innotech INNOTECH concludes program on enhancing competencies in leading school improvements SEAMEO INNOTECH recently IN THIS ISSUE:

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1 innotech n e w s l e t t e r A Publication of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), Quezon City, Philippines January - March 2013 ISSN INNOTECH concludes program on enhancing competencies in leading school improvements SEAMEO INNOTECH recently concluded a blended learning program for Southeast Asian school heads aimed at enhancing competencies in leading curricular and instructional reforms in schools. The five-module program on Excellence in Leading Curricular and Instructional Reforms for Continuing School Improvement was conducted from November 2012 to February 2013 via a blended approach of preand post-course online discussions with face-to-face learning sessions. Module 1 of the program covered opportunities and challenges of education reform initiatives existing in the region. Discussions in this module began during the pre-course online interaction that took place from 12 to 23 November Here, participants had the chance to share country experiences that >> continued on page 2 IN THIS ISSUE: An extra-ordinary teener with an extra-ordinary mission in life INNOTECH holds ESD Summit BMZ visits INNOTECH SEAMEO calls for stronger support to education as millennium campaign ends INNOTECH celebrates its 43rd anniversary INNOTECH concludes K to 12 capacity building program for DepEd Zambales GURO21 goes to Region I INNOTECH staff attends forum of Data Privacy Act Lao Education Officials learns the Best Practices on Teacher Education and Development in the Philippines Japanese expert reviews INNOTECH video materials

2 Leading school improvements... (from page 1) helped broaden their perspectives on current and emerging developments in education and school leadership practices. Modules 2 to 5, on the other hand, were covered in the ten-day face-toface training sessions that started on 3 December Module 2 specifically enabled the participants to gain an understanding of their strategic roles as curricular and instructional leaders in their respective schools. It started with the participants rediscovering their leadership and social capitals through sharing of stories regarding their accomplishments and lessons learned. It ended with the participants bonding and building the foundation for a community of practice, and owning up to education challenges with their personal responses to such challenges. Module 3 was a venue for the participants to look into their current curricular and instructional supervision styles and practices. The module was important in the sense that it focused on the core function of school heads as curricular and instructional leaders with the primary aim of ensuring student learning and success. Module 4 was all about strategizing to lead curricular and instructional improvements in school. Here, the participants had the chance to visit schools and to interact with their counterparts in the Philippines. The visits allowed them to gain insights into the different aspects of curricular and instructional techniques and strategies in action. A special feature tacked on to the module was the opportunity to take part in the SEAMEO INNOTECH 13 th International Conference, where they gained global and regional perspectives on education for sustainable development a valuable input for enriching their respective school curricula. In Module 5, the participants were guided in drafting an action plan to enhance their respective school improvement plans, particularly as regards their curricular and instructional practices. The action plans were intended to be finalized after consulting with stakeholders in the community and within the school. The entire program concluded on the first week of February 2013 with the participants sharing all learnings from the implementation of their respective action plans to improve school performance. 3 2 innotechnewsletter January-March2013

3 INNOTECH holds ESD Summit Deans from 17 different TEIs in the Philippines visited the Center last February 26 to 27, 2013 to participate in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Summit for Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs). The TEIs represented by the participants are considered to be Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development. CHED Commissioner Hon. Nona S. Ricafort, PhD, was in attendance during the first day, and served as the keynote speaker for the opening ceremony. An extra-ordinary teener with an extra-ordinary mission in life The two-day summit is the second phase of the Center s capacity building project on ESD for the TEIs. Specifically, it aims to accelerate institutional awareness of promoting ESD through environmental, social, cultural, economic and sustainable contexts. The fire that burned my skin and flesh is the same fire that started a flame in my soul. These were the words of Cris Kesz Valdez, the extra-ordinary teener from the province of Cavite in Southern Luzon who put up a charity organization at the age of eight years to help children in poverty-stricken areas. Kesz was a victim of maltreatment by his own parents. He ran away at a very young age and managed to survive by scavenging and stealing until the life-changing incident when he was accidentally pushed into a pile of burning garbage. A community worker named Mr. Harnin Manalaysay helped him to recover from his injuries. Kesz soon healed and eventually began volunteering to help street children in his small ways giving out simple gifts of hope as he calls it; teaching basic hygiene, and educating about children s rights. Kesz was awarded in 2012 the International Children s Peace Prize for helping more than 10,000 street children through the organization he founded Championing Community Children. Learn more directly from him as he talks about his life during SEAMEO INNOTECH s 13th International Conference. The full video of his speech can be accessed at the SEAMEO INNOTECH s Facebook page. BMZ visits INNOTECH Ms. Christina Liesegang, advisor for Sustainable Urban Development Asia, BMZ (Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development), visited the Center last March 19, 2013 for an orientation on the Regional Fit For School Program of SEAMEO INNOTECH and GIZ. As the person responsible for the Philippines Regional Programmes in the BMZ, Ms. Liesegang visited the Center to get a better idea about the said program -- its activities, outcomes and importance. Also present in the orientation were representatives from different organizations/partners involved in the program. January-March2013 innotechnewsletter 3

