iMELTING POT

This is a sample output of student participants. This conceptual mapping outlines the paring down of their topics from general to specific.

2009-05-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Campblog participants think of topic for their blogs

2009-05-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

How can something seemed complicated turn out simple? CICT people has the answer.

Students from beneficiary Public High Schools (PHS) who attended the Campblog were instructed to think of a topic and pare them down to the most specific and workable for them.

Toni Torres, iSchools Project Manager, Avelino Mejia Jr. and Jose Feliciano Josef, eSkwela Project Officers, helped out in the distillation of the blog topics. Ranging from Global Warming, Genetics, Mythology to Collloids, the panel of three were able to identify topics that best suit the students and their respective schools and community.

The student created a web mapping of their chosen broad topic and create series of links and connections leading to more detailed topics where students will work around as output for the rest of the camp days.

Not to veer away from the academic and educational orientation of their intended blog contents, the panel reminded the students that it is essential that their blogs have to fit the criteria set by the CICT. That is, it has to be informative, inviting and attractive and based on facts. Torres reminded the students that blogs are powerful platform that empowers people to engage in the exchange of ideas over the world wide web.

Under the heading of Environmental Protection, the recent Oil Spills in Guimaras province got the attention of the panelists as well as the rest audience present. One of the project writer present commented that apart from the informative nature of blogs, these can be a powerful tools to lobby for change. Poised as an advocacy, blogs that has social relevance has so far captured a wider audience compared to others which dwell on a personal level rather than reaching out to far reaching and wider concerns .

For the next six days starting May 21, 2009, the students will be busy loading up contents to their blogs. As a culminating activity, all outputs will be exhibited at Saver’s Mall in Angeles for public viewing on the 28th of May.

CICT briefs students on the blogging requirement for the Camp

2009-05-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

“Sharing something one cannot read in books.” This is what Jose Feliciano Josef, Project Officer of the eSkwela, said during a briefing for students before they were to create their own blogs.

Along with Avelino Mejia, also from the eSkwela, both emphasized that the campblog is intended to capture learning content in English, (Technology abd Livelihood Education (TLE), Science and Math which have been missed-out in normal classroom environment. Mejia continued that it is important to contextualize their blogs in a way that lessons learned and their experiences posted thereat will be something that other students can find interesting and easy to relate to.

Josef cited that one can dwell on, say, Global Warming. But it has to be localized in way that it will highlight how these students actuality experience this phenomenon in their immediate environ. They warned however that their topics should be credible, simple and those that needs to be further examined or discussed in class or outside. They also encouraged students to be creative in putting up their blogs. Like any other blogs, students can be inventive in the design of their blogs so that it does not come out attractive only in substance but also in form. That said, pictures, graphics and a good combination of colors may do the trick.

Christian Placido Calma, from the iSchools project, in an interview said that as opposed to teacher participants who are expected to come up with learning modules for their individual blogs, students will be allowed to become a little loose and informal in their blogs. The purpose he said is to let the students bring out their opinions or perceptions about their learning experiences without losing hold of what this Campblog is all about. That is merging all ideas together in the mainstream, the net, and let the public get a share of it-know about it and learn from it.

This affair is attended by teachers and students from beneficiary Public High Schools across the country and sponsored by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), The lead agency for the implementation of the iSchools project.

Carmencita P. Lopez asking Dr. Jose Lloyd D. Espiritu about ICT integration to those with visual and hearing impairment.

2009-05-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

Campblog participant brings up ICT integration for the hearing-and visually impaired

2009-05-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

Just when we think we got it all covered, a teacher participant brought up how special education can be integrated in the Information and Communications Technology curriculum of Public High Schools in the Philippines.

Carmencita P. Lorenzo of Batac National High School in Ilocos posed this question during one of the morning sessions in Pampanga Agricultural College today. Dr. Jose Lloyd D. Espiritu from Dela Salle University, resource person for the said session, replied that right now, a prototype hardware for the visually impaired called Brail Globe is available already in the United States.

Espiritu explained that the Braille globe is similar to a mouse which has a text to signal capacity with sound registry. Developed by a Korean Group of Microsoft, this technology unfortunately has not yet been made available in the Philippines. But as to those with other impairments, he said that in Dela Salle, ICT curriculum for those with Dyslexia, Autism and with hearing difficulties are already being used.

In an interview, Espiritu opined that the question is worth thinking about especially if there is really a commitment to bridge the digital gap in the archipelago.

As of yet, the iSchools and eSwela projects does not include ICT instruction training to be used for people with learning difficulty in its agenda. Maria Melissa D. Tan, Project Manager for the eSkwela, explained that although recently this has been a topic of conversation among people in the CICT, no funding is available to include this in both projects in the very near future.

Participants boarding their bus that will bring them to Pampanga Agricultural College where the 2nd day of the camp was held.

