INNOTECH eNEWS

July - August 2015

In this issue

• Workshop on competency-based teacher training reform

• SEAMEO INNOTECH presents Kariton Klasrum Case Study to DTC and DepEd

• Test administrators’ training for the ECCD longitudinal study

In the Spotlight

Job Opportunities

SEAMEO INNOTECH is looking for qualified applicants to the following posts:• Senior Specialist (RSU/ERIO)• Senior Associate (AMU/FMO)

Workshop on competency-based teacher training reform

On 21-22 July 2015, the 1st National Workshop on Supporting Competency-Based Teacher-Training Reforms to Facilitate ICT-Pedagogy Integration was held at the SEAMEO INNOTECH Center, Philippines. UNESCO Bangkok, the Philippines’ Commission ... READ MORE

SEAMEO INNOTECH presents Kariton Klasrum Case Study to DTC and DepEd

In 2013, UNESCO Bangkok commissioned the help of SEAMEO INNOTECH to conduct a case study on a promising practice in the Philippines concerning Education for All (EFA), the Kariton Klasrum. Now that the study has been published, SEAMEO ...READ MOREPrevious Issue

SEAMEO INNOTECH will hold its 14th International COnference this December 8 – 9, 2015 at SEAMEO INNOTECH Centre in Manila, Philippines. This year’s IC will be a future-oriented two-day forum where participants, which consists of youth leaders and education professionals, will collaborate to develop the region’s Education Development Agenda.

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Workshop on competency-based teacher training reform

On 21-22 July 2015, the 1st National Workshop on Supporting Competency-Based Teacher-Training Reforms to Facilitate ICT-Pedagogy Integration was held at the SEAMEO INNOTECH Center, Philippines. UNESCO Bangkok, the Philippines’ Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and SEAMEO INNOTECH collaborated to update and enhance the country’s existing National Competency-Based Teacher Standards (NCBTS), particularly the domain of teacher’s skills in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.

“There have been many developments in the area of Information and Communication Technology...it is time that we review and look at the NCBTS, particularly the ICT competencies within the NCBTS,” said Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, SEAMEO INNOTECH Center Director.

Since 2004, NCBTS has been the core of the Department of Education’s Teacher Education Development Program (TEDP). It has been adopted by teacher education institutions (TEIs) throughout the country and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for teacher’s licensure examination.

CHED Commissioner Dr. Minella Alarcon said that this workshop is a timely initiative, especially now that the Philippines is in the process of K

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to 12 implementation and ASEAN integration which have major impact in basic and higher education. “The results of this project will provide inputs towards improving CHED’s policies, and raising standards and guidelines for quality teacher education programs in higher education institutions,” Dr. Alarcon said.

The workshop was mainly facilitated by Ms. Jonghwi Park from UNESCO Bangkok and Dr. Purita Bilbao from CHED’s Technical Panel for Teacher Education. Participants of the workshop included teachers from selected teacher education institutions in the Philippines, CHED’s Technical Panel for Teacher Education, Technical Working Group for the ICT-pedagogy integration project, and representatives from relevant departments of the Philippines’ Department of Education.

Through this workshop, the participants were able to voice their concerns regarding ICT integration in the teaching-learning process, as well as training teachers in using ICTs. Some of their recommendations are emphasizing collaborative and blended learning, making the class more student-centered than teacher-centered, using available devices and digital tools, developing more specific and doable performance indicators, and training of teachers.

The output of this workshop will be reviewed and worked upon by the CHED’s Technical Group to finalize the Philippines’ recommendations on ICT-pedagogy integration into the revised Policies, Standards, and Guidelines (PSGs).

This workshop is part of the UNESCO Bangkok’s project on “Supporting Competency-Based Teacher-Training Reforms” where the Philippines is one of the pilot countries chosen for the study, along with Uzbekistan and Nepal. Funded by Korea Funds-in-Trust, this project aims to enhance the capacities of UN member states in reviewing and improving teacher competencies on integrating ICT effectively in teaching and learning. It also aims to support the adoption of competency-based ICT teaching standards, wherein teacher professional development is systematically guided, assessed, monitored, and tracked at policy and institution levels.

