Established an innovative learning hub using an LMS

The challenge

• Transitioning to online learning during the pandemic
• Ensuring accessibility and user-friendliness of the online platform
• Maintaining engagement and communication in an online environment

"In 2020, we wanted to continue teaching even when schools were closed, so the first thing we did was to set up a distance learning program. When we evaluated that whole run, there was a missing "link" that we needed so that we could fully facilitate online learning.

We knew that things were not going to change. Our students continued learning from their homes for at least that coming school year, so that link was critical, and we saw that to be CYPHER, and for Berkeley, CYPHER's LMS became BLINK" says Charis Go, President.

The solution

We've been using CYPHER, since 2020. When we decided to bring our school fully online, we asked for recommendations from different school leaders who had used an LMS before the pandemic. CYPHER seemed to be the most recommended, emphasizing its affordability and ease of use.

Implementation

What was critical was that it complemented the goal of Berkeley. There were many LMS offerings, many LMS had content already, but we were one of those schools that had our own content and wanted to deliver learning for our students. CYPHER allowed that flexibility and allowed our teachers and students to be creative. It was an easy choice for us when we were comparing different LMSs.

Features

• Gradebook: We track student progress by looking at the gradebook. It is very easy for teachers to look into it since it tabulates the score, and gives you the data on whether the student did or did not submit an assigned task. It's beneficial for us teachers to use CYPHER for that data - Neil Aquino, Junior High School MAPEH Faculty.
• Communication: One of the most important tasks of teachers is to provide feedback. CYPHER provided us the platform to communicate with teachers, parents, and students and let them know any improvements they need to work on or if they are doing well so far - Rahmeia Robles, Nursery Faculty.
  
  Messaging and announcement features played a vital role in information dissemination. They served as a backup platform for us to communicate with our stakeholders - Jun Gonzales, EdTech Department Head.
• Videos: There are a lot of features that I like about CYPHER. My favorite would be how easy it is to embed videos and activities where the student doesn't need to open another tab to go to another website. I know that they'll be able to do the task that I gave because there will be no problems with accessibility - Trixie Ariza, Grade 6 Faculty.
• Course creation: One of the best features of CYPHER is that it allows me to get creative as I can when I create my lessons, and not only that, but it also allows me to sync all my lessons to my classes as fast as just one click - Rahmeia Robles, Nursery Faculty.
• Assessment: The best feature of CYPHER is the Dropbox section that you can find in the assignments tab. It allows you to upload pictures, and videos, which I require, especially in my subject MAPEH, and it's a very skill-based subject. It's vital for me to check on my students whether they understood the lesson by giving them the assigned task that requires them to do skills-based tasks such as singing, dancing, art making, and even skills demonstrations such as first aid demonstrations - Neil Aquino, Junior High School MAPEH Faculty
• Support: The most valuable features of CYPHER are the support forum, messaging, and announcement section. The support forum has been very useful in helping us resolve issues and errors beyond our capabilities. Support is fast in providing comprehensive guides and explanations on how to solve these issues - Jun Gonzales, EdTech Department Head.

User engagement

"I feel more involved in my son's education during online learning, mainly because I'm based overseas. I can quickly look at the materials they study during the synchronous session, so when it's time for me to have an online review with my son, it's easy for me to ask questions, formulate questions, or talk about things he doesn't understand" says Jerome Reyes, a parent of a Berkeley student.

"One of the best features of CYPHER would be communication. I can easily send an email across departments, whether to the teachers or the IT department. And also, the dashboard makes it easier for me to navigate through the website. One example would be the homework located on the right, so it's easier for me to click on it and see what my kid needs to finish."

The results

• Adopting CYPHER LMS for seamless transition and continuity
• Leveraging CYPHER's user-friendly interface and accessibility features
• Utilizing CYPHER's messaging, announcements, and support forums for effective communication and engagement

"With the introduction of CYPHER, everything has been digitalized, and lesson plans, curriculum maps, and instructional materials are now more accessible for students. It has also facilitated more expedient management of learning content, processing of grades, quizzes, the opening of discussions, and collaborative opportunities" said Steve Solano, Marketing and Curriculum Development Head.

"CYPHER is a very flexible platform. It allows creativity, innovation, and the introduction of new programs. One of the things we introduced is the synchronous online flipped learning approach, which creates a learning space replicating the actual learning classroom."

"This kind of program allows students to navigate many opportunities for linkages, collaboration, and innovative strategies that can make their learning more effective and meaningful."