2009-05-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

And the Campblog morning rushes in

2009-05-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

All agog and excited, participants from the Campblog here in Mimosa Leisure Estate Clarkfield Pampanga braced for the second of this 10-day affair.

After a 30 minute ride from here to Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), participants broke out in to two groups. The groups of teachers in a separate session room listened to three invited Resource Speakers. Prof. Katherine K. Estevez from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) discussed the Use of Learning Objects in Integrating ICT in Education. Dr. Jose Lloyd D. Espiritu from the Dela Salle University once again presented a topic this time on Designing Instruction Online and finally Ms.Jill De Dumo, from UP Diliman, came in and discussed Learning Object Demonstration.

On a separate session area, students got their hands on for online research.

After the day all wrapped up, the participants were all ferried back in Mimosa where they were all billeted for the entire training days.

In a related note, the camp organizers chose to conduct all hands-on digital inputing by teachers and students in PAC instead, in compliant with the one to one computer participant ratio set by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology which Mimosa has far long ago expressed could not provide.

This activity has been hosted by PAC and another round of this activity is already in their drawing board to be conducted soon.

2009-05-18T01:09:00.000-07:00

Secretary Chua reaffirms CICT commitment in bridging digital divide

2009-05-18T01:08:00.000-07:00

This he expressed in his keynote address delivered by Commissioner Angelo Timoteo Diaz de Rivera in his behalf before the participants of the iSchools Campblog.

In keeping with President Arroyo’s national ICT agenda, Chua boasts of the 360 Public High Schools nationwide who have been provided computer laboratories. Equipped with workstations, multimedia projector and relevant trainings for their laboratory managers, these laboratories are in full circle save for a few PHS whose internet connectivity are still being worked out.

He congratulated the Human Capital Development Group (HCDG) for a job well done in bringing together in one venue the participants from different PHS across the country in one event which is the Campblog. He said that through this activity, the youth and the students in the process are given the change to participate in the educational process and contribute to the betterment of the society. In a nutshell, he puts in that this is what the iSchools project is all about, crossing boundaries, democratized participation in the learning system and breaking the digital divide in computer technology.

In an interview with Diaz, he said that since the onset of the project, President Arroyo made it clear that this is her priority project and that since then, she was in constant communication with the CICT to know how far has the project been hitting its mark.

The project has covered already implementation years 2006 and 2007. CICT has yet to complete 2008, 2009 and 2010 implementation.

2009-05-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Perez: We will empower you to think out of the box

2009-05-17T23:07:00.000-07:00

Rather figurative, Commissioner Consuelo S. Perez of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) hurled these words before the participants of the 1st ever Campblog here in Clarkfield, Pampanga.

Atty. Perez emphasized during this welcome address the importance of breaking away from the traditional confines of the classroom. One, she said, that ICT can provide.

She adds, “We will expose you to and teach you how to swim in the vast pool of free educational tools and resources over the internet.” She continued that CICT will be there to assist all the beneficiary public high schools to discover, explore and experiment how the iSchools project can very well change teaching and learning experience that is more responsive and effective.

The welcome address was also witnessed by CICT commissioner Tim Diaz de Rivera, Pampanga Agricultural College President Dr. Honorio M. Soriano Jr. along with his Vice Presidents and Ms. Toni Torres, Project Manager of the iSchools project.

2009-05-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

1st iSchools Camblog officially begins

2009-05-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

So what do Einstein, Darwin, Berners Lee and Shakespeare got to do with the Ischools Campblog? Absolutely nothing.

But the organizers decided to use them anyway, if only to kick-off this ten day activity that will run from the 18th to the 28th of May 2009 at the Mimosa Leisure Estate here in Clarkfield, Pampanga.

Participants coming from the beneficiary Public High Schools (PHS), that stormed the venue, were to identify which from the four luminaries they could relate the closest or have the slightest similarity.

Turned out, the activity was to form four groups. As their first activity, participants were then assigned to think of anything that represent themselves. Using paints of varied colors, the participants drew on their complimentary bags. Their outputs were then displayed at the plenary hall for public viewing and, was lauded by no less than the commissioners of CICT herself, Atty. Consuelo S. Perez.

This affair is designed to tie-all the loose ends after the long stretch of trainings that the PHS went through. As an output, all participant teachers and students are to apply all lessons learned and come up, at the end of the training days, digital content that they will use as part of their curricular instruction.

This first ever campblog is hosted by Pampanga Agricultural College and is projected to become an annual activity by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the lead agency for the iSchools project.

Participant underscores Fee Based Scheme for iSchools project sustainability

2009-05-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

A participant from the recently concluded Sustainability Planning Workshop held in Oxford Hotel in Clarkfield Pampanga expressed reservation on the Fee Based option for the sustainability of the ischools project.

