The 3rd Annual Conference The Philippine Association for Business Educators, (PAFBE) Inc

My supervisor was one of the speakers in the 3rd Annual Conference The Philippine Association for Business Educators, (PAFBE) Inc held last July 30 and 31. Unfortunately, he had a sudden important engagement and I agreed to pitch for him. Dr. Lorenzo of PUP, the convenors, the officers, the teachers and delegates of PAFBE gave a warm response to my presentation.

Here are the excerpts of my presentation---

"Even with late notice, I tried my best to prepare something that you will bring home as part of a solution instead of posting many issues and concerns that may drag your weekend of pondering whether there is an answer to the never ending question of how do we implement technology.

For this afternoon, I am bringing to you a not very young idea. This is an idea typically used in business organizations in the light of sustaining the use and application of technology. And I will put this in the context of education. The title of my presentation is Creating Communities of Practice (COPs) through Practical ICT and Web 2.0."

"Context is putting and using technology on the right perspective of the subject matter. And the knowledge and skills of the business educators or even the teachers will be very important in this situation. Context is not using technology as suggested in the software tutorial. Context is making the students realize to use or apply the right technology as prescribed by the situation, the problem to be solved or the project to be done. And this is one of the creative challenges among teachers".


I hope I was able to inspire them of the idea of Communities of Practice. I have shared with them the concept, the characteristics as posted by Etienne Wenger, the proponent of the COP and I gave my own examples situating it to the local setting. I also hope that introducing Web 2.0 gave informative insights of various alternatives on how to use them in teaching. Some of these are--

Web 2.0 Teaching & Learning Tools
These are some of the common examples. There are still many tools and solutions.

Youtube – to showcase student experiences; to reuse good howto videos
An anthropological introduction to Youtube by Michael Wesch -- http://www.grokdotcom.com/2008/08/04/1462/
An ethical behavior and social responsibility video by Louie Sioco, James Sy & Johann Go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJW89mUagA
Blogs – to extend class discussions; to extend student interactions
http://whymanagetech.blogspot.com/2007/05/notes-on-external-business-environment.html
Forums, e-groups & social network sites – to post announcements; to share files; & to encourage healthy dialogues and responsible online behavior among students
Google maps – to visually enhance geography concepts
Online News – to know what is happening in the world
Wikis – to encourage collaborative writing and research
Photos – to encourage artistic expression and develop digital art skills
http://mobilemartha.multiply.com/photos/album/12/EM-TECH_Technology_Exhibit
Skype & yahoo messenger – to facilitate online discussions
Second life – to enhance remote role-playing activities

I also mentioned to them that mobile phones and music players are useful ICT tools--
o To capture proof of data gathering (e.g. interview)
o To capture procedures of the experiments
o To capture board notes
o To listen about the lessons or to produce outputs through podcasts
Podcasts are audio files in MP3 format that is used to hold various content like discussions, interviews, opinions or meetings.
Of course, PRACTICE makes PERFECT or EFFECTIVE OUTCOMES.

Very important hindsights to bring home---
1. Don’t get immersed in the technology, context is more important!
2. Make it a rule of thumb to apply your teaching techniques and styles.
3. Discuss your methods openly to your colleagues. It encourages “shared practice”.
4. Encourage student participation and collaboration.
5. Institutionalize “best practices” and build a “Community of Practice”! 

To confer or not to confer in a conference

There are many reasons why an academic would want to participate in a conference. It could be to be able to validate her ideas and get insights on others' perception. It is also a way for her to become abreast of the new developments in her field, realize her ideas may not be new but still useful. It is also possible to realize that things that motivate her to do research may be the same motivations other academics have.

In a conference, it is either she will engage in a constructive dialogue or not. It is also possible that she will just be on that stage of just receiving, filtering and processing all the new things she is hearing and learning.

It is also a way to see the world, travel and learn about other cultures and try out new dishes. This is one of the attractive side of participating in a conference. She gets to be out of the classroom, on an official capacity, move in autonomy, manage schedules and accommodations, learn phrases of another language and interact with coercive taxi drivers.

But the other important thing that some conference attendees tend to forget or overlook is the opportunity of meaningful connections, having new academic friends (maybe real friends in the long run) and a possibility of continuous exchange of new ideas and experiences. These meaningful connections are not completely addressed by online interactions or even listening to a video or podcast of a very good social anthropologist. Nothing can replace a beautiful encounter in a worthwhile conference or symposium.

And I am glad I took such bold step of engaging in meaningful connections. I have a few but very good academic friends. And we still keep in touch.

*The first four photos were taken during the ICICTE July 2009 Conference in Corfu, Greece. Some of the academic friends I met-- Maria Spante, Liming Zhang, Karen Baskett (not in the photo), Uthman Alturki, Hind Alfadda, Keith Kirkwood and Svetlana Osipova.

Maria Spante and Keith Kirkwood were both gracious to come to Manila last March 2010 to speak in our conference. (The last photo was taken on the first day of the Manila conference.)

