The TARC International Conference on Learning and Teaching 2008

The Tunku Abdul Rahman College of Malaysia organized the 2008 Learning and Teaching Conference held at the Marriot Hotel, Putrajaya, Malaysia last August 4 and 5, 2008. (Link to the list of abstracts)
It was a very succesful event. Congratulations to the organizers! It was very organized and time-managed from the call of papers to the actual conference. TARC tried its best to make it hassle free to all its delegates and presenters. The marriot Hotel as a venue was very conducive for a conference and acquired a relaxing ambiance as well. The members of the organizing committee were all cordial and cheerful. TARC is very lucky to have a very good staff.

The keynote speeches are all a blast! Any administrator who have attended will take a step back and rethink the very purpose of teaching, why a school or a university should exist and are we playing our roles to allow true learning to take place.

Cheers to TARC College! I wish you more success in your succeeding conferences.

Glad to make some acquaintances

The two-day conference and the social dinner allowed me to make new acquaintances-- David and Valerie from Liverpool, UK; Katja from Australia; Lou from Guam; Tan, Mei, Juliana and Marlina from Malaysia; Ahmad from Alexandria; Saud from Saudi Arabia. Glad to have met also the warm and wonderful Dr. Oo Pou San, secretariat of the conference.

Trip to Malacca

The organizers of the Enhancing Teaching and Learning Conference arranged a Malacca tour for the international delegates and participants. Here are some photos in the Aug 6, 2008 whole day tour. Special thanks to the Tunku Abdul Rahman College.

My Papers Presented in Thailand

**It's just a shame I don't have pictures during the conferences. I'm usually perked but a bit nervous that I don't feel comfortable taking pictures while I have not presented. Hence, I borrowed a photo from the conference site.

1. "Videos, Blogs And Podcasts: Leverage Instruments of Teaching and Learning Assets"
Presented in the 4th International Conference on e-Learning for Knowledge-Based Society- Nov. 2007, Muang Thong Tani Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand. Sponsored by the DLSU-VCA Office.


2. "Hypernarratives In Class: A Fusion of Creativity, Imagination and Technology"Presented in the 4th International Conference on e-Learning for Knowledge-Based Society- Nov. 2007, Muang Thong Tani Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand. Sponsored by the DLSU-VCA Office.

3. "Promoting Innovative Technology-Based Class Projects Using a Knowledge Sharing Mindset"Presented in the Amazing e-Learning II Conference-Mar. 2008, Suan Dusit Rajaphat University Sponsored by the DLSU-VCA Office.
http://www.elearning.dusit.ac.th/conference2008
http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:l6g2UWQXoOQJ:www.db-s.co.th/conference2008/images/stories/the-program-schedule-of-activity-a.doc+ma+victoria+pineda&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=ph

If you wish to get a copy of my paper, pls e-mail me at mavicpineda@yahoo.com.

Some people I wish to acknowledge in Thailand--

Dr. Amornvan Limsommut
Director of E-Learning Center
Suan Dusit Rajabhat University

Professor Dr.Srisakdi Charmonman
CEO, College of Internet Distance Education, Assumption University
Chairperson, Organizing Committee of the eLearningAP2007
Assumption University

Dr. Taminee Shinasharkey
Assumption University


UPCOMING CONFERENCE: The Fifth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society - December 11-12, 2008, Bangkok Thailand
Check out the site!!

KOP KOON KA!!

The Jim Thompson Museum

The Jim Thompson Museum is situated across the MBK (a popular shopping place in Bangkok). A lot of people may have gone to MBK but not in the Jim Thompson. This JT museum preserves the home of JT, an American soldier and architect who decided to retire in Thailand. The house is made of wood, decorated with antiques and furniture coming from India, China and Thailand. The other side of the house is actually the river of Bangkok.


Dining in the JT cafe is highly recommendable. They have fine dining service at affordable costs. :) And the Thai food is very good! :) Want to try the fried ice cream for dessert??..hmmmm...

My March 2008 Trip to Bangkok

I had the chance to present another paper on KM in education in the Amazing e-Learning II Conference in Bangkok, Thailand last March 7, 2008. The conference was hosted and organized by the Suan Dusit Rajaphat University. It is a big, progressive university similar to DLSU where I teach. As a rajaphat university, it also receives subsidy from the government. And the subsidy becomes higher once the rajaphat gets recognition from ISO and other accrediting bodies. Here in Manila, while DLSU has achieved Level 4 accreditation from the government (wherein level 4 is the highest level so far), not much benefit is felt by the university coming from the government.



Suan Dusit has its own e-Learning Center which is housed in a 3-floor building. The conference rooms and function rooms are designed and equipped for international engagements. Suan Dusit has also its own hotel, the Suan Dusit Place. It is likewise a training venue for the HRM students of Suan Dusit. The hotel is situated beside the university. It is clean, peaceful, with available internet in the different floors, and the rates are cheap. Buffet breakfast does not have a wide selection but offers American and Asian breakfast with fruits and overflowing coffee, milk, juice, and chocolate. The hotel attendants, mostly students, are courteous.


One block away from the university is the Vmanmek Mansion, a historical place. Thailand is very known for preserving their cultural heritage. And this mansion situated in a big land with several structures, preserve and house some of the old, significant items of the kingdom of Thailand.

How do they preserve these places? First, all guests are required to remove their shoes or footwear in entering the mansion. This is to preserve the wood floors with no nails, attached by wood glue. They also group the guests by batches and are commonly guided by tour guides.