During an open forum, Dr. Leonardo Canlas was quoted as saying, “We are in public service and we are not allowed to enter into any business.”

Engr. Teody Sayco, Project Manager from Central Luzon State University and an invited Resource person explained that the Fee Based option was not meant to gain profit. He added that instead, the scheme intends to sustain the project and provide for the maintenance of the computer laboratories through the minimal fees collected for the internet and computer use by the public.

Sayco elaborated that part of the sustainability plan of the project is the Obsolescence and Replacement Plan which assures that the beneficiary Public High Schools (PHS) have a plan on how to replace worn out parts of their computers. This is on top of their need to provide for their internet monthly fees and other overheads.

However, he emphasized that in order for the PHS to use the fee based option and other Financial Sustainability options discussed during the workshop, a second level memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has to be entered into by all stakeholders including the members of the community. The additional MOA was meant to assure that the PHS, the partner State University and Colleges (SUC), the Commission on Information Communications Technology (CICT) and the General Public are agreeable about the terms and conditions stipulated therein.

Rogel Quilala, PM from the Tarlac State University told Canlas and other participants present that apart from the Fee based option, other financial plans are also available. Quilala pointed out that the reason why the seminar workshop was being held was to give the participant PHS an idea how to maintain their computer laboratories and pick one that suits them well.

The workshop was held on April 14-16, 2009 sponsored by Tarlac State University, Tarlac College of Technology, Central Luzon State University, Pampanga Agricultural College, Bataan Plytecnic State University and Bataan State College. The affair was hosted by Pampanga Agricultural College.

TSU Ischools Team conducts its CILC trainings right on cue

2008-09-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

Talk about striking while the iron is hot….

The Ishools Team from Tarlac State University, in consecutive months April and May this year, concluded its series of Computer and Internet Literacy Course (CILC) to all its 14 beneficiary schools just in time as all the computer units have all been deployed by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and whilst, the teachers are all excited and agog to get their hand on the new hardwares.

Intended to train teachers on the use of the Open Source Software Edubuntu, the five day CILC seminar was designed to orient them on the basics in computer, word processing-Writer, desktop publishing, slide presentation-Impress, multimedia presentation, electronic spreadsheets-Calc and finally the use of the internet.

Spread over the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan, all teacher-participants from 14 beneficiary schools were joined by their principals. After the conclusion of each course to every school, they were asked to evaluate the training in terms of training relevance, information and skills acquired, design of the activity, class interaction and the performance of the project staff, i.e. the resource person and training assistants.

Below is the matrix of all the evaluations.

Participating School Date of training General Rating
Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School March 13-17, 2008 98%
San Rafael National Trade School March 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 96%
Binagbag Nationall High School March 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 98%
Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Memorial High School March 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 98%
Angat National High School March 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 96%
Capas High School March 13-17, 2008 100%
Fortunato F. Halili National Agricultural School March 15-17, 29-30 93.16
Carlos F. Gonzales High School April 1-5, 2008 96%
Calawitan High School April 1-5, 2008 95.63
San Ildefonso High School April 1-5, 2008 92%
Balagtas Agricultural High School March 15-17, 29-30 91%
Dolores National High School March 15-17, 29-30 100%
Talang National High School March 15-17, 29-30 96%
Tarlac State University-Lab School March 13-17, 2008 100%
Benigno S. Aquino National High School March 13-17, 2008 93%

Related news

TSU Jumpstarts Ischools roll outs in Pangasinan

2008-03-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

Tarlac State University (TSU), partner SUC for the Ischools project of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), kicks-off its roll out schedules with its first of a series of Computer and Internet Literacy Course (CILC 1) in Pangasinan School of Arts and Trade (PSAT) held last Feb 29, March 1, 2 ,8 and 9, 2000.

With Mr. Ronnie Mercado as the team lecturer assisted by Ms. Rina Manuel and Gerardo Salonga, all faculty and staff of TSU, they lined up intended for the five day training the key softwares of the Open Office or Edubundu such as writer, Impress, Spreadsheet and Firefox which are the counterpart versions of Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Internet respectively in the Microsoft Office. They were received and ccommodated by PSAT headed by their Principal Mr. Armando Q. Lopez and assisted by their ICT coordinator Ms. Shernalyn M. Ferrer and the member of their faculty

Exercise on each topic was also required as output so the training team could ascertain that lessons were learned and that the objective of the entire course is achieved.

This activity is part of long stretch of schedules for trainings and roll outs that the CICT has mapped in place after the conclusion of its midstream planning workshop held in Tagaytay City about a month ago.

