Blogging the 5th National e-Learning Conference

Jam-packed it was. Another room was set up with a camera to accommodate the other delegates.

It was just the first day and a lot of good information has already overwhelmed me. The concepts were not new, mind you; I have not lagged on my reading and studies on the matter; But hearing it from those who really experienced e-Learning’ multi-faceted nuances as well as the solutions and best practices different local institutions certainly helped me understand eLearning more.

From the abstracts here are a few of the ideas floated on Day 1.

The National ICT Competency Standard for Teachers (NICS Teachers), presented by Commissioner Emmanuel Lallana, Human Capital Development Group, Commission on Information and Communications Technology sought to define the ICT Competencies and the underlying performance indicators needed to support the job role performance of a teacher. It is also an effort to develop a national standard that is benchmarked to global best practice.

With the NICS-Teacher in place, teacher certification would now include ICT skills and competencies which should ensure that the teachers of tomorrow will be equipped adequately for the new generation of learners. In varying degrees, the teachers of today are “getting IT”.

After his talk, I asked the commissioner about the One Laptop Per Child project of Nicholas Negroponte.

He answered that with the 1 million minimum order, he is not quite gung-ho in dipping in the project. Aside from the initial cost (at least $100 times 1 million is $100 million dollars), he points out that the sustainability and technical support is a big question. And even if he had the money, he says he can put it to better use (with the various projects of CICT).

Though I still think that providing a laptop for every schooler is a great idea, that made me rethink my position on the OLPC project. How can you get tech support for a child hundreds of kilometers deep in the remote provinces? Where will I get parts replacement? (Mental note – check OLPC again).

And there is a the cheap PC demo from Taiwan tomorrow. I hope it’s a better alternative. I would like to test drive one. And keep it. =)

Some other presentations:

On Teacher Professional Development

Reflections and Insights in Teacher Professional Development (Diffusion of Innovations) by Kurt Roman L. Uy, De La Salle, College of St, Benilde.

Soaring High Through Decentralized Faculty Training by Analin E. Sevilla, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Community Portal Coordinator, e-LeAP, University of Sto. Tomas.

On Initiatives in eLearning in Philippine Schools

Learning Improvements for Teachers and Students (Project LIFTS) – A Cooperative Approach to eLearning by Larry A. Samala, Regional ICT Coordinator, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Region IV-MIMAROPA. This presentation is a major achievement in my book. With geographical isolation, lack of technical expertise and fiscal challenges facing them, Project LIFTS was successfully implemented and sustained through perseverance and team effort.

Promoting a Sustainable e-Learning Program for Basic Education: The Genyo Experience by Jose Maria T. Policarpio, Diwa Learning Systems, Inc.

Lessons from the Field: FIT-ED’s ICT4E Projects by Victoria Tinio, Director for Programs and Research, Foundation for IT Education and Development.

Concurrent Sessions:

Experiences in Managing eLearning Projects

Realizing Online Teaching throough Collaboration with External Organizations, A PGMNHS Annex Teacher’s Experience by Laurita Peraz Arca, Teacher III, Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School Annex, Santa Cruz Laguna.

Robotics and Project FACIL: eLearning Initiatives at FAITH, Cherry Cesario, Director, Unified School, First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities.

Support Services for eLearners

Bridging Geographic Distance through Learner Support Services, Leandre Andres Dacanay, University of Sto, Tomas.

The Star Model of Responsice Student Support Services I eLearning: Going Beyond the Team Approach, Melinda dela Pena-Bandalaria, Associate Professor and University Registrar, UP Open University.

PLENARY

Developing eLearning Business Plans, Willam Hussin, Regis Univesity, CO, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Ateneo de Manila University

This was the session I was most interested in. I am a bit familiar with business plans (theoretically speaking of course) and its components. I was anticipating some surprise insights but there were none. A business plan is still a business plan, whatever field you put it in. I was hoping that an actual eLearning Business Plan of some school or company would have been the main talking point. As a last resort, I asked for one after the presentation. Tough luck.

Maybe I should make one and implement it. And talk about it in the next conference?

We’ll see.

International Trends in eLearning by Dr. Felix Librero, Chancellor, UP Open University.

Some points on the four major trends:

1. eLearning as business strategy (how industry employed e-learning ahead of educational institutions and how educational establishments followed suit.

2. eLearning enhances blended leraning (which discusses how e-leanrig has helped wider application of blended learning, particularly in the integration of digital technology in the design of learning materials.

3. Migrating from the discrete to integrated learning (which highlights the seamless transition from one learning activity to another, the influences of differences in thought processes among learners and the considerations associated with multiple intelligences.

4. eLearning changing the image of the university (which discusses how e-Learning is forcing universities to design mixed mode delivery of instructional content.

The talk highlighted the:

· changing demographics of learners

· the onslaught of transnational education programs

· need to catch up with other countries in employing eLearning strategies to improve educational delivery of content