4 4 SEAMEO calls for stronger support to education as millennium campaign ends Education ministers from SEAMEO member countries are calling for stronger support and increased focus on education-related Millennium Development Goals and on the education agenda post The call was made during the 47th SEAMEO Council (SEAMEC) Conference held in March 2013 in Hanoi, Vietnam, hosted by its Ministry of Education and Training. During the conference, the education ministers signed a resolution urging SEAMEO regional centers to work together and combine their expertise in initiating activities supportive of the education goals of their host countries and, thus, help achieve regional development goals. The ministers have defined several strategies to make this collaborative effort possible and these are expected to be concretized further when the SEAMEO Center Directors meet in July In related stories, SEAMEO formally welcomed the United Kingdom as an affiliate member. It signed the legal documents for the establishment of the SEAMEO Center on Lifelong Learning (CELLL) based in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. It also formally launched its flagship project, the SEAMEO College, which introduces a platform for high-level discussion on forward-looking issues and concerns of the region. SEAMEO also presented the awards for its 2012 Service Awardees that included Ms. Nora Cabatian of the Learning and Training Development Unit of SEAMEO INNOTECH. The others who received their awards were the winners of the 2012 SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award and the 2012 MIT Award. The 47th SEAMEC Conference also featured a policy forum on lifelong learning that showcased country experiences and perspectives on implementing lifelong learning initiatives. Elected SEAMEC president for this year is Vietnam s Minister of Education and Training, Prof. Dr. Pham Vu Luan. He was preceded by Brunei Darussalam s Minister of Education, Pehin Abu Bakar Apong. More than 200 participants from 18 countries joined the conference. His Excellency Mr. Truong Tan Sang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam addressed the conference delegation comprised of education ministers, high-level government education officials, and representatives of international organizations from SEAMEO member countries, associate members, affiliate members, regional centers, and development partners. Beginning this year, the conference will be held biennially. Thailand will host the next SEAMEC Conference in To learn more about the events during the 47th SEAMEC Conference, log on to its official website: seamec47.com (photos are from: seameo.org) innotechnewsletter January-March2013

5 INNOTECH celebrates its 43rd anniversary INNOTECH concludes K to 12 capacity building program for DepEd Zambales SEAMEO INNOTECH staff and partners paused for a break from work and gathered at the Pearl Hall to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the Center last January 25, The day was full of fun-filled activities -- this includes the friendly cheerdance competition among the staff; the INNOTECH trivia game that also aimed to give the employees fun and interesting facts about the Center; and the most participated parlor games. The highlight of the event is the awarding of two of the Center s staff. Ms. Nancy Sabino was awarded for her 20 years of service and loyalty to the Center. In her acceptance speech, she shared her INNOTECH journey, and thanked everyone she worked with especially her current and previous bosses. Ms. Nora Cabatian, on the other hand, was the recipient of the 2012 SEAMEO INNOTECH service award. Ms. Cabatian flew to Vietnam last March 2013 to receive her SEAMEO Service Award along with other awardees from different SEAMEO centers. In support of the K to 12 reform program of the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), a core group of division and district supervisors from the DepEd Field Office in Zambales participated in a SEAMEO INNOTECH training program meant to build their capacities as instructional coaches. The program was divided into several learning sessions which ultimately led to the development of a shared agenda on instructional supervision for school heads on the implementation of K to 12. A total of thirty (30) district and division supervisors from the DepEd Zambales took part in the training sessions that engaged them in exercises promoting a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities as instructional coaches. At the same time, the conversations enabled them to reflect on how best to facilitate their role as instructional coaches to increase the instructional capacities of their subordinates. An introduction to the K to 12 basic education curriculum was also given to provide them with some techniques and creative strategies on how to introduce innovations and enhancements appropriate to the developmental needs of learners in their schools divisions. Likewise, a session on classroombased action research was conducted to facilitate better appreciation of the importance of action research which can be used as a tool to improve teaching practice and student learning. The training design also included participation in SEAMEO INNOTECH s 13 th International Conference on ESD which gave the education supervisors a chance to keep abreast of current and emerging education challenges and opportunities. SEAMEO INNOTECH continued to provide technical assistance to the DepEd Zambales until the finalization of its division-wide instructional coaching plan. January-March2013 innotechnewsletter 5