Similar trainings have been conducted as well on the same dates headed by other TSU staff such as Heidelyn Veloso (lecturer) with Joseph Ocampo and Jeffrey Tolentino (facilitators), Theda Flare Quilala (Lecturer) with Joanne Gamalindo and Ferdinand Marcos (facilitators), Ryan Rivera (Lecturer) with Delai Ofrecio and Gemma Cunanan (facilitators), Jerome Legaspi (Lecturer) with Edgie delos Santos and Pinky Legaspi (facilitators) on other public high schools across the province of Pangasinan.

A second part of the CILC trainings are already on the calendar including Web development and training.

CICT conducts Midstreaming and Planning Seminar for the Ischools project

2008-02-17T05:03:00.000-08:00

Project Managers (PM) from partners State Universities and Colleges (SUC) across the nation braced up for the full implementation of the Ischools project in a Midstreaming and Planning Seminar held last Jan. 28-Feb 1, 2008 at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City.

With the release of hardware and computer units all set and lab rooms of all beneficiary schools inspected and are all ready, Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), the lead agency in this huge project, announced that Feb 14, 15, 18, 22 and 23 to be the deployment dates.

The affair lined up training schedules for their PMs and writers. By April 16-18, 2008, another round of Online Writing Training will be conducted in Palawan. Project Closure Phase 2 meet was scheduled in May 6-8 in Vigan Ilocos Sur, an Advanced Online Writing training will happen on May 12-16, 2008 in Iloilo and finally, a Terminal Report Writing Workshop was scheduled on May 19-23, 2008 in Zamboanga City.

Mr. Randy Catacutan, PM from Tarlac State University, was quoted as saying” the activity also brought into forum important roll-out matters especially that the deployment of the hardware will now come in full swing.”

The Tarlac State University, Tarlac College of Technology, Bataan Polytechnic State University and Central Luzon State University issued their schedules, as cluster of CILC lecturers, for the roll out and clustered trainings as follows:

Heidilyn Veloso CICL 1- Mar 1,2,8,9,10 , San Miguel National High (CLSU)

Ronnie Mercado WEB Apr 7-11
LAB Apr 14-18 TCA
CICL 2- Mar 1,2,8,9,10, Vedasto Santiago hs (CLSU)

Erwin Sibal CICL 1- Mar 29,30,31,April 1,2 Talang National High School (TSU)
CICL 2- Apr 7-11 Remedios Natioanal High School , Lubao, PAM (BPSU)

Angelo Garcia WEB Apr 7-11
CICL 1- Mar 29,30,31,April 1,2 San Ildefonso High School (TSU)

Wilfredo Capan WEB Apr 7-11 LAB Apr 14-18
CICL 1- Mar 29,30,31,April 1,2 Carlos F. Gonzales High School (TSU)

Rogel Quilala WEB Apr 7-11 LAB Apr 14-18
CICL 1- April 1-5 RAMOS HS (TSU)

Al vincent Danganan CICL 1- Mar 29,30,31,April 1,2 Calawitan National High School (TSU)
CICL 2- Apr 7-11 Mayor Ramona S. Trillana HS , Sto. Rosario Hagonoy Bulacan (BPSU)

Glen Ico CICL 1-March 1,2,3,8,9 (BSU)
CICL 2- April 1-5 San Pedro MONCADA (TCA)

Jerome Legaspi CICL 1- Mar 1,2,8,9,10 John J Russel Memoria hs (CLSU)
CICL 2 Mar 13,14,15,16,17 Fortunato Halili A HS (TSU)

Ryan Rivera CICL 1- Mar 1,2,8,9,10 Partida hS, San Miguel (CLSU)

Gloria Prellejeria CICL 1-feb 29-mar 1,2,8,9 TCA Laboratory (TCA)

Theda Flare Quilala WEB Apr 7-11
CICL 1- Feb 29-mar 1,2,8,9 Labrador nhs (TCA)
CICL 2 April 1-5 Eduardo Cojuangco NHS – Paniqui (TCA)

Randy Catacutan WEB Apr 7-11

Attendees also agreed on the scheme on how the units will be received, who will officially sign the receipt and that a test run will be conducted to assure that the hardware are working before the actual training to teachers students and personnel commence.

2008-01-14T00:14:00.000-08:00

Project Manager from Tarlac State University Randy Catacutan (front row standing 4th from left) poses with some of the participants of the Ischools Sustainability Planning Workshop held in CLSU in Munoz Nueva Ecija last nov. 23-25, 2007.

Beneficiary school reps attend Ischools Sustainability workshop

2008-01-14T00:12:00.000-08:00

Representatives across sixteen beneficiary schools in Region III attend Sustainability Planning Workshop at the Central Luzon State University last October 23-25, 2007 through the auspices of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), the lead agency in the Ischools project.

Organized by the partner SUCs Tarlac State University (TSU), Tarlac College of Technology (TCA), and Central Luzon State University (CLSU), all 41 participants in the 3 day activity were engaged in planning for a sustainable implementation of the project.

