...at the road less traveled by

          Each of the pics has more than a thousand stories to tell...a tale of courage, love, friendship, commitment and a mission.

          The nonphysical ideals such as courage, humility, perseverance, and courtesy, that were so esteemed by the knights of the Round Table are still quite valuable and apparent today as evidenced when we trod the road less traveled by. The teachers, students and the whole community in Sitio schools of Barangay Palma Gil, Dagohoy, Tibi-tibi in the Municipality of Talaingod, in San isidro, Asuncion and also the remote schools of 
Kapalong EAST, specifically the Gupitan line schools have a community with  the real epitome of people who possess these nonphysical ideals for having a superb sense of courage and gratefulness in the hearts.

          EPS Virgie Perandos, Wennie Batoon and myself salute the un-equaled courage by the teachers of these remote schools. To mention, the School Heads deserve the Department of Education's "two thumbs up" for their simply awesome character and exemplary people's skills. There is no amount of pay can ever surpass the no amount of love these administrators and teachers have for the school children and the folks in the community.

          Dust and mud... we got them all as we traveled along the rough and rugged roads... We went up, then down, sideways and up to the mountains again on a motorcycle that brought us to every destination where kids and teachers eagerly waited. While on our way,  we were hurdling steep slopes and rocky grounds, yet mesmerized by the fascinating waterfalls, the scent of the cool forest breeze, rippling brook, twittering little birds, dazzling view from the mountain top. Finally, we're met with warm countryside folks, sweet smiles of kids, What an amazing experience....


 .....and what a heart-touching scene to see the children in makeshift classrooms only, most of the kids barefooted, and some came to school without any notebook, paper and pencil and the worst, some came to school with nothing in the stomach. From the eyes of each child was a yearning for love and care... all hopeful to see a brighter tomorrow beyond the day.

          The journey along the road less traveled by was literally described as 'BUWIS-BUHAY" experience. As we climbed up the 45 degree sloped mountain, we not only heard our heartbeats, but we as well noticed our nerves jerked… and every time we looked back from where we've been, we couldn't help but whisper: "What a breathtaking journey!"

           Just as we reached the peak where each of the schools strategically stands... we couldn't hold our tears of joy seeing all the children with happy faces, their eyes sparkled as they greeted us "good morning visitors!" We forgot that our feet and legs crammed, that our blood pressures went up....indeed their smiles were a therapy.

             The dust in our faces, the mud on our shoes, the bruises on our elbows and knees were perfect remembrance of the wonderful, unforgettable experiences captured by my lens.... and these had even made the trip worth remembering, lots of fun and thrill and... above all worth praising God for the wonderful experience being with Him during our nature trip while monitoring the schools at the remotest areas.... WE CONQUERED ALL OUR FEARS, and WE THANKED GOD for the thousands of His angels covered us with His safety nets.

          Every mountain and cliff we passed fueled our passion for service and gave us the courage to continue doing our mission. The monitoring of schools are but the bits and pieces of experiences that complete the Education Program Supervisors of DepEd Davao del Norte's day to day jigsaw puzzles, ever hopeful that one day comes the puzzle shall be completed…that all school-age children shall be in school...no one left behind!

Week 10: For All That Has Been and Will Be....

Hello Everyone!

It has been said that when the heart is full, the mouth speaketh not. Indeed, my heart is full to the brim. But to speak not will remove the “splendor of the night” as the song goes because going through the University of Oregon Webskills Course revolves around communicating, reaching out and impacting on others positively. This makes me speak my heart and mind out. I wish to reach out and touch everyone to let them feel the elation I felt for having hurdled the challenges of the ten-week course for Building Teacher Skills Using Interactive Web. Being one of those who complete the course is not just another feather on my hat, it is not only an accomplishment but to me it is an achievement.

