Teachers begin using cell phones for class lessons

Washington Post, November 27, 2009 WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. -- Ariana Leonard's high school students shuffled in their seats, eagerly awaiting a cue from their Spanish teacher that the assignment would begin.

"Take out your cell phones," she said in Spanish.

The teens pulled out an array of colorful flip phones, iPhones and SideKicks. They divided into groups and Leonard began sending them text messages in Spanish: Find something green. Go to the cafeteria. Take a picture with the school secretary.

Leonard's class at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel, a middle-class Florida suburb about 30 miles north of Tampa, is one of a growing number around the country that are abandoning traditional policies of cell phone prohibition and incorporating them into class lessons. Spanish vocabulary becomes a digital scavenger hunt. Notes are copied with a cell phone camera. Text messages serve as homework reminders.

"I can use my cell phone for all these things, why can't I use it for learning purposes?'" Leonard said. "Giving them something, a mobile device, that they use every day for fun, giving them another avenue to learn outside of the classroom with that."

"This is technology that helps us be more productive," he said.

Continue reading here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/27/AR2009112702453_pf.html

Philippine DepEd: More public schools given access to Knowledge Channel programs

From The Philippine Star November 22, 2009 MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has expanded the number of public schools with access to educational programs of the Knowledge Channel.

DepEd and the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc., signed a memorandum of agreement that will allow public schools to have access to Knowledge Channel’s educational shows through cable, satellite and the Internet. Continue reading here www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=525650&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Free Classes via iTunes

Free Classes via iTunes

From NY Times: Open University, a distance-learning institution based in Britain, has delivered 10 million free downloads of lectures via Apple's iTunes U, which is two years old.

“There are still a lot of universities in the world that define the value of their experience as somehow locking up their content and only giving people access to the content when they enroll in the program,” Mr. Bean said. “The courage comes from taking the next leap of faith. Universities no longer define themselves by their content but the overall experience: the concept, the student support, the tutoring and mentoring, the teaching and learning they get and the quality of the assessment.” Continue reading here http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/the-argument-for-free-classes-via-itunes/?ref=technology

Using iTunes U, along with Google’s similar service, YouTube.edu
Open University http://www.open.ac.uk/

From the Apple Website: iTunes U How Apple Makes It Happen From portable computers and mobile devices to software and servers to iTunes U, Apple makes all the technology you need to make mobile learning a reality for your students.

Teachers are using iLife and iWork applications on the Mac to create customized educational materials, such as language lessons that students can listen to on the bus or at home. And with the help of tools like Podcast Producer and Wiki Server — both of which come with Mac OS X Server — IT professionals at your school can help you produce and distribute all kinds of multimedia content on iTunes U or a class wiki. Once your classroom presentations and lectures have been captured and published, students can download them from iTunes. Then they can transfer them to iPod or iPhone and take it all with them. And suddenly, any place — a café, a bus stop — can be a place to learn. http://www.apple.com/education/mobile-learning/

YouTube online education http://www.youtube.com/education?b=400

The Global Health eLearning Center developed by the USAID Bureau of Global Health is a response to repeated requests from field staff for access to technical public health information. We have heard from USAID Population, Health, and Nutrition officers (PHNs) and from Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) that they want to be current on global health topics, yet find it a challenge to obtain the information because of logistical and time constraints. The Global Health eLearning Center provides Internet-based courses that: http://www.globalhealthlearning.org/login.cfm

eLearning Technology http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/

This might be an interesting blog to explore to learn more about elearing tools and how to. Tony Karrer's eLearning Blog on e-Learning Trends eLearning 2.0, eLearning Solutions Enterprise 2.0. Personal Learning Informal Learning, Corporate eLearning, eLearning Design, Authoring Tools, Rapid e-Learning Tools eLearning (e-Learning), e-Learning Software Blended, e-Learning e-Learning Tools Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-Learning ROI and Metrics

Also check out my blog on elearning (just click through the spam warning as it was auto generated and will be removed shortly in this new blog) http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/

18,837 pass October 2009 teacher PRC licensure exam

A total of 10,792 hopefuls passed the October 2009 licensure exam for teachers in the secondary level, while 8,045 examinees passed the teacher licensure exam for the elementary level, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said.

Twenty six examinees also passed the L.E.T. - elementary- All Regions.