Randy Catacutan, Project Manager from TSU was quoted as saying, “the core of the project is not only to empower the schools and their communities towards computer literacy if only to truly bridge the digital divide”, he adds, “it is also necessary that the schools become partners in charting the success of this project by way of eliciting sound alternatives and prospects from the participants of this activity that the commission may find relevant.”

The workshops include a community needs analysis module as vital component in the business plan of the beneficiary schools should the project come in full swing anytime soon. Based from this initial assessment, the participant schools were to choose whether they intend to use their computer laboratories for E-eskwela, as a Training Center for their faculty and the community or a combination of the two.

Workshop revealed however that most of the participants are inclined to put up a training center which will open the laboratory to the public so it can generate income to cover the usual overhead expenditures like power cost, maintenance and among other reasons. Only three of the schools opted to use the laboratories as a training center and use its hardware for the E-eskwela program of their school.

The list bellows shows the name of all the participants.

Ms. Virginia S. Odejar San Isidro High School
Ms. Lilia D. Navarro San Isidro High School
Ms. Marietta P. Tiglao Benigno Aquino National High School
Mr. Juanito G. Mata Benigno Aquino National High School
Ms. Carmelita T. Perez Benigno Aquino National High School
Ms. Maria Linda A. Cayabyab Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School
Ms. Teresita Catap Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School
Mr. Edwin Mendoza Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School
Mrs. Preciosa L. David Pulong Santol High School Annex 1
Ms. Zeny Cartula Pulong Santol High School Annex 1
Mr. Christopher Chantengco Pulong Santol High School Annex 1
Dr. Tandang A. Abain F.F. Halili High School
Mr. Gerry Pantaleon F.F. Halili High School
Mr. Noel Sales F.F. Halili High School
Mr. Juan C. Torres Binagbag High School
Mr. Rodrigo Delfin Sr. Binagbag High School
Mr. Roman Cruz Binagbag High School
Ms. Mina Gracia L. Acosta Angat National high School
Ms. Lea Capistrano Angat National high School
Ms. Julian S. Canonoy Balagtas National Agricultural High School
Mr. Rodrigo R. Imperio Balagtas National Agricultural High School
Mr. Ronaldo B. Reyes Jr. Balagtas National Agricultural High School
Abelardo P. Corpuz Capas High School
Bartolome P. Cayabyab Capas High School
Mariolito G. Magcalas Capas High School
Mr. Gaudencio Sagum Talang High School
Mr.Virgilio Dungca Talang High School
Florencio Sayo Calawitan High School
Virgilio F. Bernardo Calawitan High School
Araceli D. Baluyot Carlos F. Gonzales High School
Thelma S. Salamat Carlos F. Gonzales High School
Felicita L. Francisco Carlos F. Gonzales High School
Veronidia S. Marcelo Pres. Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial HS
Leodigario Cruz Pres. Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial HS
Cristina S. Paguia San Ildefonso High School
Luciano dela Cruz San Ildefonso High School
Virgilio P. Castro San Ildefonso High School
Reynaldo I. Veneracion San Rafael National Trade School
Myla O. Mapoy San Rafael National Trade School
Mr. Benito Tolentino Dolores National High School
Mr. Jose Randy Fuentes Dolores National High School

The activity was also attended by representatives from the Department of Education (DepeD) and the Commission on Audit (COA) who sat as panelist in the open forum.

Moving heaven and earth

2007-12-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

Teachers from Aquino Memorial National High School i Tarlac decided to bring their class along the corridor so one classroom can be vacated to comply with the requirement of the CICT for the Ischools project.

Result of the On-Line Writing Technique Seminar out

2007-12-03T16:55:00.000-08:00

From twenty-six participants coming from 26 partner State College and Universities (SCUs) nationwide, only 9 passed based from the result released by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, the lead agency in the Ischools project.

They are Jonathan Pagatpatan form Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Mara Barbra Nanamar, Mindanao State University, Ma. Belen Balandra, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, Dante Villareal, Western Mindanao State University, Jeffrey Dellosa, Northern Mindanao Institute of Science and Technology, Gerardo Salonga, Tarlac State University, Ersyl Biray, Aklan State University and Ramir Lambino from Tarlac College of Agriculture.

Passers, based from the results, are now official bona fide and qualified writers of their respective SUCs for the Ischools project. Other participants who did not make it the list were recommended for retraining while there are those to be replaced.

The training was held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan last Nov. 14-16, 2007.

TSU Ischools trainers gets headstart workshop on Open Source Software

2007-12-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

Trainers for the Ischools project from Tarlac State University (TSU) attends a day long Training-Workshop on Open Source Software last Oct. 22, 2007.

