the intonation of a Batangueño) they saw on their screen. They referred it to a moon-shape symbol in their computer that hindered them to continue with their courses.

Then one of our FGD respondents, Karen A. Ilagan, mentioned that they even had an overnight stay in one of their classmate’s house to be able to have a stable internet connection. She said they voluntarily did it to be able to finish at least one e-learning course. I thought such an overnight stay would comprise only about 5-10 individuals, but Karen said they were actually 18 when they went to Erica’s house, bringing along with them their own gadgets – laptops and pocket wifi. We asked for a photo op with them, to meet all the students who joined in their overnight session after the e-learning graduation rites. Four of them, she said were absent during the e-learning graduation rites.

Being a mother myself, I asked them – did their parents really allow them to go for an overnight stay in their classmate’s house? They all said yes. Then I further asked, “ano pangako nyo sa magulang nyo?” Simultaneously they answered “magtapos po ng pag-aaral.”

After hearing that, I rest my case. I salute their parents for trusting their children not only to do their school stuff, but to enjoy an exciting learning experience as teen-agers.