To see the lists, click below:

LIST OF SUCCESSFUL SECONDARY TEACHER EXAMINEES OCTOBER 2009

LIST OF SUCCESFUL ELEMENTARY TEACHER EXAMINEES OCTOBER 2009

L.E.T. - ELEMENTARY- ALL REGIONS

October 2009 LET (Elementary and Secondary) Topnotchers:

LET Elementary Level
1 Jaylord Sampiano Losabia, University of San Agustin - 89.60%
2 Carina Cabagua Ceñidoza, University of the Philippines-Diliman - 88.20%
3 Michelle Mae Jugasan Olvido, Cebu Normal University - Cebu State College - 88.00%
4 Peter John Delos Santos Magana, Mariano Marcos State University-Laoag-Coll. of Education - 87.20%
5 Noemi Ruth Aguilar Asistio, University of the East-Manila - 87.00%
Julie Ann Papa Villa Carlos, Philippine Normal University-Manila - 87.00%
6 Jinky Basmayor Batalla, Ateneo de Naga - 86.80%
Roxanne Tala Bongco, Bataan Polytechnic State College-Orani - 86.80%
7 Zoila Mae Palmes Panes , West Visayas State University-La Paz - 86.60%
8 Rachel Embile Bantola, UP-Diliman - 86.40%
9 Michael Bobias Cahapay, Mindanao State University-Gen. Santos City - 86.20%
10 June April Diasanta Belonio, Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College-Tacurong - 86.00%
Ma Xerxa Doan Parreño Billones, Colegio de San Jose - 86.00%
Vilma Alcala Hingpit, Central Visayas State C.A.F.T.-Bilar - 86.00%
Leizl Cagalawan Magallanes, Liceo de Cagayan University - 86.00%
Rainerio Baratas Malayas, University of Bohol - 86.00%
Dulcinea Maripaz Casuga Valenciano, UP-Diliman - 86.00%

LET Secondary Level

1 Vivian Dalida David, Ateneo De Manila University-Q.C - 91.20%
2 May Ann Garo Santiago, UP-Diliman - 90.80%
3 Davy Manglicmot Gonzales, Palawan State University-Brooks Point- 90.40%
4 Angelica Lopez Villafuerte, ADMU-QC - 90.20%
5 Marya Laya Cabatingan Delvo , Notre Dame of Dadiangas College - 89.80%
Sheryll Nafarrete Raquipiso, UP-Diliman - 89.80%
6 Rona Atutubo Despabiladeras, Bicol University-Legazpi - 89.40%
7 Rachel Anne Dimayacyac Declaro, UE-Manila - 89.20%
Cheryl Ann Calderon Reyes, University of San Carlos - 89.20%
8 Russell Christian Obnamia Fernandez, Palawan State University-P. Princesa - 89.00%
9 Xerox Nabua Acosta, ADMU-QC - 88.80%
Elvira Calilung David, UP-Angeles City - 88.80%
Kenneth Arkin Pascual Galasinao, Saint Mary's University - 88.80%
Raymond Ceferino lll Toribio Meris, Palawan State University-P. Princesa - 88.80%
Fidelfo Jr Cabasa Moral, University of San Carlos - 88.80%
10 Joyce Leah Martha Reyes Europa, UP-Diliman - 88.60%
Christine Leal Gapuz, UP-DIliman - 88.60%
Arvin Sammy de Vera Rivo , University of Pangasinan - 88.60%
Marjorie Digman Ruiz, Philippine Normal University-Manila - 88.60%

Tags: 2009 Teacher license exam, Filipino secondary teachers exam results, Filipino elementary teacher exam results october 2009, Teachers Professional Regulation Commission Board Exam Results

Nursing, accounting, teaching, dog handling among 'hot jobs' for 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Nursing, accounting, teaching, and even dog-handling are just a few of the “hot” jobs that Filipinos should apply for next year.

Jayjay Viray, managing director of JobsDB.com, said while they see nurses and accountants again being in demand next year, there are other not so popular but surprisingly high-paying jobs Filipinos should consider as possible careers
.
She said dog-handling and security-related jobs are third on their list of “hot jobs” for 2010.
“Just for the Middle East (Asia), we’re seeing a demand of about 10,000 dog-handlers,” Viray shared.