Touchpoint 2010 Photos of the Delegates

TOUCHPOINT 2010 Invited Guests and Friends

Keynote Speaker:

Maria Spante, Ph.D.
Chalmers University of Technology
Department of Technology Management and Economics

MARIA SPANTE holds a PhD position at Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Technology Management and Economics, Division of Technology and Society. Dr. Spante is a prolific researcher. Her current research expertise focuses on social interaction in technical systems, technical systems and human relations, and learning and interactive media.

Plenary Speakers:

Emmanuel Lallana, Phd.
Chief Executive
ideacorp

EMMANUEL LALLANA is the Chief Executive of ideacorp, an independent, non-profit organization focused on the use (ICT) in governance and education, in business and the economy and in the transforming society. Currently, Dr. Lallana is the project leader of Pan Asia Network on Democratic eGovernance (PANeGOV), a nine-country research initiative on the use of ICT in good governance and citizen empowerment in Asia.

Keith Kirkwood
School of Learning Support
Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

KEITH KIRKWOOD is a Lecturer in the School of Learning Support at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, where he is managing the design and development of the SNAP Platform, and has helped articulate the School’s Students Supporting Students Learning strategy. He is working towards the integration of learning and information skills in the development of a holistic and integrated participatory learning platform.

And there's Touchpoint 2010

These are my thoughts and words for Touchpoint 2010--

TOUCHPOINT is a new word and concept coined to denote an engaging interaction, a learning epiphany, a fresh connection. It can still be defined further. And as we realize the idea of Touchpoint, the more it becomes meaningful.

When Touchpoint 2010 International Conference was conceived, it has the following goals—to encourage intellectual engagement among Filipino academic peers, to open and create opportunities for linkages and connections, and to support local teachers and educators on their quest for better teaching and learning practices with the use of ICT. The presence and participation of foreign academic peers have enhanced the quality of didactic exchange in this historical event.
________________________________

Here's the conference programme.

Conference Programme
March 4, 2010
Thursday
7.30-8.30am Registration
8.30-8.40am National Anthem
Invocation by Prof. Estefanie Ulit
8.40-9.00am Welcome Remarks
Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC, President and Chancellor, De La Salle University
9.00-9.15am The Touchpoint 2010 Rationale
Prof. Oliver Malabanan, Touchpoint 2010 Program Chair
9.15-9.20am Introduction to First Plenary Speaker
Prof. Oliver Malabanan, Touchpoint 2010 Program Chair
9.15-10.00am First Plenary Talk and Keynote Speech
“Interactivity, Visualization and Learning: Challenges and Possibilities”
Dr. Maria Spante (Invited)
Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden
10.00-10.20am Questions/Reactions to Plenary Talk
10.20-10.40am Coffee Break
10.40-10.50am Introduction to Second Plenary Speaker
Prof. Sherwin Ona, CITe4D Chair, DLSU
10.50-11.25am Second Plenary Talk
Dr. Emmanuel Llana (Invited)
President, Idea Corp
11.25-11.40am Questions/Reactions to Plenary Talk
11.40-12.00nn Cultural Presentation by the La Salle Dance Company
12nn-1.00pm Lunch
1.00-1.10pm Introduction to the Third Plenary Speaker
Prof. Ma. Victoria Pineda, Touchpoint 2010 Vice Program Chair
1.10-1.50pm Third Plenary Talk
“Participating To Learn, Learning To Participate”
Prof. Keith Kirkwood (Invited)
Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
1.50-2.10pm Questions/Reactions to Plenary Talk
2.10-2.30pm Coffee Break
2.30-5.00pm Parallel Sessions

March 5, 2010
Friday
9.00-9.10am Introduction to the Fourth Plenary Speaker
Dr. Zelinna Cynthia Pablo-dela Cruz
Information Technology Department, De La Salle University
9.10-9.45am Fourth Plenary Talk
Prof. Charibeth Cheng
Director, Advanced Research Institute for Computing, De La Salle University
9.45-10.00am Questions/Reactions to Plenary Talk
10.00-10.20am Coffee Break
10.30-12.00nn Parallel Sessions
12.00-1.00pm Lunch
1.00-4.30pm Parallel Sessions
4.00-4.30pm Coffee Break
4.30-4.40pm Introduction to the Fifth Plenary Speaker
Prof. Estefanie Ulit, De La Salle University
4.40-5.20pm Fifth Plenary Talk and Closing of the Conference
Dr. Jose Lloyd Espiritu, Touchpoint 2010 Editor
De La Salle University, Manila
5.20-5.30pm Questions/Reactions to Plenary Talk
6.30-7.00pm Pick-up time for the Social Dinner
7.00-8.30pm Social Dinner with all the Presenters & Guests
with Intermission of the DLSU Cultural Arts Office
Social Dinner is sponsored by iSolutions

Prof. Renato Jose Molano
Master of Ceremonies

My Riyadh Trip

Mar. 2. I received an e-mail from the KSA conference organizers that they will be sponsoring my participation.
Mar. 4. I received the documents required in processing my Saudi visa.
Mar. 10. I got my Saudi visa.
Mar. 12. I was sick and had an upset stomach. But I was able to finish my KSA presentation of about 32 slides.
Mar. 13. It was late in the evening when I received my e-ticket.
Mar. 15, 12.15 mla time. I left Manila for a straight flight to Riyadh via Saudia airlines.

