ISPSC-iSchools 2009f

Bringing ICT to the hinterlands of Ilocos Sur

2010-12-07T23:37:00.000-08:00

Gregorio Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur nestled on the slopes of the Cordillera mountains, is a historic town. This is where Tirad Pass is located, the place where a young general gave up his life in the defense of his country. And in honor of this general, the town got its name.

The people of Del Pilar are sturdy, simple, nature loving folks, hardened by the struggles of living on the Cordilleras. The people thrive mainly on farming the scenic terraced slopes. Water is abundant year round and the people can have 3 cropping seasons. Rice and tobacco are their main crops. The people of Del Pilar have simple aspirations in life brought about by their isolation from mainstream society

There are two routes leading to Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur. One is on land, a treacherous mountain trail passing the towns of Banayoyo and San Emilio, where only off-road 4-wheel drive vehicles could safely traverse and still with much difficulty. The mountain trail is usually close during the rainy season due to landslides along the route. The other route is both on land and water where only vehicles with a high wheel clearance (and much higher air intake) could safely traverse (amphibious vehicles will thrive here). This route passes through the towns of Galimuyod and Salcedo and traverses a river, crisscrossing it at least 9 times (without any bridge, that is) before reaching the town. This is the preferred route for the handful of passenger jeepneys that ply the Candon-DelPilar route because it is the shorter route. The nearest urban city is Candon (about 15 km via the river route) where the people of Del Pilar go to trade their produce and buy their daily needs.

Bringing the iSchools project to the Gregorio Del Pilar National High School is probably the most challenging experience of the ISPSC iSchools project staff since it started implementing the project in 2006. When Mr. Eduardson Tacuban, project manager of ISPSC iSchools project, visited the school sometime in May 2010 (they took the river route by the way) he decided then that the school is disqualified because of the difficulty of reaching the place. The school vehicle took a heavy battering that it had to be taken to a repair shop upon its return. But when he saw the quaint town and met the good people of Del Pilar, he somehow softened. But it was the challenge from Dr. Rafael Querubin, President of ISPSC, that settled the issue when he said, “This is where your commitment to the iSchools project would be tested.” And so with that GDPNHS was included in the list of iSchools 2009F beneficiaries.

During the community mobilization, on July 15, 2010, Mr. Romeo Berzabal, ICT coordinator of the division of Ilocos Sur, and Dr. Florante Vizcarra, VP for Planning, Research, Extension & Training of ISPSC, joined Mr. Jonathan Pagatpatan, iSchools project staff of ISPSC in the trip to GDPNHS. In attendance during the meeting were officers of the Parents-Teachers Association, student representatives and municipal and barangay officials. When they learned about the good news, they could not contain their joy and excitement. They pledged their commitment to prepare their counterpart for the project – the preparation of the laboratory room. Vice Mayor Rolando Onie, right then and there contacted the municipal engineer to visit the school and prepare the program of work.

Delivering the equipment to Del Pilar was another big challenge. How could the delivery truck reach the place? It was decided that the boxes will be dropped off at Candon City. Ms. Aurelia Ambrocio, Principal of GDPNHS, then hired one of the passenger jeepneys to haul the boxes from Candon City to Del Pilar. The delivery truck arrived at Candon City 8:00 in the evening and the transfer was completed one and half hour later. It was again a risk traveling the river route by night (jeepneys travel only during daytime), but thanks to the experienced driver, the iSchools equipment finally reached its destination and in good condition.

The installation of the iSchools equipment was done on October 11, 2010. The team composed of IT faculty members Mr. Fernando Calacal, Mr. Melvin Dato, Mr. Jonathan Pagatpatan, and 2 BSIT students reached the school uneventfully using the school vehicle. The installation started at around 11:00 AM and was completed at about 2:30 PM. To the team’s delight, all the computers were in good working condition. Except for the laptop power cord that was missing, all the equipment was accounted for. The students and teachers of GDPNHS were very excited to see their new computer laboratory. They were particularly attracted to the server with transparent casing and its cooling fan with colorful lights.