A dog-handler in the Middle East, Viray said, could get a monthly pay of as much as $2,500.
She said that the continuing global fight against terrorism and increased security consciousness are pushing the demand for dog-handlers, mainly those who handle bomb-sniffing dogs. “In the Middle East, security is a serious concern for many of the well-off people there,” Viray said.

She said even here in the Philippines, there is a demand for dog-handlers. “You see a lot of bomb-sniffing dogs in the malls and in buildings,” Viray said.

Topping their list of “hot jobs,” she said, are information technology (IT) workers, who “will still be the most in-demand locally and overseas.”

Viray said with many Internet businesses being put up and numerous companies going online to do their selling and promotion, the demand for IT employees will continue to be strong.
“Small business, big businesses are going to the Internet to promote their products,” she said.
Viray said the most sought-after IT workers are those skilled in search engine marketing and search engine optimization.

She noted that some of the jobs that are becoming in demand are those that look for skills that could be acquired by taking up short-term or vocational courses.

Viray said one can get a certificate in dog-handling by attending a short course that could last only six months.

For IT workers, one could be a computer technician by taking up a vocational two-year computer technician course.

“I recommend these short courses because they can be a quick path to a high-paying job instead of taking up four-year college courses that lead to jobs that are not in demand in the market,” Viray said. Read the original article here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=523475&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Read viewer comments
Until such time that we have industries and factories to employ all of our labor force locally, better improve the quality of our education so we can be competitive in the world skills market. Those considering to work abroad can avoid the negative social costs by being practical and not yet marry or beget children. They might find their soul mate in other single compatriots overseas.„

alie_baba (posted on Nov 15, 2009 07:04 AM)
Member since Sep 09, 2009

“I recommend these short courses because they can be a quick path to a high-paying job instead of taking up four-year college courses that lead to jobs that are not in demand in the market, ” Viray said.

Siguro pakawala ito ng mga IT Short Course schools na naglipana nanloloko sa mga kabataan at mga magulang ....walang kuenta ang short IT coursers kung walang Basic Foundation ng Science and Technology... example... IT Accounting applications... pano ka gagawa ng Apps ng di ka marunong ng Accounting ? or Cad kaya sa Mechanical/Electrical or Archi... pano ka gagamit ng wala kang foundation ng Electrical/ Mechanical or Architecture... ganyan ang mga pakawala ng mga IT Schools kuno... Tools lang ang IT or Elective course lang, ang kailangan ang foundation ... at bakit niya naman sasabihin na NURSING na naman ang kailangan e PUNONG PUNO na ang NURSING ... mga ganid na ospital nga ang mga nurses pa ang nagbabayad para magkaroon ng Experience... mag isip ng malalim mga kabataan at mga magulang wag sayangin ang kinabukasan pera, puhunan at panahon.... mag 4 or 5 years courses na lang kayo for long term investment„

Batangsulpok (posted on Nov 15, 2009 03:22 AM)
Member since Feb 24, 2009

Wala na bang naiisip sa Pilipinas kundi mag-trabaho sa overseas ang mga graduates? Paano uunlad ang Pilipinas kung lagi na lang paalisin ang mga trabahador? Dapat ang perang napupunta sa corruption ay malagay sa ayos nang magkaroon ng maraming trabaho, maraming negosyo lalo na sa mga malalayong lugar nang hindi na sila pumunta sa Maynila para makipagsapalaran kaya sobra na ang sikip kasi nagiging squatters. Kaya napakaraming nasisirang pamilya dahil pag ang babae o lalake ang napunta sa abroad, hindi maiwasan ang magkasala sa isa't isa na kung minsan ay napapabayaan ang mga bata na naiwan sa Pilipinas. Sa ngayon, marami kang makikita na maraming single mother, maraming asawa ay iniiwan ang pamilya para makisama sa iba, maraming babae ang anak ay iba't iba ang ama at maraming mga bata ang nalululong sa bisyo gaya ng droga o krimen dahil wala ang magulang.„

Also read my jobs blog news http://employmentlinks.blogspot.com/

And Nursing WHAT'S THE BEST COLLEGE FOR NURSING IN THE PHILIPPPINES? NEWS http://nursingschools100.blogspot.com/

Philippine Teacher News http://teachersphilippines.blogspot.com/

Philippine Colleges and Universities http://philippinecolleges.blogspot.com/

Tags: PHILIPPINE Nursing hot job, Philippine accounting hot job, Philippine teaching hot job, Philippine dog handling hot jobs 2010

Laptop for Teacher (LT4T)

Last year, the Department of Education (DepEd) signed an agreement with hardware manufacturers to provide affordable laptops for public school teachers, launched as "LT4T". Here's an update.