6 SNAPSHOTS 6 innotechnewsletter January-March2013

7 SNAPSHOTS SEAMEO INNOTECH s 43rd Anniversary Celebration 25 January 2013 Pearl Hall, SEAMEO INNOTECH January-March2013 innotechnewsletter 7

8 SNAPSHOTS SEAMEO INNOTECH s Valentine s Day Lunch 14 February 2013 Soriano Hall, SEAMEO INNOTECH Ms. Nora Cabatian (middle) with the Center Director Ramon C. Bacani and Ms. Carol Rodriguez after the SEAMEO Service Awarding Ceremony at the 47th SEAMEO Council (SEAMEC) Conference held in March 2013 in Hanoi, Vietnam. 8 innotechnewsletter January-March2013

9 GURO21 goes to Region I Region I in northern Philippines became the first region to avail of SEAMEO INNOTECH s GURO21 flexible learning program for teachers. A total of 87 teachers from various DepED Divisions in Region I enrolled as flexible learners in the one-month online learning program that will begin on 5 March GURO21, which stands for Gearing Up Responsible and Outstanding Teachers in Southeast Asia for the 21st Century, is a menu of flexible learning courses intended to enhance the capabilities of teachers in meeting the essential knowledge and skills requirements of an era powered by information and technology. The GURO21 foundation course is designed to facilitate the development of 21st century skills. It is composed of two learning modules with discussions and activities spread throughout the four-week timeframe. Module 1 is all about Equipping teachers with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values for the 21st Century while Module 2 is on Facilitating 21st Century Learning. Flexible learners are required to successfully complete this foundation course before proceeding to take other GURO 21 courses. The GURO21 in Region I is being implemented in partnership with the Pangasinan State University (PSU). PSU will grant a three-unit academic credit to all successful course completers. PSU faculty will also facilitate the online classes under the management of SEAMEO INNOTECH. INNOTECH staff attends forum of Data Privacy Act SEAMEO INNOTECH officials and staff members participated last March 12, 2013 in a forum on the protection of personal information with Atty. JJ Disini, technology law expert and Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law. Atty. Disini gave a briefing on the right to privacy in the Philippines before proceeding to a discussion on the contents of RA or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, which President Benigno Aquino, Jr. signed into law in August The law applies to the processing of all types of personal information, including any natural and juridical person involved in personal information processing. It also specifies the creation of the National Privacy Commission which shall monitor and ensure compliance of the country with international standards set for data protection. Businesses and offices affected by the implementation of the law is given a one year transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR, or such other period as may be determined by the Commission, to comply with (its) requirements. Atty. Disini said companies may need to appoint a data privacy officer who will ensure that their companies comply with the requirements of the law. The data privacy officer will need to apply appropriate measures to safeguard personal information under its control or custody, including sensitive personal data against any accidental or unlawful destruction, alteration and disclosure, as well as against any other unlawful processing. Atty. Disini further explained that once the implementing rules and regulations of the RA comes out, an individual will have the right to know if his/her personal information is being processed and how it is being used. An individual also has the right to demand removal or destruction of his/her stored personal data from a system unless there is a legal basis for such information to be kept or processed. January-March2013 innotechnewsletter 9

