I can't believe that the last time that I have wrote in this blog was dated in the year 2009. Since then, a lot of things has happened. This is not a new year's resolution as I don't really believe in it. They are meant to be broken so that leaves you with a major feeling of disappointment. I will try to write as much as I can. I will try to document what has happened in the past years, as well as, the things that will happen this year.
I am also considering deleting my other blog, Weng's World and try to concentrate on this blog as this contains up-to-date thoughts.
Until, then...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Updates On My Son's Achievements
Hello, there.
It's been so long since my last post. I guess I have been busy doing a lot of things. Again, here I am posting achievements of my son, Arjay.
Last Summer of 2009, he became the Most Outstanding Swimmer for 2 Swim Meets. The First Plunge Swim Meet 2009 and Take Your Mark 2009. This is my way of celebrating his achievements.
Right now, we are trekking a new goal... Conquering 50meters and above long courses swim meets. I hope you wish as luck, but for the meantime, enjoy his movies.
It's been so long since my last post. I guess I have been busy doing a lot of things. Again, here I am posting achievements of my son, Arjay.
Last Summer of 2009, he became the Most Outstanding Swimmer for 2 Swim Meets. The First Plunge Swim Meet 2009 and Take Your Mark 2009. This is my way of celebrating his achievements.
Right now, we are trekking a new goal... Conquering 50meters and above long courses swim meets. I hope you wish as luck, but for the meantime, enjoy his movies.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Pagbabago sa Silid-aralan: Kung hindi ngayon, kailan?- Not Promising
I went and didn't finish the educational forum today (Dec. 2, 2008) at the College of Education here in UP Diliman. I went there with an eye of a parent rather than as an educator. For the simple reason that our educational system educates our children, and as a parent, I have a stake in it. It was so disappointing and not promising.
The forum was all about reporting the initial findings of a project that the College of Education is pursuing. For what I understand, the project introduces a systematic-approach to teacher mentoring to help public school teacher (to be empowered). Again, for what I saw, their target is to increase results of "Student Achievement Test" by 25% through improving or increasing teacher performance.
I feel sad and disappointed because all throughout the presentation, I kept asking, "Where is the learner in all of this?"
Why ask?
1.) Who will take the student achievement test? Isn't it our children/students and not the teachers? If 25% increase in student achievement test is the goal, why not "train" students to answer such kind of test? Their goal was not really about LEARNING for UNDERSTANDING.
2.) Who will benefit when such goal is achieved? Clearly, I only see the school, district and the Department of Education benefiting in this. They could say, 'Hey, we have achieved 25% increase in students achievement test'. But, how does that translate to a kapaki-pakinabang na mamamayan in the future? Or, translate into the needs of the 21th century worker? Or, how it can prepare my son for the unknown future? As parents, the reason why we let our children attend school is for them to be prepared for the future. And, not just simply pass a test.
3. ) The mid-year (of a 2-year project) results are not promising. Only 1 out of so many classes (Grade 4 to high school) has achieved that goal. They stated probable reasons for this. Yet, I didn't see anything that relates to the learners themselves such as learner profiles, learning styles. It's all about execution of the methodology, lack of resources, change in leadership etc.
It makes me feel so sad because we are missing why we have education in the first place, i.e., students or learners. With this kind of goal, my son, being a student and learner, is just a statistic.
The forum was all about reporting the initial findings of a project that the College of Education is pursuing. For what I understand, the project introduces a systematic-approach to teacher mentoring to help public school teacher (to be empowered). Again, for what I saw, their target is to increase results of "Student Achievement Test" by 25% through improving or increasing teacher performance.
I feel sad and disappointed because all throughout the presentation, I kept asking, "Where is the learner in all of this?"
Why ask?
1.) Who will take the student achievement test? Isn't it our children/students and not the teachers? If 25% increase in student achievement test is the goal, why not "train" students to answer such kind of test? Their goal was not really about LEARNING for UNDERSTANDING.