Held at the College of Computer Studies, facilitator and speaker Rogelio Quilala oriented the participants on the features of the Edubuntu software which will be installed among the computers that will be dispatched to beneficiary/recipient schools in Tarlac and elsewhere anytime soon as they are ready.

It was explained in the training that since it is an open source, said software is open for public and is free of charge not like the Microsoft software which will cost a couple of thousand per package.

Participants were instructed to navigate the Open Office writer, Open Office Calc and Open office Impress. They are the counterpart of MS Word, MS Excell, and MS Powerpoint from Microsoft Office.

Quilala, Assistant Project manager and in-charge of the hardware aspect of the TSU-CICT Team, discussed how to train the schools teachers in computer using the said software.

The seminar-workshop was participated-in by 14 faculty members from the different colleges of TSU.

CICT hosts online writing seminar for ischools partners

2007-11-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology held an online writing seminar last Nov. 14-16, 2007 at Hillside Resort Puerto Princesa, Palawan with representatives from partner State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) attending.

Anchored on the ischools project of the commission, the seminar is intended to train the partner SUCs in writing news, features, opinion and columns, post pictures and many others online relevant to the progress of the project.

Yvonne Chua, from UP Diliman, and Luz Rimban, from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, were the invited speakers and trainers for the whole duration of the program. They gave inputs on how best to utilize and maximize online technology in journalistic writings which will come in handy especially when the ischool project starts in full swing anytime soon.

As the highlight of the activity, the participants were asked to design their own institutional blogs where all the outputs of the three-day activity will be posted. It was also explained that the blogs of the partner institutions will be used as readily accessible means of keeping tabs on the progress of the projects across the archipelago.

The activity was organized by Prof. Nilo Banlawe of Palawan State University, and the ischools Project Manager in the same institution.

a thousand and one laughs

2007-11-15T22:19:00.000-08:00

Teachers from Pulung Santol NHS-Annex I, Poblacion Porac, Pampanga were happy upon learning from this meeting by the TSU team that they are eligible to become recipient of the Ischool project of CICT.

On site inspection September report

2007-11-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

a. Planned vs. actual

(name of original list of school, reason for change)

Province of TARLAC (3)

Tarlac NHS (Central Azucarera de Tarlac), Obrero, Central , Tarlac City

The Tarlac National High School and Central Azucarera de Tarlac are entirely two different schools as opposed to what they were initially referred to as being one and the same. The Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School lies at the heart of the Hacienda Industrial Park. This school, headed by Ma.Linda Cayabyab, is under the City School board. It has a student population of 1683 manned by 26 teachers. Based from ocular visit, they already have 10 computer units donated by DTI. However, from these computers, only 6 are still functional. The school has no internet connection although we can arrange for these connections anytime as the program begins.
Existing computer labs meets minimum criteria and they are willing to improve the laboratory according to given requirements. Power connections are there as well as lightings and circuit breaker.

Benigno Aquino National High School, San Nicolas, Concepcion

Benigno Aquino National High School is situated in densely populated and one of the major towns in Tarlac. The DEpEd secretary comes from this town so apparently, budget wise, they are not really wanting. With computer labs housing 40 units and work stations, it serve its strong student population of 5556. These computers are already hooked with an internet connections and are networked as well. The school is headed by its principal Mrs. Racquel Cayabyab.
With computers and connections all in place already, they meet far above the set minimum requirement for the project.

Sto. Domingo National High School, Dolores, Capas, Tarlac

Headed by Mr. Abelardo Corpuz as the principal, this school, now named as Capas High School, is one of the most populated public high schools in Tarlac. It has 4,774 students and 64 teachers with 1 computer laboratory housing 22 computers left working. The computers are not yet internet connected and are not yet networked when the visit was done. As of the present, they now have internet connection.
They however have suitable laboratory rooms where improvements are possible. They have suitable Ceilings and windows with good umber of tables and chairs. Lighting and electric connections are good plus telephone connections. Rooms are secured with locks, window grills and fire extinguishers.

Province of PAMPANGA (4)

Dolores NHS (Madapdap Resettlement), Madapdap, Magalang, Pampanga

Dolores National High School is situated in Madapdap Resettlement Area in Magalang Pampanga. Headed by its principal Gracita Regala, faculty members settle on only five computer units serving 793 students. They have one computer laboratory, manned by one PTC salaried administrator, who has no trainings or technical know-how on PC maintenance.
Pulung Santol NHS-Annex I, Poblacion Porac, Pampanga
It is only this year that this school finally received computer units that DTI donated. They have suitable laboratory room for ICT. Telephones are there, internet connection is readily available and recently, the Local School Board has donated computer table and chairs in anticipation of the Ischool project that CICT is putting up for them. Problem is, there hasn’t been any trainings in ICT that the school and its faculty has attended in so far. Lab however is well prepared for deployment anytime soon.