To finish the course was not at all easy for me. Looking back at my awkward and humble beginning I generally labeled myself to be at Level One per LoTI ( Level of Technology Integration). With basic knowledge about the web in my pocket, I then ventured through tough times exploring, surfing, experimenting, putting my brain in mental aerobics, and burning midnight candles. My tolerance and stamina to stand firm against sleepless nights and stressful situations specially when the internet connection is not cooperating, when work pressures and the due dates for course requirements come together were indeed tests of patience and determination. True enough, it isn't at all easy to perform multiple tasks as an education program supervisor during the daytime, a college instructor at night time, a theater arts coach and guru every now and then, a constant mother and tutor to my kids, and a wife 24/7.  But to me, every difficult situation came out challenging, enriching, and amazingly enjoyable. Much more, to realize our Division of Davao del Norte institutional vision which hopes to see our division as one of the premier institutions of learning managed by competent and caring personnel whose learners are value-laden and equipped with academic and technological and life skills has given me the push to do the most that I can do for the sake of the students, the teachers and the school heads who lag in terms of technology utilization and to whom I dedicate my effort.

For someone like me who craves to learn more about digital resource and web-based concepts and processes, time is so fleeting, so fast. Yet, what makes the course and the experience more beautiful and simply awesome is the list of concepts learned and skills developed within a short span of time. In week 8, I gladly counted and enumerated the learning I gained from the experience and considered them real time blessings: web tools, search engines, My Delicious Page, Blogs, Nicenet Discussions, Donna’s Wiki, Rubistar, Webquests, Interactive Powerpoint making, video tutorials, Online and Offline tools for print, various articles for reading, comments and feedback from co-participants and Donna’s, peer review, project plan or report, ANVILL, Jupiter Grades and above all the wonderful friendship that despite not being able to see each other’s faces yet each spirit and positive energy is felt by the heart. One more worthwhile feature about this course is I am allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, I can be me and be the person I really am.

This is definitely the last week in Webskills Course however, not the last time for me to blog. As long as there is something to learn, someone who inspires, situations that pose challenge, these are but pieces that will complete the day to day jigsaw puzzles.

Moreover, I look forward to a continuous sharing of “hi and hellos” and insights from among the course participants. If it would be possible for the University of Oregon to organize a net alumni as suggested by Olena Franchuk, I guess this is even a greater idea.

Similarly, I like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful people who have impact me positively especially Donna Shaw who has been very patient at checking my outputs, and helping me think of ways to make things better. I like to include as well Jodi and Jeff for being a part of this learning journey. Credits are also afforded to the US Embassy in the Philippines and the US State Government for having sponsored my university fees. I salute the superb generosity in helping build people. Having gone through the course makes me believe that this has enhanced my technological potential and reinforced me to become a reflective teacher and a better learner.

I hate to say goodbye but if leaving and letting go could be a way to grow, so I will go. I’m very optimistic that I shall be happy towards taking a new journey with a pocketful of good memories because these  shall repaint the class pictures so that at last I know better what meaning I look for, what fuels my passion, what ignites my creativity, what flows my energy and what makes me truly happy.

For all that has been and will be…… GRATITUDE is the memory of my heart.

Mabuhay PILIPINAS!

REBECCA CASAS SAGOT

Week 9: What a Journey it Has Been....

Hello everyone!

What a remarkable week, I say so because of the completion of my final project plan in Webskills. Likewise this week comes with fruitful and awesome information about learning styles and multiple intelligences. I took the pleasure of assessing online my personal inventory of learning style and I found out that I am a social-emotional person and is also very close to being a visual learner. When I shared the site http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/ with my co-education program supervisors, they too eagerly assessed their learning styles and affirmed the results of the survey. The article by Richard M. Felder http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm likewise has clearly distinguished the active and reflective learner, and the visual and verbal learner.  Out of the article, I pictured out my students under me the past semesters since I failed at providing them the opportunity to survey their learning styles nor their dominant multiple intelligence and I realized why for some instances they were not able to perform what is expected of them since they were made to tackle some tasks which were not closely related to their inclination. This semester, the survey on learning styles was on one of the activities which my students did online. I am so impressed of their feedback while they shared what they learned about themselves. As a teacher, I am aware now that my students have different learning abilities and skills. Some students learn the concept very fast while others would have difficulty in learning the same concept. Thus, I am regularly dealing with different types of learners. It is a great challenge to make learning easy and fun for my students with varying skills, abilities and interests. It requires creativity and resourcefulness in preparing lessons and activities for various types of learners. The reading articles for Week 9 provide very significant and relevant background information on learning styles and about providing varied activities for different learners including the use of technology or finding material online to bring into class. Moreover, it was smooth sailing with the 5Cs Learning Strategies by the site http://www.nclrc.org/sailing/ since the article provides teachers the need to come up with strategies in dealing with varied learners and the ways with which they learn better. I also took the pleasure of reading sequentially those suggested in the course website about Technology and Multiple Intelligences at http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic68.htm. It reiterates that technology can facilitate learning in each intelligence area identified by Howard Gardner.