2.) Who will benefit when such goal is achieved? Clearly, I only see the school, district and the Department of Education benefiting in this. They could say, 'Hey, we have achieved 25% increase in students achievement test'. But, how does that translate to a kapaki-pakinabang na mamamayan in the future? Or, translate into the needs of the 21th century worker? Or, how it can prepare my son for the unknown future? As parents, the reason why we let our children attend school is for them to be prepared for the future. And, not just simply pass a test.
3. ) The mid-year (of a 2-year project) results are not promising. Only 1 out of so many classes (Grade 4 to high school) has achieved that goal. They stated probable reasons for this. Yet, I didn't see anything that relates to the learners themselves such as learner profiles, learning styles. It's all about execution of the methodology, lack of resources, change in leadership etc.
It makes me feel so sad because we are missing why we have education in the first place, i.e., students or learners. With this kind of goal, my son, being a student and learner, is just a statistic.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
KINESPELL at UP-Ayala Technohub Launching
UP-Ayala Technohub was launched last November 21, 2008 (Friday). Too bad, I wasn't able to come along as I have the whole day teaching CS 192 Software Engineering. The most important guest that they have there was no other than our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The department was asked to exhibit some of the CS 198 student projects. One of which is KINESPELL. Who, I am happy to blog, is one of the projects I am advising. The project is all about helping kinesthetic learners learn spelling through a game-based approach. They incorporated the use of Sun Spots to manipulate a dragonfly.
Here is a picture of the event with my advisee- Jay Andre Salvador and Ada Cariaga- while PGMA with DOST Secretary Alabastro and Dr. Luis Sison watching on.
I AM ONE PROUD ADVISER!!!
The department was asked to exhibit some of the CS 198 student projects. One of which is KINESPELL. Who, I am happy to blog, is one of the projects I am advising. The project is all about helping kinesthetic learners learn spelling through a game-based approach. They incorporated the use of Sun Spots to manipulate a dragonfly.
Here is a picture of the event with my advisee- Jay Andre Salvador and Ada Cariaga- while PGMA with DOST Secretary Alabastro and Dr. Luis Sison watching on.
I AM ONE PROUD ADVISER!!!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Arjay's First Medal
It is official. Arjay won the silver medal for the 10-year-old 25m Butterfly event of Flying Dolphins Swimming Competition last November 8, 2008. His time is 26 seconds. I am ONE PROUD MAMA!
Here is his picture with his medal. I know my husband will post this in his friendster account.
Also, here is the video of the event. I apologize for the quality since it was only through the phone that we got the video.
Also, I'd like to point out that we never really got the winning moment since my husband got so excited that he forgot to focus the camera on my son. That's why, you only see water at the end of the event. We've decided that the next competition, we will hire someone to video the event.
Here is the congratulatory banner that is currently hanging at the front gate of the school. I am really proud of my son for this accomplishment.Our target is to have him swim 20 seconds for the next competition.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Arjay's Expression
While watching Ally MacBean on DVD, my son entered the room and started to declare...
I have four expression that I always say:
I have four expression that I always say:
- Aray!
- Ouch!
- What the heck?!?
- Ha... Yah!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Initiating a culture of collaborative research...
I just want to share that the most significant thing that happened to me today was to initiate a culture of collaborative research by asking some of our apprentice in the WSG (Web Science Group) of the Department of Computer Science, UP Diliman to blog whatever they have learned regarding their interest in the field of web science as it is applied to education.
It will start with a small group as an experimental process. The idea is that they will start blogging things such as:
I also intend to have a podcast about what they have blog with comments from other members. If it becomes successful and really help us in research, I will extend it to include other members interested in other domains (such as health).
Collaborative Research Blogging will start during the second semester as most students are preparing for their finals and enlisting for the second sem. I hope this works.
It will start with a small group as an experimental process. The idea is that they will start blogging things such as:
- what they have learned
- what they have discovered
- what they have experienced
- what they find interesting
I also intend to have a podcast about what they have blog with comments from other members. If it becomes successful and really help us in research, I will extend it to include other members interested in other domains (such as health).
Collaborative Research Blogging will start during the second semester as most students are preparing for their finals and enlisting for the second sem. I hope this works.
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