L-R: Asst. Prof. Lei Kristoffer Lactuan, Asst. Prof. Roda Tajon, Asst. Prof. Shaira Tanay, Asst. Prof. Luisa Gelisan, Dr. Myra Almodiel, and Dr. Benigno Agapito, Jr.
Faculty members from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) presented their research at the Speech Communication Conference 2025, held from 9-10 October 2025 at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Auditorium, University of the Philippines Los Baños.
With the theme “On Speaking Terms: Enabling Encounters, Engaging Communities,” the conference brought together scholars, practitioners, and educators to explore how communication evolves across disciplines, technologies, and communities.
The faculty members took part in the breakout session “Mediated Communication in the UPOU Virtual Classroom: Practices and Pedagogies in Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL),” moderated by FICS Assistant Professor, Dr. Benigno Agapito, Jr. The panel featured six presentations that reflect the faculty’s ongoing inquiry into digital pedagogy, virtual learning environments, and inclusive communication practices.
- From Platforms to Presence: Designing the Future of Learner Support through Actual and Emerging AI-Augmented Practices in UPOU Virtual Classrooms
Assoc. Prof. Reinald Adrian Pugoy, Asst. Prof. Lei Kristoffer Lactuan, Renz Jemil Magsino, and Dan Zakai Pulmano - Promoting Gender-Fair Language towards a More Inclusive ODeL (Malay-sa-Kasariang Wika para sa Mas Inklusibong ODeL)
Asst. Prof. Roda Tajon - Communication Strategies Backed by a Predictive Model for Online Content Virality in Promoting UPOU Massive Open Online Courses
Asst. Prof. Shaira Tanay - Enhancing Online Learning: eLearners’ Perspectives on Engaging Features of a Learning Management System
Asst. Prof. Luisa Gelisan - Who is Speaking? Who is Listening? Analyzing Interaction Patterns in an Online Learning Environment
Assoc. Prof. Myra Almodiel
Together, these studies underscore UPOU’s role in shaping the discourse on digital education, particularly in how communication theory, pedagogy, and technology intersect in open and distance learning.
FICS Dean Roberto Figueroa, Jr. (2nd from left) and Associate Professor and assistant to the Dean, Dr. Myra Almodiel (4th from left) represent UPOU on stage as one of the SCC2025 conference partners.
Led by Dean Roberto Figueroa, Jr., FICS faculty and REPS attended the opening ceremony on the first day, where UPOU was recognized as one of the conference’s official partners. The Dean, accompanied by FICS Associate Professor and assistant to the Dean, Dr. Myra Almodiel, received the certificate on behalf of UPOU.
The participation of FICS faculty in the Speech Communication Conference affirms UPOU’s commitment to advancing open and digital scholarship in the Philippines. Through research-driven practices, the faculty continues to encourage critical dialogue on how communication can enable inclusion, engagement, and innovation in virtual spaces.