The week is a bit lighter as compared to the past weeks simply because there is only one main task which is to complete the  project report or plan for the course. Good enough that last week I seemingly have ironed out almost everything for my plan why it didn’t take me so long to revise my plan. Furthermore, I’m also happy that my students positively responded to the web-based tasks required of them. I am able to meet the targets for two weeks since I keep receiving e-mails from my students and all of them feel pretty good about the activity. Much happier I am because of the 100% support of the center administrator especially for my project class.

Ohhh… just a week away and the course shall be over. The cyber trip was simply awesome, challenging and above all fulfilling. I guess this is true to all the Webskills participants. As Walt Disney’s favorite singer Leah Salonga sings... “what a journey it has been!”

Forward, always forward…
Onward, always up…
Catching every drop of hope
In my empty cup

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they’re bound to guide my way

When they’re shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won’t let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been…

All the best,

REBECCA

Webskills' Week 8: Extremely Amazing!

Hello everyone!

What a memorable Week 8! Along with the celebration of the World Thanksgiving Day, I join the whole world in counting my blessings since I joined Webskills and naming them one by one:

week 1 - My 'firsts", my memorable encounters with Nicenet, and Wordpress, being able to create my Google Account, accessed Donna's wiki and did all my tasks for the week with flying colors.

Week 2 - I was a bit messy in my ABCD Objectives, but I was able to rectify them through Donna's guidance and Rashid's suggestions.

Week 3 - It's a delicious week! I finally had the opportunity to collect and organize my online favorites and contained them in "My Delicious Page"

Week 4 - All the readings for the week led me to identify the needs most of our students have in our locale. I was able to produce one technology enhanced lesson plan, though it needed much refinement. This week, I was able to identify the technology-based activities that I plan to implement in my class: using e-mails and blogging in developing and enhancing students' writing skills.

Week 5 - I love Week 5 simply because it  provided me with the necessary information in coming up with a technology-based project that would allow learner autonomy. Likewise, I was able to make use of rubistar.org and able to share the site with the teachers I supervise. All of them find the site very helpful because it helps them come up with rubrics for both performance-based outputs of students. 

Week 6 - Oh, this week was quite difficult for me. At first, I thought I can't make an interactive Powerpoint, but I did! I was so overwhelmed seeing my first output but I also learned some lessons from the suggestions given by Donna: when the slides are applied with too many colors and rich designs, it need not have moving chevrons as they are bit distracting.

Week 7 - is simply amazing Week 7 and my heart was full to the brim during the week for having hurdled the challenges. I had the pleasure of communicating with Maria Elena and Olena as peer reviewers of my project plan. and one most important feature of the week was the idea that in promoting learner autonomy, there has to be teacher autonomy.

Week 8 - is extremely fabulous and very memorable week. I accomplished a lot for the Webskills tasks by creating a site for my students under the graduate program, a blog site for my students in the undergraduate program, submitted for review my project plan, reviewed and gave comments and suggestions for the project reports of Olena and Maria Elena, had the chance to learn about the sites needed when making some boardgames, online tests, comic strips, and a lot more. But what is truly memorable is my participation at the Webinar together with Jeff and some of the participants. It truly warms the heart to hear the voices of the people I have been with for the past seven weeks. It took me several hours to wait for 2AM since our country is 16 hours ahead than Oregon time, but I really tried not to fall asleep or else I would have missed an important date. ANVILL was really fabulous. I used Skype and Yahoo Messenger in synchronous online conferencing but  ANVILL is much better, I suppose. Somehow, it isn't that easy to try it because most of my students don't have yet very good and ample exposures to the web.Moreover, I also need more exposures on Webinar.

14, 13, 12, 11, 10..... the days get fewer and Webkills course shall end. The course might be over but it surely will leave me significant insights on how to effect change in my workplace and how to make a difference, and above all, it shall imprint in me worthwhile memories that I shall be grateful of all my life.