San Isidro National High School, San Isidro, Bacolor, Pampanga

Mrs. Virginia Odejar is the newly appointed Principal of this school. Heading a small group of 12 teachers and 568 students, they maintain one computer laboratory with 10 computers donated by DTI in 2005. Used for regular teaching, research and usual office activities, they also have system applications borne from these units. Although the laboratory has appropriate room specifications, it is wanting still in telephone connections and internet connections as well.

Talang High School, Talang, Candaba, Pampanga

This institution with 15 working computers donated by DTI made available for its 1054 number of students and 19 teachers does not have its computer laboratory yet. Temporarily housed in a room shared by Guidance and Library room, computers are used for research, instruction and regular office activities. There are no telephone lines yet hence internet connections isn’t available either. Should the room which it share with the Guidance and Library personnel become entirely dedicated for ICT, it should be prepared for the CICT program with room size enough to accommodate additional 21 more units.

Province of BULACAN(9)

San Rafael National Trade School, Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan

This school boasts of its two separate campuses located on two very populated areas. They have two computer laboratories maintaining ten computers each all donated by DTI in 2001. With 14 units working ably, the laboratory is internet capable powered by Digitel. Although a total of 20 computers are relatively considerable for a student population of 1125 and 21 teachers, they are still in need of additional units since the flagship program of the school is on Information technology.

San Ildefonso High School, Poblacion, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

Lying at the heart of the Poblacion of San Ildefonso, it should not be surprising that with a student population of nearly 2000, all facilities like internet and telephone connections are intact. With s strength of 35 faculty members, they try to make do on just 14 computer units in one existing computer laboratory. This laboratory is all set for the project and can accommodate additional units with well maintained laboratory room in tow.

Pres. Diosdado Macapagal High School, Veterans Ville, Sta. Cruz, Angat, Bulacan

This is a new school established three years ago. But the potential is big as it has steadily growing student population. As of yet, aside from one unit of computer now located at the principal’s office, the school is zero in terms of ICT equipment. With telephone lines and internet connections in place already and one newly constructed two-storey building waiting for occupancy, they are a viable candidate for the project.

Carlos F. Gonzales High School, Magibao, San Rafael, Bulacan

Another one of those big schools, it has 3394 students and 51 teachers and ten IT teachers. It at present maintains thirty working computer sets used for instruction, research and have started in an ICT integration as one of their system applications. They have two computer laboratories, with acceptable specifications, with good electrical connections plus internet and telephone lines in place.

Calawitan National High School, Calawitan, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

This small school of 565 students and 12 teachers are left with just three computers, from the original ten, are left functioning. All three units housed at the principal’s office, they are without a room solely for IT. There are no telephones available since the last time that telephone connections were cut due to billing situation. The IT coordinator is without formal training on IT maintenance.

Balagtas Agricultural High School, Divine Grace Subd., Pulonggubat, Balagtas, Bulacan

Balagtas Agricultural High School is considered the IT Center of Bulacan. Manned by considerable number of faculty members handling ICT related subjects, it becomes the training center for IT in the Province. With a total of 29 computers, 20 of which are still functioning are donations from DTI and their PTCA. With all these units networked, linked to the internet, secured, all electrical facilities in place, and housed in one laboratory supervised by an IT Coordinator, it serves more than 2000 students and 37 teachers.

Angat High School (Binagbag NHS-Taboc NHS), Taboc, Angat, Bulacan

This school is literally remote as it is situated far out at the interior of a bustling farming community. With one laboratory housing 10 computer donated by DTI, these are networked though absence of systems applications is marked, and are not connected with an internet since request for telephone lines in the area is still pending. Based from what was observed during the preliminary visit, their computer laboratory, equipped with appropriate electrical wirings and secured iron paneled windows, can very well be improved and can accommodate additional units and support. The school has only 648 students and 13 teachers.

Binagbag Nationa High School, Binagbag, Angat, Bulacan

This is a relatively and fairly a small school with a student population of a little over 700 with a strength of 15 faculty members and one School Head. Although it has 1 computer laboratory with 15 computer units, it however has not been able to network these units and hooked in the internet. It however can accommodate additional more units and can very well work out to have these units installed with internet connections.

Fortunato F. Halili Nat'l Agri'l High School, Guyong, Sta. Maria Bulacan

Fortunato Halili National Agricultural School is an institution funded by its Local government. The Municipal government has promised them computer units on top of 10 existing units housed in one computer laboratory managed by an IT coordinator in their school. Catering to over 1500 students and 26 faculty members, these units are dedicated solely for research and instruction. Powered by DSL, they have internet connectivity already, and with security and electrical facilities laid out already, they are ready for improvements in terms of additional workstations, soft wares and technical support.

Cost of changing the CICT assigned schools
All schools met the general requirements of the program.