Mar. 15, 20.30 ksa time. I checked in at the Al Khozama Hotel.
Mar. 16. I had the chance to see the Al Faisalaiah Mall, spent an hour at the Al Faisaliah Tower to see the highly urbanized layout of Riyadh. In the afternoon, made a 500meters walk going to the Panda supermarket. The Olaya roads are wide, clean and the sidewalks are very spacious. I saw a good number of very nice chocolate stores.

That night, I slept early around 8.30pm and woke up at 12.30am ksa time, to study and prepare for my lecture.
Mar 17. I felt good that day. I went to the grandballroom of the Al Faisaliah for the conference and heard very excellent plenary lectures. I also met and talked to some lady professors from the KSU and KAU of Jeddah. The Saudi ladies I met were very kind, warm, cheerful. One invited me to Jeddah and another one invited me to Medina.

In the afternoon, I delivered my lecture at Hall 3. I was the third speaker. I was very happy to have received questions and compliments from other academic colleagues. Mashallah! :)

I finished all the sessions in the afternoon, got a Starbucks frappucino and head back to the hotel.

Mar. 18. After listening to another set of very fine speakers, I had a nice lunch. I decided to take a short walk and found Dr. Kim, my mentor from Korea and Mr. Lee, a good academic friend from Korea too, having lunch. I had the chance to talk to them.

In the afternoon, we had a tour at the National Museum, so far the biggest museum I have visited.

Mar. 19. We were brought to the dates store and the small market near another museum.
23.15 ksa time, i left for Manila.

Upcoming Conferences that Preoccupies My Attention

ELI RIYADH 2009
First International Conference on e-Learning and Distance Learning
March 16-18-2009
Riyadh, KSA
Link: http://www.eli.elc.edu.sa/en/index.php


ICICTE 2009
International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education
July 9-11
Corfu, Greece
Link: http://www.icicte.org/index.htm
Critical Dates:
February 13
Deadline for proposals.
February 28
Notification from Scientific Committee about whether proposal has been accepted.
April 10
Deadline for first draft of papers.
May 10


eISTA 2009
The 7th International Conference on Education and Information Systems, Technologies and Applications: EISTA 2009
in the context of
The 3rd International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics: IMSCI 2009

July 10th - 13th, 2009 – Orlando, Florida, USA
Link: http://www.iiis2009.org/imsci/Website/AboutConfer.asp?vc=5

ICIT 2009
The 4th International Conference on Information Technology
June 3rd – 5th, 2009
Amman, Jordan
The conference is organized by the AL-Zaytoonah University of Jordan
Link: http://newsite.alzaytoonah.edu.jo/ICIT/pages/index.aspx
_____________________

With all these worthwhile conferences, I pray I can attend any of them this 2009. I don't mind a few extra waiting hours in the airport, long hours of travel, sleepless nights to write and improve my paper, another set of sleepless hours to make a good presentation, read and brief myself of the place of the conference, and even shell out some extra money for the taxi and other expenses that my funding will not cover~~ ALL OF THESE just to be able to participate and learn from other ideas, see other beautiful places, taste different dishes, learn some other culture and meet bright minds and maybe have new friendships..

The 7th International Conference on e-Business 2008

This is actually another late posting. I had the chance to join another conference in Thailand, on this occasion, an e-Business conference sponsored and organized by the Faculty of Information Technology of Rangsit University. The title of the conference is The 7th International Conference on e-Business 2008 (INCEB2008) held last November 6th – 7th , 2008 at the Grand Mercure Fortune Bangkok Hotel. I presented a paper entitled, "ClicktheCity.com Case study: Examining e-Yellow Pages". (Search the title in the search field of this page~~http://www.inceb2008.info/index.php?p=paper).


In this conference, the Thais are again commended for the organized and smooth conference, warm attitude of the organizers, staff and students~~in particular of course was Rangsit University. I was able to observe too, the cohesive synergy among different university directors and professors. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman of Assumption University and Dr. Amornvan Limsommut of Suan Dusit Rajaphat University were around to grace, assist and support the event.

Thai universities had made a big leap from thinking only of their turfs but more on having a warm rapport and interactivity among them. Each university has identified its own strength while most of them have them have already welcomed internationalization in terms of university practice. Cheers to Thailand!!

**Special thanks to Dr. Chonawat Srisa-an, Program Chair of Inceb 2008.

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.

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!!

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.