Happy thanksgiving day to everyone!

REBECCA

Week 7: Simply Amazing!

Hello everyone!

What a wonderful Week 7! Well, I hope you see how awesome it is from the smiles on my face. The week has been adorned with very informative readings about fostering learner autonomy, inputs and tasks for one-computer classroom and the brilliant ideas and generous comments from our guest at Nicenet, JODI plus the usual kindness and technical assistance by our guardian angel DONNA. The learning tasks for the week likewise allow me to retrospect once more on the conditions in my local schools division, and I find it very relevant to what we should do for our learners towards autonomy. It is true, that to foster learner autonomy, there has to be teacher autonomy. Moreover, the author of the articleDimitrios Thanasoulas in  "What Is Learner Autonomy and How Can It Be Fostered?" reiterates that we've only skimmed the surface of the subject and the puzzle called learner autonomy and there are still many pieces missing. So, we're rubbing elbows together to construct the puzzle. Furthermore, the school leaders hopefully shall give support to teachers who take courses of actions towards curriculum innovations and decisions.

This week too, seem to be a week for searching a soul mate. I love it much! Initially, it took me a while thinking who to choose for a partner, seem funny but if you only have known, I included the search as one of the prayer items during our family’s early morning devotionals. Well, in my prayer, I was quite specific about my criteria for a partner in the peer-review: the first partner has to be someone who shall invite me while the second partner shall be someone I will invite and will not refuse. Hallelujah! Maria Elena and Olena are a prayer answered. Oh my! and their names rhymed! Isn’t it amazing?

My heart is full to the brim for being able to cross over the hurdles of Week 7, above all to be part of this league that many call as lucky. The trainings I underwent definitely reinforced my technological potential, enhanced my skills as a learner and as a teacher, and I emerged as a better and a stronger person. On the other hand, I can’t avoid being sad thinking that we nearly can count with our fingers the remaining days for us in Webskills. I start missing everyone especially those I always communicated with. I hope to have the most  time to keep in touch with everyone for the remaining weeks.

I wish everyone the best and may God bless us all.

REBECCA

The Essence of Webskills Week 6

Hello everyone!

"Let's go interactive!"this is the essence of Week 6 in Webskills.

Week 6 is simply awesome! All the suggested readings offer an array of information on how to improve delivery of instructions. These all provided strategies on engaging students in the learning process. Inputs on how to conduct interactive lectures from the http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/interactive/index.html has provided a very comprehensive presentation on how this can be done in classes as it enumerates specific examples and techniques designed to involve students in large and small lecture-based classes. This is very relevant in our local context.

This week's inputs about making classes  interactive using Powerpoint make the week even more beautiful and challenging. I say "challenging" simply because this is entirely different from what I've been exposed to and far different from what I've been doing. The article from http://www.garrreynolds.com/Presentation/slides.html "Top 10 Slide Tips" and http://thejournal.com/articles/2000/08/01/creating-an-interactive-powerpoint-lesson-for-the-classroom.aspx "Creating an Interactive Powerpoint" offer comprehensive ideas which teachers can learn from. True enough, I have been using Powerpoint when I conduct training or seminar for teachers but this has not been done interactively. The presentations were simply used as visual aids and these didn't involve interactivity. During this week, I got the pleasure of watching and reading through the different Powerpoint presentations from Webskills participants. Indeed, those were all impressive. In fact, when I showed it before my 10-year old son, he enjoyed watching and answering on the quizzes especially from those PPT created by Tariq and Dragana. This makes me more convinced of how beautiful interactive PPT presentations are.

Now, I start creating one for my class.  It takes me several times to read and re-read the articles for interactive Powerpoint and for several times watch the video tutorial at Youtube.com. For a neophyte in technology utilization, it isn't that easy for me but I believe this attempt for change shall bring forth worthwhile learning experience for me and my students. Hopefully, I can finish and upload my project at Donna's Wiki before the clock strikes 12 midnight by Sunday in Oregon.  I can't become an instant expert on this, it takes time, training and practice for me to perfect creating PPT presentations for instructional purposes and for breaking the monotony of using blackboard and chalk in teaching.

Well, the challenge is still on and the passion is still alive. All through this time, Webskills  lets me discover many things about myself and the tasks that confront me week by week.

