58th Governing Board Meeting in Myanmar • Lao Education Vice-Minister visits Fit for School Sites • HEALTHeXCELS and LEADeXCELS conclude online courses • SEAMEO INNOTECH holds regional consultation on education and resilience • SEAMEO INNOTECH launches MT4T resource kit • Nepalese education officials benchmark on Philippine NFE programs • OSY development agenda workshop for MYDev • Strengthening capacities of ALS implementers in MYDev areas A Publication of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), Quezon City, Philippines January-March 2015 ISSN 0115-7469 newsletter innotech IN THIS ISSUE: report for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the SEAMEO INNOTECH 9th Five-Year Development Plan. It was followed by discussions about the Center’s on- going projects and programs. Dr. Luan expressed support to the projects and programs by giving advice on how these can be imple- mented and promoted better. He showed greater interest on the Cen- ter’s Mobile Technology for Teachers (MT4T) and Toolkit for Building Disas- ter-Resilient School Communities in Southeast Asia. This Center visit is part of the SEAMEO Council President’s round of visits to the SEAMEO member countries. SEAMEO Council President visits INNOTECH S EAMEO Council President H.E. Prof. Dr. Pham Vu Luan visited the Center for a dialogue about the activities, projects, and programs of SEAMEO INNOTECH. Center Director Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, together with managers and officers of the Center, were present to welcome the Presi- dent and his staff. Dr. Bacani opened the meeting by presenting the Center’s annual
Transcript
58th Governing Board Meeting in Myanmar • Lao Education Vice-Minister visits Fit for School Sites • HEALTHeXCELS and LEADeXCELS conclude online courses • SEAMEO INNOTECH holds regional consultation on education and resilience • SEAMEO INNOTECH launches MT4T resource kit • Nepalese education officials benchmark on Philippine NFE programs • OSY development agenda workshop for MYDev • Strengthening capacities of ALS implementers in MYDev areas
A Publication of the Southeast AsianMinisters of Education Organization
Regional Center for Educational Innovationand Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH),
Quezon City, PhilippinesJanuary-March 2015
ISSN 0115-7469
n e w s l e t t e rinnotech
IN THIS ISSUE:
report for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the SEAMEO INNOTECH 9th Five-Year Development Plan. It was followed by discussions about the Center’s on-going projects and programs.
Dr. Luan expressed support to the projects and programs by giving advice on how these can be imple-mented and promoted better. He showed greater interest on the Cen-ter’s Mobile Technology for Teachers
(MT4T) and Toolkit for Building Disas-ter-Resilient School Communities in Southeast Asia.
This Center visit is part of the SEAMEO Council President’s round of visits to the SEAMEO member countries.
SEAMEO Council President visits INNOTECHSEAMEO Council President H.E.
Prof. Dr. Pham Vu Luan visited the Center for a dialogue about the activities, projects, and programs of SEAMEO INNOTECH. Center Director Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, together with managers and officers of the Center, were present to welcome the Presi-dent and his staff.
Dr. Bacani opened the meeting by presenting the Center’s annual
cation (DepEd) Region IVB-Oriental Mindoro, attended their revalida and graduation to conclude the 7-week course. On 4 December 2014, TEACHeXCELS concluded its 8-week course for the 76 par-ticipants from DepEd IVB-Oriental Mindoro. Participants shared their learning and experiences from the course as a part of the evaluation.
GURO21 is a menu of flexible learn-ing courses designed to enhance
SEAMEO INNOTECH recently con-cluded courses of two flexible
learning programs, TEACHeXCELS (Teaching and Learning Excellence in School Leadership for Southeast Asia) and GURO21 (Gearing Up Re-sponsible and Outstanding Teach-ers in Southeast Asia for the 21st Century) last December 2014.
On 3 December 2014, Batch 2 of GURO21 Course 1, with 121 partici-pants from the Department of Edu-
the capabilities of Southeast Asian teachers in addressing the teach-ing-learning requirements of the 21st century.
TEACHeXCELS is a two-module e-learning short course designed for supervisors and school principals. It addresses the need to develop and strengthen the capacity to manage the teaching and learning process-es in the school.
On 27 February 2015, SEOMEO INNOTECH Center and Zuellig
Family Foundation formally sealed their working relationship with a memorandum of understanding. The two established organizations aim to learn from the expertise and experiences of the other, as well as
INNOTECH and Zuellig Family Foundation signs MOUsupport each of the organization’s program and projects through this partnership.