At midday, ominous dark clouds started to appear overhead. The team worked double time for fear of the coming rain. If it rains hard, the unpaved path becomes slippery, and the river rises. In such an event, the team have to stay overnight at Del Pilar. Fortunately, the team completed the installation, testing and the paper works early enough. After a hurried snack, the team traced back their route, but along the way, heavy rain caught up with them. At one point, at the last segment of the river to be crossed, the vehicle engine conked out while still in the water. Water seeped through the exhaust and the engine could no longer be started. The team trudged the waters and had a hard time pushing the vehicle to dry land. Once on dry land, the engine was finally revived after several tries when the water came out from the exhaust. And just when everything seems to be going fine, another obstacle came when as the vehicle went up a steep ascent from the river to the paved road ahead. Because the soil is soft and slippery, the vehicle could not move up, even when the team helped to push it. Thanks to three good natured boys from a nearby village, together the vehicle was pushed up to the paved road. At last, after all the ordeal, the team could go home.

True to Dr. Querubin’s challenge, the ISPSC iSchools project staff had fulfilled its commitment to bring ICT even to the remotest school of Ilocos Sur. Another school is on its way to integrating ICT in education and bridging the digital (and geographic) divide.

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iSchools 2009 recipients prepare sustainability plan

2010-12-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

Stakeholders - consisting of the school Principal, a representative of the Local School Board, and a representative of the Parents-Teachers Association - from the 48 public high schools (PHS) from northern Luzon (cluster 2) which are recipients of the iSchools 2009F project attended the Sustainability Planning Workshop (SPW) held at Heritage Resort, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur on November 22-25, 2010. The SPW aimed to familiarize the iSchools recipients on the principles and concepts of sustainability and how these may be applied to their schools and assist the participants in drafting their school Sustainability Plan. Through a series of workshops, the participants analyzed their respective school and community environments, identified the most appropriate sustainability model and crafted their respective school’s sustainability plan. The drafted sustainability model was then presented in a plenary session for critiquing and improvement.

The SPW was hosted by the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), the iSchools project implementer in the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. The other partner cluster 2 SUCs are Benguet State University (BSU), Isabela State University (ISU), Ifugao State University (IfSU) and Apayao State College (ASC). The iSchools project managers (PM) from these universities together with their respective project staff joined hands with the PM of ISPSC Mr. Eduardson Tacuban in managing the orderly and productive conduct of the workshop. Mr. Tacuban and Mr. Stradivary Caro, PM of IfSU, presented the first module, “My School, My Community” and SWOT Analysis. Dr. Mary Jane Bitanga, PM of ISU, and Mr. Philip Constantine Mandac, PM of ASC, presented the second module on the Concepts of Sustainability and the Sustainability Models. Ms. Flordeliza Naje, PM of BSU, presented the third module on eWaste Management, and Mr. Sherwin Mostoles, Finance Officer of ISU, discussed about the financial aspect of sustainability. Ms. Alexcenah Sta. Ines from the CICT staff presented the overview and objectives of the workshop and also discussed about the “eSkwela” Model. Interspersed between each module lectures are a series of workshops wherein the participants walked through step by step the development of their respective school’s sustainability plan. The participants were divided into 13 groups where each group was assisted by a facilitator. On the third day of the training, the participants proudly presented their completed outputs to their respective SUC Project Manager. The best two sustainability plans were then selected from each SUC group and presented during a plenary session. Based from the submitted outputs, most of the PHS adopted a “hybrid” model consisting of the fee-based model, computer services model and sponsorship model. One PHS from Isabela selected the eSkwela model and the Principal has even submitted the application form.

The opening program was attended by the President of ISPSC, Dr. Rafael Querubin, who provided the keynote message and promised the continued support of ISPSC to the iSchools project and the partnership. The closing program was graced by Mayor Germelina Singson Goulart of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, who is very instrumental in the setting-up of iSchools laboratories in 2 PHS in her municipality.