MABUHAY!

REBECCA

I Love Week 5!

 Hello Everyone!

I love Week 5 in Webskills! Donna is absolutely correct in finding this week her favorite. The thread of discussions in Nicenet is quite longer than the past week’s discussions. I am pretty sure that everyone is enjoying and at the same time learning much from the experience.

The articles on Alternative Assessment, rubrics, project-based learning and Webquests offer great ideas and lead me to some realization of the past assessment practices I and most of our teachers employed to our students. I clearly recalled it was in 2003 when the public schools in our country undertook a major revision in the rating system from 70-100% grading to zero-based rating system. Likewise, alternative form of assessments or performance-based assessments was introduced. These were at first met with resistance especially by most of the teachers who find traditional pen and paper tests their comfort zones. I clearly recalled the popular test types multiple choice, matching type, short answer/completion type, essay type which dominate the test papers of students during periodical examinations. Students were required to write essays during exams, but as how these were evaluated and how points were assigned were not clearly communicated to them. Each of the learning areas required students of projects and some performances requiring oral communications and written outputs however, the scores they got should I say were seemingly “mysterious” and worse, scores largely depend upon teachers’ subjectivity, specifically, on teachers’ moods. Not only an injustice but somewhat funny. Then, being part of the goals of the department to improve teachers’ skills for assessment procedures, several trainings were conducted and I am glad to note that there are changes somehow on teachers’ attitude towards assessment and students now are seen happier than before as they find meaning and connection of the activities they do in school to their life outside school.

Rubistar is one of the week’s best delights. This is a site worth- recommending for teachers specially in our local schools division since one of the concerns which confront teachers in alternative assessment is the preparation of the rubrics. With Rubistar, teachers shall be re-enforced of the categories they need to include and the degree they will set for each condition in assessing certain tasks, thus,  reducing teachers' burden because the site offers array of categories to choose from. What teachers need to do is only to make little revisions so as to fit to the context of the learners.

Webquests is worth trying. From the samples at Zunal.com and Questgarden, I’m sure students will not only learn but enjoy as well. I am thinking about coming up with an online treasure hunt materials for my students, hopefully I will learn the process the soonest time possible. With webquests, students shall be engaged in an interactive academic activity in a much more controlled environment, therefore their access to the internet shall not be solely for games and social networking.

What makes this week more fascinating are the shared ideas and tips from the Webskills participants. I am glad to have been surrounded by and benefit from someone’s kindness. I personally like to thank the following online friends who impact me positively during the week. Let me name a few:

• For pointing out what I need to improve on; for being generously tactful in giving comments; and for giving me a detailed instruction on how to create class wiki, hopefully I can perfectly create one before the classes in the second semester begin.  Thanks a lot Donna.
• For brilliantly illustrated his ideas during discussions at Nicenet; for sharing Markin http://www.cict.co.uk/markin/index.php  which I can study and learn about and eventually be used in the future;  the link http://youtu.be/yQRbUeM6HDM  for a video tutorial so that I can use tables/grids at Nicenet; for sharing the idea about errors and mistakes are “learning steps- the phrase I and my students shall surely love to hear. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Muhammad Rashid.
• For the very nice suggestions on how to improve my students’ writing skills and for extending earnest encouragement so that I can possibly do things right and get best results. My sincerest thanks Olena.
• For the shared ideas and experiences about alternative assessment, PBL and rubrics which stirred me to reflect how am I being a teacher. Thank you so much Letty, BinLi, Ma. Elena, and Sebnem and the rest who I fail to mention.

Week 5 also leaves me a challenge- to create a Webquest at Zunal.com or Questgarden. Well, I miss this extra credit for the week. Perhaps, with more nights of burning midnight candles browsing and making attempts, I can finally create one soon.

Lastly, week 5 offers well taught lessons and these are actually contained inhttp://www.finestquotes.com/select_quote-category-Challenges-page-0.htm through the quotes of William Arthur’s “Failure is not fatal. Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. It should challenge us to new heights of accomplishments, not pull us to new depths of despair. From honest failure can come valuable experience”, and Michael F. Staley’s “There is no challenge more challenging than the challenge to improve oneself”.

Indeed, I LOVE WEEK 5! How about you?

REBECCA CASAS SAGOT