The People Behind NTTCHP 8th NatCon Plus 4

Seated from left are Annie Francisco, Dean Erlyn Sana, Claire Pastor and Tony Tabor. Standing from left would be me, Marcy Viray, Melflor Atienza, Betchay Grageda, Bheng Del Rosario, Dots Salvacion, Ed Janolo and Ricky Dantes. Four gentlemen missed the photo op: Nemuel Fajutagana, Aying Sarol, Bong Alviar and Mandy Cervantes.

These are the people who had put the NTTCHP 8th NatCon together. The preparation started from October last year, knitting together the bits and pieces slowly, and then speeding up to the last minute. The pressure was kinda crazy, but  I can credit them all for composure amidst pressure. Everyone had a role to play. Each one had the initiative to stand in when one failed  to deliver... And silently bit their lips when they were about to grumble.

These are the people I am blessed to journey with in God's appointed time. As every journey has an end so that a new adventure may begin, let me take this opportunity to thank you for everything.

Photo credit: Ma'am Jusie Lydia Juanillo Siega 

eLearning in the Health Sciences

eLearning or the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to aid the teaching and learning process is the buzz word of the century. Everyone -- schools. students and even parents clamor for elearning as the way to become better students or more effective teachers. In the health sciences, elearning is seen as the way to go  global and be updated for the 21st century.

Substantial number of studies indeed show that elearning has the following positive effects: increased accessibility to information, better updating solutions, personalized training, better distribution, standardization of content,  better efficiency in achieving knowledge and skills, and offers opportunities for flexible teaching and learning while enhancing the possibilities for more individualized and self-directed learning in the medical education (Albarrak, 2011). But is it really the case?

What makes elearning effective depends on teachers' and students' use of it.  It is not elearning per se. eLearning has only the potential to accelerate and deepen the teaching and learning process, but using ICT alone does not make any difference. In the health sciences and in any other discipline of study, the effectiveness of elearning depends on the design of the lesson and the use of instructional methods. eLearning is just a medium and that technologies are merely vehicles that deliver instruction, and do not themselves influence student achievement the use of technologies, (Clark ,1983).


Photo source: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAxO5tjl22ohXlMx8cij5Xg-OwFKQnjS-UJdAIgn8hZ5CY1C41

Erlyn Sana: the NTTCHP Dean

The first time I was meeting her, I thought she would be stern, but she was cheerful and casual.  She was very open and she didn't withhold --not one bit of  a-- chuckle.

She is not the typical college dean. Strict. Unrelenting. Dictating.

She listens. She asks. She concedes. She accepts and respects the differing points-of-view of others. (Although she also puts up a fight when she knows she's right -- so I heard).

That is the reason why anybody can just go in her office. Everybody can just butt in during meetings. All can even taste the food she is eating.

...and now  after two terms that she wants to retire from her  position, everybody says NO! that is if they can have their way to changing her decision.

NTTCHP is grateful for having her as dean and is grateful to God for being driven so crazy to many activities because of a dean that kept going.

NatCon Evaluation

I was asked to make a tabulation of the third of the national conference responses to the evaluation form filled out by the participants during the NTTCHP NatCon held last January 29-30, 2015 at the Hotel Jen, Roxas Blvd., Manila and  it made me happy to see honest-to-goodness responses:

"The second day was most appreciated... the first day was not relevant to my work."
"The conference helped me formulate my assessment tool."

"Very cold environment; gave me occasional headache."
"Use high definition PowerPoint slides."
"Observe strict adherence to time."
"I am impressed. I learned a lot!"

It is very encouraging to receive comments and concrete suggestions on how to improve the conference.   The participants really took time to think on what to write in the evaluation form,  not  just to write generic words such as excellent and helpful, or even boring.

With evaluation such as the ones given, there is nowhere to go for the next NTTCHP NatCon but to become better, more comfortable, more engaging and more useful and specific to the needs of the participants.  As to the tabulation of responses, 99% of the respondents checked the strongly agree boxes for the conference's  relevance, achievement of objectives, usefulness, interactivity and effectiveness of AV aids.

Doc Nem's Lecture on Alligning Assessment to OBE

This picture struck me in Dr. Nem's presentation during the NTTCHP 8th NatCon.  I am an educator and a mother to a twelve year old girl who is in the last year of elementary at the UP  Integrated School (UPIS) and reading the dialogue raised a red flag in me.

As a mother , choosing between the two in the cartoon, is difficult. I want my child to be able to learn, but I also want her to pass the test. Though I do not like to be grade conscious, let's face it: my daughter's chances of success will be greatly affected by the numbers written on her report card.

If the outcome-based education will be true to its principles, then I wouldn't worry at all. Outcome-based education assesses what it wants students to be able to demonstrate at the end of every learning experiences. If properly implemented by us teachers, then there's no worry about having students who are learning a lot but not passing the tests nor students who are passing the tests but not learning anything at all.

In OBE students who are learning will definitely pass the tests and the students who pass the test definitely learn.

NTTCHP 8th NATCON

About 200 participants from all over the country came to the first day of the  NTTCHP 8th NatCon held at the Traders Hotel (now Hotel Jen).  Everybody came with an expectation and eagerness to learn how Outcome-based Education be implemented to their respective colleges and universities. The audience were inspired as well as challenged to go OBE with the hope that this will be the key to improving the quality of graduates and professionals in the health professions in the Philippines.

The NTTCHP 8th NatCon centered on OBE following the clamor for training in OBE after CHED instituted the curricular change from competency-based to outcome-based. During the conference, the participants were given the chance to learn about OBE that was specific to their profession.

Aside from the new knowledge learned, the participants were also treated to NTTCHP giveaway bags containing the ABSTRACTS of the conference speakers, souvenir pen and mug as well as the NTTCHP newsletter. There is also the NTTCHP photo wall where the participants can do selfie or groufie.

05 January 2015 Meeting with the Chancellor

"So, what are you looking for in a dean?" asked she.

"We want one who is supportive.  One who understands when we cannot come to work because of some illness or emergencies. One who is flexible and makes way for us to perform our tasks despite circumstances."

"Maybe one who has a clear vision of the college. One who knows where the college is going and knows what part each one of us will play."

"One who also strives to train and develop the staff' potentials and capabilities. One who acknowledges the strengths of the staff and gives opportunities to develop them."

"We want one who is strict but kind."

"Okay then, rest assured that we will consider all these things when we select the new dean of NTTCHP. Thank you," ended she.

A consultative meeting with
UP Manila Chancellor 

Carmencita Padilla.

The staff is grateful.
'twas the only time 

that they were 

consulted in 

the process

of choosing

the next 

dean.