Pillar for a Pillar

by: Amidala Mallari, Thames Undergraduate Student

As schools and universities shift to online learning, students are embattled by the challenge of quickly adapting. The changes brought about by the  sudden and complete transition to online classes raise the concern of creating immense impacts on a student’s overall wellbeing. It is expected that the new learning modalities, which focus on asynchronous and self-paced study, will heighten the difficulty. This is especially true for law students; the study of law made stringent demands on aspiring law professionals even prior to the advent of virtual classes. To mitigate this, a two-part webinar series was hosted last July 30 and August 1, 2020 by the Legal Education Board, Philippines Association of Law Schools, and Thames International. This series was intended to equip the country’s future lawyers with the tools and mindsets necessary for online learning. 

This alliance of institutions had previously provided virtual training for law professors, assisting them with adapting the basics of effective online teaching to the needs of their profession. The Online Learning Survival Guide for Law Students webinar followed up on this success with  speakers who shared their passion for the topic, including Thames International President Joel Santos, Thames International School Counselor, Head of Student Affairs Emmanuel Santos, and Psychology Department Head of Singapore University of Social Sciences Doctor Emily Ortega. Watching them live were two thousand Filipino law students.

The webinar series was designed to empower them with positive learning mindsets and skills, as well as the best practices to remain motivated and maintain a healthy mental state in an online learning environment. All these efforts were part of the organizers’ initiative of assisting all academic stakeholders with the necessary techniques and adjustments regarding the changes 2020 has brought to education. In the end, the event garnered positive feedback from participants, who said that the webinar speakers were knowledgeable and engaging, making them feel that their worries and concerns were heard and addressed. The lectures themselves were a source of inspiration, boosting confidence and motivation, for which the participants were grateful. One participant even dubbed the webinar a “must-watch” for every law student.  

One major learning from the webinar series is that in order to raise a generation of new leaders and pathfinders, academic institutions should ensure that their students are grounded by a learning environment that values not just one’s intellect, but also a student’s holistic growth and health. As law students traverse the rigorous world of law school, they deserve to be supported by academic institutions. The benefits are long-term, as these students will become the future’s protectors of justice and peace. 

Thames is committed to nation-building through providing training for schools and other organizations that need help adjusting to our new normal. For inquiries and assistance, feel free to contact the school via inquire@thames.edu.ph.