To break the monotony of the long and tedious workshop sessions, the participants were treated to an evening of songs and dances (performed by the PMs, facilitators and the participants themselves) in the evening of the third day. And before going home, the participants were also given the opportunity to visit the historic Heritage City of Vigan, and the popular Baluarte Natures Park owned by Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson.

Overall, the participants and the organizers rated the SPW as a resounding success. With their sustainability plans well crafted and ready for implementation, the participants committed that the iSchools laboratories (also known as the iWILL) will served its intended clientele for many years to come.

ISPSC completes CILC in 6 PHS

2010-12-07T23:34:00.000-08:00

Four public high schools in Ilocos Sur and 2 in Ilocos Norte are added to the list of schools that are ready to integrate ICT in their curriculum. Teachers and selected students of Solsona National High School – Bagbag Campus (Solsona, Ilocos Norte), Nueva Era National High School (Ilocos Norte), Puro National High School (Magsingal, Ilocos Sur), Pantay-Tamurong National High School (Caoayan, Ilocos Sur), San Juan National High School (San Juan, Ilocos Sur), and Gregorio Del Pilar National High School (Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur) completed successfully the Computer and Internet Literacy Course conducted by ISPSC iSchools project staff with the help of resource person from Benguet State University.

The participants of the CILC training learned to use Ubuntu Linux and Open Source office applications Writer, Calc, Impress and Firefox which are installed in the computers delivered to the iSchools recipient schools. They learned how to apply these applications in facilitating learning such as the use of multimedia presentations as well as in support activities such as lesson preparation, student evaluation, and correspondence. A workshop followed each module in order to apply the operations and skills demonstrated by the resource person. The participants were required to complete their outputs which include a communication letter, test paper, sample lesson plan, class record, grading sheet and multimedia presentation of a lesson. As a final output, the participants also presented their multimedia presentation and familiarized themselves in using the multimedia projector. They also learned to scan photos and book pages using the flatbed scanner. During the module on Internet, they created their respective email accounts and learned to search information and become critical with the information they get from the Net.

Dr. Rafael Querubin, ISPSC President, attended the closing program at Nueva Era National High School and exhorted the participants to use the computers and integrate ICT in their curriculum.

The CILC trainings were conducted by the following ICDL-certified trainers: Mr. Eduardson Tacuban (ISPSC), Mr. Charlie Dasalla (ISPSC), Mr. Jonathan Pagatpatan (ISPSC ), Ms. Frevy Teofilo (BSU), Ms. Jag Fernando (BSU), and Ms. Rachel Joy Sison (BASC). The trainers were assisted by the following qualified laboratory assistants from ISPSC: Mr. VJ Barayuga, Mr. Gerald Directo, Mr. Melvin Dato, Mr. Jonjon Ancheta, Mr. Eduardo Foronda, Ms. Felicidad Menor, Ms. Gina Mae Villanueva, Ms. Juvy Deocales, Ms. Ma. Cecilia Lazarte, and Ms. Julia Josephine Dasalla. The trainings were facilitated by Ms. Gemma B. Somera and Mr. Fernando Calacal.

CILC trainings starts

2010-11-18T06:51:00.000-08:00

The training component of the iSchools project starts with the conduct of the Computer and Internet Literacy Course on site in the 6 recipient public high schools in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte provinces.
The ISPSC iSchools team, together with invited CILC trainers from other SUC partners, will begin the CILC training on November 19-21 for the first phase. The training teams will return to the schools for the second phase on December 4-6, 2010.

Deployment @ Gregorio Del Pilar NHS

2010-10-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

Bringing computerization to the hinterlands of Ilocos Sur where roads don't exist is quite a challenge. The iSchools team that went to install the wireless internet learning laboratory (WILL) at Gregorio Del Pilar National High School did had an unforgetable adventure during their travel to that place.

Click the link below to view photos during the deployment at GDPNHS.
Deployment @ GDPNHS

6 iSchools laboratories installed

2010-10-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

Finally the computers arrived in the recipient schools. What a delight to behold the bright and joyful faces of students, teachers and parents as they admired the brand new computers that emerged from the boxes. And how much more when they saw the colorful lights of the cooling fans of the server which has a transparent casing, the projector, the scanner and the subwoofer. The installation team was relieved despite the fatigue and exhaustion of working in the warm rooms.