10 Lao Education Officials learns the Best Practices on Teacher Education and Development in the Philippines SEAMEO INNOTECH facilitated the study visit to the Philippines of five high officials from the Lao PDR Ministry of Education and Sports (MoEYS) on March 2013 to learn from the country s experiences and practices on teacher training and development programs, as well as on quality assurance and accreditation system. The study visit was undertaken through the program on Capacity Development for Education for All (CapEFA) for Lao PDR: Capacity Building Support for Teacher Education in Lao PDR sponsored by UNESCO Bangkok. The Center arranged for the visit of the small Lao delegation to several government institutions including the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Normal University (PNU), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), and the Teacher Education Council (TEC). Among the areas covered during discussion with the officials of the said institutions were best practices, programs and mechanisms in teacher education and continuing professional development. The three-day interaction with local education officials provided the Lao delegation with opportunity to reflect on the existing teacher development programs and mechanisms in their country. They also had the chance to identity some potential areas for improvement. During 10 innotechnewsletter January-March2013

11 the feedback session, the Lao officials talked about their most significant insights. Mr. Chandy Phommabouth, head of the Lao delegation and director general of the Department of Teacher Education under the MoES, remarked on the many institutions collaborating for teacher development in the Philippines. Mr. Phommabouth was convinced that the presence of the National Competencybased Teacher Standard (NCBTS) a unified framework for teacher development, made this arrangement possible. He also pointed out the important role of the TEC in bridging the preservice with the in-service teacher education programs as it ensures that products of teacher education institutions (TEIs) match the competency requirements of the DepEd. Further, he said, CHED s recognition of some TEIs as Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development through very specific performance indicators was a good way of ensuring the quality and continuous improvement of TEIs. Similar to Mr. Phommabouth, Ms. Varadune Amarathithada, deputy director general of DTE for In- Service Education, also took note of the many institutions working together to develop and establish standards for effective Filipino teachers. She appreciated that each agency has clear roles and responsibilities guided by the Teacher Education and Development (TED) Road Map which serves as a guidepost for total teacher development programs in the country. Mr. Maaly Vorabouth, director of Teacher Education Evaluation Division, shared that they learned many interesting teacher development programs and systems, including the teacher certification program, the teacher licensure examination administered by PRC, and the teacher education curriculum of the PNU. He said these were valuable lessons which he and his co-delegates plan to bring back and share with their colleagues in the MoES. The other two members of the delegation, Mr. Keth Phanhack, Deputy Director General of DTE for Pre-Service Education and Mr. Vanhsay Noraseng, Director of Education Standards and Quality Assurance Center, shared the same insights and also expressed gratitude for all the generous sharing of experiences and ideas by the officials of the institutions they visited. It is expected that the visiting high officials would engage other stakeholders from the MoES into a series of conversations upon their return to share their findings and ideas, and eventually come up with a common understanding of the next steps towards improving teacher education in Lao PDR. January-March2013 innotechnewsletter 11

12 Japanese expert reviews INNOTECH video materials An educational media expert from Japan visited SEAMEO INNOTECH last March 2013 to review the Center s instructional video production processes and techniques. Mr. Toshimichi Koori, producer of educational programs at the Open University of Japan (OUJ) provided critical inputs to the processes of the Center s Educational Media Unit in video production. Mr. Koori reviewed in particular the video materials that INNOTECH produced for the Department of Education s K to 12 basic education reform program. Likewise, Mr. Koori looked into the Center s flexible learning programs, with the intention of learning more about its instructional design and development processes. Prior to his work with OUJ, Mr. Koori served at the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) as TV and radio producer of educational programs for children. His visit to the Center was undertaken through the Expert Dispatch Program of the Japan s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), in cooperation with the SEAMEO Secretariat. The MEXT program sends out Japanese experts to SEAMEO Centers to provide inputs for capacity development. innotech n e w s l e t t e rn Published twice a year by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH). Tel: ; Fax: (632) For your feedback, us at: info@seameo-innotech.org Editorial Office at the Information Management Unit, SEAMEO INNOTECH, UPPO Box 207, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines. Editor: Jesse M. Tuason Editorial Assistants: Aury Anne A. Santos, Gillian Marie M. Cruz Photos: Jesse M. Tuason; Guillermo Cruz; Mark John Antido Layout: Gillian Marie M. Cruz Advisers: 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. SEAMEO Regional INNOTECH Center UPPO Box 207, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines Re-entered as second class mail matter, February 7, 1983 at U.P. Post Office, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 12 innotechnewsletter January-March2013