Issues and concerns
Needs formal training in ICT among faculty members
No permanent, plantilla holder librarian. English teachers are assigned instead to become librarians.

2. Community mobilization report

a. Issues and concerns
Some schools have certificates as recipient of the Ischool project endorsed by Congressman Marcoleta.
There was concern brought up on whether those who are willing but are already above 40 still eligible for the trainings
Query over who’s to pay for the Electric bills.
Should they need security guards for the lab?
PTA will impose additional fees for the maintenance?
What about schools with less then 20 faculty members?
b. Your recommendations
Should they be endorsed by the Principal, those above 40 are eligible.
They can find sponsor and the school must attend Sustainability Planning Workshop prior to the deployment of the hardware.
As long as the PTC and the COA permit.
They can coordinate with the Barangay officials to request for security personnel either stationed or on roving arrangement. Or the PTC can might just as well hire one.
The Principal can nominate/endorse top students or PTA officials to complete the necessary number of trainees of 20.

Executive summary

Inasmuch as data shows that all target recipient schools pass the mark to be eligible for the program, the general impression would be that the project is doable and practicable. But, emphasis on trainings, capability building in IT maintenance is primordial in the conduct and the success of the project. There is a marked effort already from many agencies, government and private, to make these school computer based, via donations on computer units, the provision of the CICT of another 21 units, although can be appreciated pretty much, doesn’t make it the be-all en-all of the project. Monitoring the sustainability of the project and capability of the school personnel becomes highly relevant and focal at this point. This time we just don’t give them fish, we are, in the same token, bringing them into the realm of actually helping them learn how to fish.

A rare encounter of the surreal

2007-11-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

The rain wouldn’t let up. In seconds, the walkway towards this small booth was swarmed and all lined up by people, wet and tired, all agog to get their turn. And they sure didn't look any happy. Not even if you attempt to cheer them up with your witty jokes and funny antics. To me, I needed to gather my humor for a while and stay quiet for as long as I could lest I might have triggered the hell out of them. That, I think, would be really really ugly- would it?

And comes my turn. And suddenly I was excited. As I was busy pounding the buttons in the machine, I was caught up by the sudden bang of the door. A middle aged women, dressed in uniform all color synchronized, and no less wet like the rest of us, walked in. Looking like all in a hurry with all her baggage which told me she might have just come from the market, I politely gave way. Out of respect, of pity? I don’t know. And frankly I can’t really say that I cared. And so while there, with my arms crossed waiting for seemed like eternity, she suddenly looked at me straight in the eye. In that instance, I know she’s in some sort of a problem. And so, I needed to finish what I started, my being agood samaritan had to be extended a little longer and so I tried to help her. Her problem is very simple, she is afraid of the sound of the ATM machine. She can’t read whatever it is there in the little screen that we all pay attention to each time we get money and she just couldn't figure out how to start and finish each transaction.

Suddenly I felt like I was a messenger of God. That is a feeling you don’t really feel everyday, do you? So, here we have a professional degree holder. Woman of the noblest of profession- and she is in trouble. Icouldn't figure out why initially but the point is-she is.

In the days that follow, during the on site inspection of the Tarlac State University Team, which includes me, I met her again, all bright eyed, and I was quite sure then, with that look, that she remembered me alright-pretty much. Not that I am embarrassed. But the thing is, I never thought I could encounter that sort of experience. It’s very surreal.

As the conversation and the inspection went on, she finally popped the big question. What were we doing in their school which is too far away from where we met, where the only technologically appropriate transportation system possible to use to get us to their school is a peddy cab or, if willing, a long brisk walk, I blurted out with utter disdain, “We’ll train you to teach using the computer.”

Suddenly, I felt like I was struck by a freezing cold air. For God sake, she can’t even use the ATM machine.

It worries me really. I am not sure if that’s about the possibility of bumping into her again or the idea of putting her through that similar humiliating experience again.

This sends a clear mesage to us all. What we are doing here is not going to be easy. The challenge is there. The bar is set too high. After all, whoever said it going to be easy?

Teachers 40 ups appeal for age relaxation

2007-11-15T21:30:00.000-08:00

Whoever said you can’t teach old teachers new tricks?

Teachers forty years and above appealed to the Commission on Information and Communication Technology, the lead agency in the Ischool project, to qualify them in the roster of trainees selected from among the sixteen Public High School across the Provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

This came up after the Project Manager from Tarlac State University, Mr. Randy Catacutan, who did the site inspection for the identified beneficiary school, informed them about the age ceiling set at 40 by ICT in enlisting trainees in said project.

They argued that they could very well participate in the project and that it is never too late to learn especially that this project will enable them to improve their teaching skills and make their lessons a lot more innovative and easy.

Catacutan already cited, in his September report, this concern to ICT for prompt action and resolution.