Six recipient schools in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte have already been installed with the Wireless Internet Learning Laboratory (WILL) on October 2, 4, and 11, 2010 namely: Solsona National High School, Nueva Era National High School, San Juan National High School, Puro National High School and Pantay-Tamurong National High School and Del Pilar National High School. One school, the Puro NHS, which has already an existing Internet connection was online right away.

There were several problems encountered with the installed machines, generally, the installation of the WILL was successful. some of the problems were fixed right away such as loose wi-fi card, loose memory card, loose hard drive connection and the like. One keyboard was found to be defective and three units could not connect to the wi-fi.

The school principals were instructed to install the air conditioning unit, and if possible it should be operational before the start of the CILC trainings.

The installation team consisted of Mr. Eduardson Tacuban, Mr. Jonathan Pagatpatan, Mr. VJ Barayuga, Mr. Fernando Calacal, Mr. Melvin Dato and some OJT students. The teachers and students of the recipient schools also assisted during the opening of the boxes, checking of the serial numbers and cleaning up of the boxes and trash.

The next phase of the project will be the series of trainings to be conducted in the recipient schools. These are the Sustainability Planning Workshop, the Computer and Internet Literacy Course, the Laboratory Management Training, the Website Development Training, and the Library Management Training.

After the trainings, the teachers of the recipient schools are expected to become proficient in using ICT to enhance and improve the teaching and learning process.

Community mobilization completed

2010-10-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

The ISPSC-iSchools team completed the community mobilization phase of the iSchools 2009 project. The team visited each of the recipient schools from July 7, 2010 to July 15, 2010 to inform the stakeholders regarding the iSchools project and elicit their commitment to support and sustain the project.

The stakeholders in all the schools were delighted to learn about the project and promised to extend their all out support for the success of the project. Except for Gregorio Del Pilar National High School, the other recipient schools have started the preparation of the Wireless Internet Learning Laboratory (WILL) such as the wiring installation, construction of computer tables, painting of the room and provision of window grills and reinforced doors. Gregorio Del Pilar NHS is a replacement for Mabilbila NHS and the stakeholders were not able to attend the project briefing. However, during the community mobilization, the parents, the LGU officials and the teachers vowed to complete the preparation of the WILL before the deployment.

The recipient schools for iSchools 2009F are the following:
Ilocos Norte
- Solsona National High School - Bagbag campus
- Nueva Era National High School
Ilocos Sur
- San Juan National High School - Bacsil, San Juan
- Puro National High School - Magsingal
- Caoayan National High School - Pantay-Tamurong, Caoayan
- Gregorio del Pilar National High School - Del Pilar, Ilocos Sur

New PM for ISPSC

2010-03-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

The iSchools project team of ISPSC has a new manager for the 2009f implementation.

Mr. Eduardson A. Tacuban, the current Open Source Technology Expert (OSTE) has been appointed as the new project manager effective February 2009. Mr. Tacuban started his official capacity as PM when he attended the Project Planning for iSchools 2009f on February 8-12, 2010 at Angeles City.

Edson, as he is called by friends and colleagues, is a "workaholic". He is responsible for the establishment of the new Internet Center of the college, and is working on the interconnection between the campuses of ISPSC for faster and better communication and information sharing. Mr. Tacuban has just finished his Masters in IT at the University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City.

iSchools 2009f kicks off

2010-03-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

More public high schools (PHS) will receive the computer laboratory and computer trainings for 2010 through the iSchools project 2009 fund.
The Human Capital Development Group (HCDG) of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) revealed that 600 public high schools all over the country will benefit from the iSchools 2009f bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 1000 since the start of the project.
The iSchools Project Management Office together with the ICT Coordinators from the partner state universities and colleges (SUC) conducted the planning conference on February 8-12, 2010 at Angeles City.

WELCOME

2010-03-29T16:56:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the ISPSC iSchools 2009f Blog