In a conversation over lunch, a reliable source from DepEd informed our group that the project is on its final stages.

Under the LT4T program, every public school teacher and non-teaching DepEd employee will be entitled to one high-end laptop each, with the following schemes and features:

• Part of the total amount of the laptop will be shouldered by the department while the remaining percentage will be at the expense of the teacher-beneficiary, payable in zero-interest monthly installments.
• The laptop is powered by a new licensed Microsoft Windows 7 operating system.
• It has pre-installed open-source software programs harvested from the internet that are compatible to the current curricular offerings of public schools.
• It contains interactive teaching guides that can be used to make classroom instruction more interesting and effective. These include a proforma of lesson plans and student grading system among others.

Although it may sound easy to catch, the process isn't. The teacher will have to pass an online examination to be administered by IC3, an independent certification body, to qualify for a laptop.

Nevertheless, if the LT4T program will push through, teachers in the Philippines will have laptops at a 1:1 ratio. It will be the first in Asia.

Teach Your Teachers Well

USA ARNE DUNCAN, the secretary of education, recently called for sweeping changes to the way we select and train teachers. He’s right. If we really want good schools, we need to create a critical mass of great teachers. And if we want smart, passionate people to become these great educators, we have to attract them with excellent programs and train them properly in the substance and practice of teaching.

Our best universities have, paradoxically, typically looked down their noses at education, as if it were intellectually inferior. The result is that the strongest students are often in colleges that have no interest in education, while the most inspiring professors aren’t working with students who want to teach. This means that comparatively weaker students in less intellectually rigorous programs are the ones preparing to become teachers.

So the first step is to get the best colleges to throw themselves into the fray. If education was a good enough topic for Plato, John Dewey and William James, it should be good enough for 21st-century college professors.

These new teacher programs should be selective, requiring a 3.5 undergraduate grade point average and an intensive application process. But they should also be free of charge, and admission should include a stipend for the first three years of teaching in a public school.

Once we have a better pool of graduate students, we need to train them differently from how we have in the past. Too often, teaching students spend their time studying specific instructional programs and learning how to handle mechanics like making lesson plans. These skills, while useful, are not what will transform a promising student into a good teacher.

First, future teachers should continue studying the subject they hope to teach, with outstanding professors. It makes no sense at all to stop studying the thing you want to teach at the very moment you begin to learn how.

Meanwhile, students should learn their craft the way a surgeon learns to operate: by intense supervision in a real setting with expert mentors. Student-teachers are usually observed only twice during a semester and then given a written evaluation. But young teachers, like young doctors, should work side by side with skilled mentors, getting plenty of feedback, having plenty of opportunities to observe and taking on greater and greater responsibility as they improve.

Teacher training can also learn from family therapy programs. Therapists spend a great deal of time watching videotapes of themselves in action, reflecting on their sessions and discussing the most difficult moments with senior therapists to explore other ways they might have responded. In much the same way, young teachers need to record their daily encounters with their classrooms and then, with mentors and peers, have serious, open-minded conversations about what’s working and what isn’t.

Teachers must also learn far more about children: typically, teaching students are provided with fairly static and superficial overviews of developmental stages, but learn little about how to watch children, using research and theory to understand what they are seeing. As James Comer, a professor of child psychiatry at Yale, has argued for years, if we disregard the developmental needs of our students it’s unlikely we’ll succeed in teaching them.

One more thing is required — give as many public schools as possible the financial incentives to hire these newly prepared teachers in groups of seven or more. This way, talented eager young teachers won’t languish or leave teaching because they felt bored, inept, isolated or marginalized. Instead, they will feel part of a robust community of promising professionals. They will struggle and learn together. Good teachers need good colleagues.

To fix our schools, we need teaching programs that are as rich in resources, interesting, high-reaching and thoughtful as the young people we want to attract to the profession. Show me a school where teachers are smart, well-educated, skilled and happy to be there, and I’ll show you a group of children who are getting a good education. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/opinion/02engel.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=print