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SEAMEO INNOTECH presents Kariton Klasrum Case Study to DTC and DepEd

“UNESCO now wants to share your story with the whole world. The whole world wants to see the story of the Kariton Klasrum, and how it can inspire other countries to address the problem of out-of-school children and youth.” Mr. Philip Purnell, Manager of SEAMEO INNOTECH’s Educational Research and Innovation Office, said.

In 2013, UNESCO Bangkok commissioned the help of SEAMEO INNOTECH to conduct a case study on a promising practice in the Philippines concerning Education for All (EFA), the Kariton Klasrum. Now that the study has been published, SEAMEO INNOTECH’s Research Studies Unit (RSU) shared its findings to the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC), the proponent of the program, and to the Bureau of Secondary Education of the Department of Education (DepEd), which adapted Kariton Klasrum as an alternative delivery mode of education (K4 Program).

The K4 Program—which stands for Kariton Klasrum, Klinik, Kantin (Pushcart Classroom, Clinic, Canteen)—is intended to address the needs of out-of-school children and encourage them to return to formal schooling. This is a two-hour weekly program that runs for 6 months. With the use of Kariton, a pushcart commonly used for collecting and selling scrap, children are provided with alternative education (Klasrum), healthcare (Klinik), and food (Kantin).

The case study shows that through the K4 program, the learners increase their knowledge and skills, and gain more interest in schooling and learning. They also show less disruptive behaviour and increased observance of rules, politeness, and respect for other. Volunteers also show improvement as they develop their leadership, communication, and social skills through the program. They are also offered opportunities to continue their studies. On 18 July

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2015, a round table discussion with the DTC staff and volunteers was conducted after the case study was presented by SEAMEO INNOTECH Research Studies Unit. Mr. Philip Purnell, on behalf of SEAMEO INNOTECH, announced that two DTC volunteer and/or staff would be given scholarships, as well as internship or on-the-job training opportunities. On 4 August 2015, during the meeting with the Bureau of Secondary Education, the DepEd Task Force on Kariton Klasrum gave updates on the current status of the program as well as its future plans. Being selected as a good practice in achieving the EFA goals, other countries such as Indonesia and Kenya have already adapted the Kariton Klasrum program.

Philippines’ Kariton Klasrum is one of the five country case studies from the Asia-Pacific region, commissioned by UNESCO Bangkok with support from the Japanese Funds-in-Trust (JFIT). Full report of the case study can be viewed and downloaded here.

You can also watch a local news report about this, aired by TV5 on 21 July 2015, here.

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Test administrators’ training for the ECCD longitudinal study

On 10-11 August 2015, SEAMEO INNOTECH facilitated a two-day training for the test administrators of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) longitudinal study. Principals from the division of Quezon City, Bulacan, and Quezon Province participated in the said training.

“There have been many studies all over the world about the importance of ECCD on the development and performance of children,” Dr. Ramon C. Bacani, SEAMEO INNOTECH Center Director, said. “But for the Philippines, this is probably the first time for such study,” he added.

ECCD is seen as an essential part of the K to 12 program as the child’s development is important in the succeeding stages of education. One of the major components of this study is to track the performance of children from Kinder to Grade 2. Dr. Bacani said that the results of this study will reinforce previous findings and will supplement the education reform that the Philippine Department of Education is currently undertaking.

In this four-year study, they will analyse the child’s holistic development and oral language skills, and identify the factors affecting child’s learning performance and socio-emotional development. They will also develop classroom assessment tools for the wider replication of this study in support of the K to 12 reform. Ms. Debbie Lacuesta, Senior Specialist of SEAMEO INNOTECH’s Solutions Development Unit, emphasized that the focus of this study is the child and not the school.

This training helps the test administrators familiarize with the tests and different instruments that they will use for the study, as well as how they will administer it. The training also tackles security protocols in administering the instruments, and guide on how they will establish in the field that this study is an assessment of the child’s development and not of the school and/or teachers.

This ECCD Longitudinal Study is funded by UNICEF and the Australian Government, in partnership with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).