The MOU was signed by SEAMEO INNOTECH Center Director, Dr. Ra-mon C. Bacani, and Zuellig Family Foundation President, Prof. Er-
nesto D. Garilao. Also present in the event were Dr. Sharon Joy B. Chao, Manager of Learning Management Office of SEAMEO INNOTECH, and Mr. Juan B. Villamor, Director of ZFF Institute, both signing as witnesses.
From February 23 to 27, SEAMEO INNOTECH facilitat-
ed a study visit on Philippine’s student loans and scholarship programs for education officials from Cambodia. The five-day program included visits to Com-mission on Higher Education (CHED), University of the Philip-pines Diliman (UPD), De La Salle University (DLSU), Philippine Ac-crediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAAS-CU), Philippine Normal Univer-sity (PNU), and Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP).
The participants were oriented on Philippine higher education and student financial assistance
programs in CHED. They also learned about the legal frame-work for scholarships and loans, student selection process, and relevant literature on scholar-ship and loans in the Philip-pines, particularly in CHED.
The visit in PAASCU discussed the extent to which student loan and scholarship programs have affected the higher educa-tional institutional accreditation. The participants visited the four universities – UPD, DLSU, PNU, and TIP – to meet people involved and learn about the system for student selection, receipt of funds, implementa-
tion, and record keeping related to student loans and scholar-ships. They were also able to meet students who are recipient of the loans and scholarships of the universities.
SEAMEO INNOTECH facilitated the study visit for the Cambodi-an education officials to gather information for the develop-ment of their own policy on scholarships, student subsidies, and a student loan scheme. Cambodia’s Ministry of Educa-tion aims to establish a sustain-able mechanism to expand eq-uitable access for the increasing number of students at higher education level.
SEAMEO INNOTECH orients Cambodian education officials on PH student loans and scholarships
On 30 March, SEAMEO INNO-TECH facilitated a one-day
study visit on school-communi-ty partnership for school suc-cess for selected school leaders from Brunei. The study visit highlighted the good practices of Philippine schools, such as Muntinlupa National High School and Leodegario Victorino Elementary School, in engag-ing different stakeholders for better learning outcomes. The study visit program included an orientation on the Philippine education system, learning ses-sions, and a visit to Leodegario Victorino Elementary School.
The participants were briefed by Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, Cen-ter Director, and Dr. Sharon B. Chao, Learning Management
Office Manager, on SEAMEO INNOTECH and the Philippine education system. Afterwards, a learning session on leading school-community partnership for improving student learn-ing was held, facilitated by Dr. Florante C. Marmeto, Principal IV of Muntinlupa National High School. Through the learning session, Dr. Marmeto was able to share the strategies he used to improve opportunities for learning, as well as the results of these initiatives.
The visit in Leodegario Victorino Elementary School included another learning session. This learning session, facilitated by Mr. Regino Pagtama Jr., Princi-pal II of Leodegario Victorino Elementary School, focused on
SEAMEO INNOTECH facilitates study visit for Bruneian school leaders
creating school-community partnership for school success. Mr. Pagtama shared how they have personified resiliency and their passion for continuous improvement to make sure that their students would attain their full potential.
After the school visit, the par-ticipants were engaged in an informal discussion with the Center’s Learning and Training Development Unit, facilitated by Ms. Edith Pimentel, Senior Spe-cialist, and Ms. Ana Liza Serrana, Specialist.
This school visit is part of the series of learning exchanges conducted by SEAMEO INNO-TECH in partnership with Bru-nei’s Department of Schools.
Every year, the Center honors the staff who exhibited active
involvement and participation in Center activities, devotion and commitment, inspiring leadership that has greatly contributed to the Center, and exemplary service beyond the requirements of his duties– the Outstanding Service award. This year, the recipient of the most coveted award in SEAMEO IN-NOTECH is none other than Mr. Raphael Cada.
The Senior Associate from Qual-ity and Systems Management Office (QSMO) started his career in the Center as contractual employee before advancing to a Course Implementation Assis-tant in Flexible Learning Solu-tions Unit (FLSU). Throughout the years he was molded to the commendable man he is today.
Aside from winning the Excel-lence in Service award, Mr. Cada also won in the Essay Writing
Contest for SEAMEO’s 50th Anniversary. The said contest invited alumni and current staff of SEAMEO Centres to reminisce their most exciting, cherished, and inspiring experiences with SEAMEO through an essay. Of the 82 writers who joined the contest, Mr. Cada landed third place. His award-winning piece can be read in the next page.
2014 Outstanding Service Award goes to Raphael Cada
“..there is more to my job than just reporting for work from 8AM to 5PM. It is about making a difference. And I am making it through and with SEAMEO.”
