(PSS) — Sixty instructors, counselors, and staff from all over the CNMI gathered at the Kensington Hotel to participate in the Instructional Technology & Distance Education or ITDE Professional Development training session conducted by ITDE Director Dr. Bobby Cruz and Program Manager Lorraine Catienza.
They discussed the program’s performance in the last school year, and ways to improve distance education content to bring a higher level of service to CNMI students and professionals.
“Problems have a way of catalyzing innovative solutions, and this is particularly true if destiny gifts you with the right people in the right places,” Cruz said.
“Fortunately, destiny has dealt Instructional Technology and Distance Education a ‘royal flush’ with the best of the best professionals. Every member of this team is highly collaborative, empathetic, respectful, highly skilled and driven to innovate for our students. Together, we have worked tirelessly to lay bricks to set the foundation for where we are today, and it has not been an easy journey,” Cruz added.
“Our team has used technology to address teacher shortages, particularly on Tinian and Rota; provide required high school courses so student can meet graduation requirements; support retention of educators by providing certification and licensure courses at no cost; and most recently, we mobilized remote learning in light of challenges due to the pandemic to ensure the safety of students and staff while guaranteeing learning continuity,” Cruz said.
“In the process of going from a problem to a solution, the journey and hardship in between is often forgotten because it is so traumatic. But with this team, the ‘in between’ has been a joyful part of the journey because of the amazing, devoted professionals,” he added.
For the past 10 years, the CNMI Public School System Distance Education Program, through the Student Portal Program, has offered over 36 online courses to students looking to fulfill their graduation requirements.
The program has a diverse reach as it caters to students and professionals throughout the CNMI, both within the Public School System and private schools.
Undertaking a new movement, ITDE has also launched elementary and middle school courses that focus on using technology to develop learning at the earlier stages of academia. The Digital Skills course is an investment for well-rounded learners as technology will continue to have a strong presence in education.
“Today’s professional development is about continuous improvement,” said Cruz. “It’s also about celebrating successes demonstrated by the data and leaning into opportunities for growth to ensure that the services we provide for our students and staff continue to support growth.”
The participants of the Instructional Technology & Distance Education professional development training pose for a photo with ITDE Director Dr. Bobby Cruz and Program Manager Lorraine Catienza.
The professional development training session was held at Kensington Hotel.
A participant uses a laptop during a technology-based activity.
Participants formed groups during the training session’s activities.
The professional development session is about continuous improvement, says Dr. Bobby Cruz, Instructional Technology & Distance Education director.
The participating instructors, counselors, and staff are from Saipan, Tinian and Rota schools.