“It all started with an online advertisement that I read
from my email back in 2007. Dur-ing that time, I recall I was at the crossroads of my life, trying to fig-ure out what I really wanted to do after graduating from the Univer-sity of the Philippines and having worked for the government of the Philippines and the private sector. One thing was clear on my mind: I was idealistic and honest enough to say that my next job should have an impact and change the way things are being done in the Philippines. With that in mind, I clicked the advertisement and decided to apply in an organiza-tion that seemed to have a very long name: the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organiza-tion-Regional Center for Educa-tional Innovation and Technology or SEAMEO INNOTECH. I started as a contractual employee before I eventually became a Course Implementation Assistant of the Flexible Learning Solutions Unit.
The INNOTECH that I remember is very different from what it is right now. Before, it is located between a very long and deserted land punctuated by large trees and cogon grass along Common-wealth Avenue. Nowhere can you see any establishment near the Center. No huge buildings made
of glass and steel. No fastfood chains nearby. No convenient stores. No bus stops nearby. De-spite the changes brought about by the development in the area, one thing remains until this very day: the Center remains true to its commitment to harness technol-ogy to address education-related problems in the region.
My involvement in the team that has implemented online learning programs opened my eyes to the harsh realities of what was going on outside the capital, Manila. Unlike in the capital, there was a shortage of power in the far-flung provinces in Mindanao. Even the internet connection was unreliable. Such were the condi-tions that I found myself working against but somehow, we were able to pull it off through the use of appropriate technology. Mod-ules were distributed in print, CD, and online format so that wher-ever the learner was, regardless of the state of the connection and power, he or she will learn. Online chat sessions were scheduled to make sure that these will not coincide with scheduled power shutdowns. In instances where tropical storms and typhoons threatened the schedule of the program, make-up classes were scheduled to ensure that all topics
were discussed and learners were given the chance to interact, on-line, with co-learners and flexible learning tutors.
Looking at it now, the Center has broadened the meaning of technology. It has expanded and challenged western concept of technology as being the latest, the most innovative, and tech-nologically advanced. True to the Center’s name and mandate, it went into uncharted territories by utilizing the appropriate tech-nology that works in unreached areas where power and internet connectivity are unreliable, if at all existent. The Center has cus-tomized education solutions with the hope that more than the plat-form, it is the content that drives the technology and such can be as simple as flash cards, self-instructional printed modules, or meta cards. I guess this is one of the many reasons why I never re-gretted clicking that APPLY button seven years ago when I saw the advertisement for a post at the Center. The Center has opened my eyes that there is more to my job than just reporting for work from 8AM to 5PM. It is about making a difference. And I am making it through and with SEAMEO.
Solutions Unit (FLSU),Learning Management Office (LMO)
During the celebration of SEAMEO INNOTECH’s 45th Anniversary at The Manor, Baguio, four staff were acknowledged for their loyalty to
the Center. The four staff who dedicated twenty amazing years of ser-vice to the Center are Ms. Nora Cabaltian, Mr. Ben Gemeniano, Mr. Jessie Yamon, and Mrs. Elizabeth Tiongson.
Published quarterly by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH). Tel: 9247681; Fax: (632) 9210224. For your feedback, e-mail us at: [email protected]
Editorial Office at the Information Management Unit, SEAMEO INNOTECH, UPPO Box 207, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines .
Editor: Jesse M. TuasonEditorial Assistants: Alecsa Joy Ann L. Geronimo, Nicole M. AsedilloPhotos: Jesse M. Tuason; Guillermo Cruz; Mark John AntidoLayout: Nicole M. AsedilloAdvisers: Ramon C. Bacani, Director; Benito E. Benoza, Manager, Knowledge Management and
Networking Office; Carolyn S. Rodriguez, Manager, Quality and Systems Management Office
Bylined articles reflect the opinions of the author and not necessarily of SEAMEO INNOTECH.
innotech n
Twenty-three women leaders took active part in the One-day Leadership Seminar for the Women of Malabon. This activity enabled them to rediscover their individual and group strengths and gifts which further enhanced their capacity
to lead development initiatives in their respective barangays. Senator Oreta strongly believed that this “eye, heart and mind opening” experience would help transform these women lead-ers into change agents who will facilitate sustainable changes
in their respective barangays through the Alab Foundation which they themselves formed. SEAMEO INNOTECH organized the seminar upon request of Senator Oreta which is part of the Center’s community out-reach initiatives.
INNOTECH conducts leadership seminar for the women of Malabon
