What Are My Students Thinking?

We at the UPOU have been asking our students to write, as honestly as they possibly could, their personal journals – their own narratives of how they felt about their courses at UPOU during the semester about to end.  These journals, we’ve been emphasizing, don’t influence their grades.  We only want them as guides for our own evaluation of how we may have performed as Faculty-In-Charge of our courses.  I’m now reading the personal journals of my students in Comm 320, a course under the Doctor of Communication Program.  These journals are spread over a wide range of what sound as honest and impartial commentary on how the course was run during the semester.  To me, I take these journals as objectively as I could and not personally.  Well, that’s how confident I am about my ability to manage my course and its content.

I wish to share with you a randomly picked (meaning, I just got this an hour ago) personal journal, written by Mr. Arnel E. Genzola, a Filipino teaching English at a university in China.  Let me reproduce, unedited, his brief journal here.  I hope Arnel wouldn’t mind.

  

The course kicked off in a manner I so like.  The course expectations/learning outcomes, exams, required participation, rules and modules topics clearly outlined and elucidated through the Course Guide have been most helpful in properly directing the course and the students.  The list of references and reading materials provided me profitable reading and learning experiences, and because the Course Guide is sharply designed, it fostered learner control and facilitated my ability to guide my own learning and to be highly self-regulated and responsible for planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluating, and reflecting on each module topic.  Too, the parameters set for the class and certain conventions and guidelines that must be observed on forum discussion, assignment submission, and forum posts, to me, made a lot of sense.  For instance, the rule on one discussion thread at any given time for each module and the opening of a module early morning of Saturday and the closing about the same time next Saturday promised greater learning effectiveness appropriate in providing a better quality of interaction and relevant in sustaining dynamic engagement responsive to the needs and challenges of pedagogy and practice in contemporary learning spaces.

I adhere to the commonly held belief that knowledge grows exponentially when shared.  The dynamic involvement that took place through active electronic discussion board (EDB) sharing, exchanges, and participation of both the professor and the students made my Comm 320 class experience and learning even more meaningful.  This collaboration enriched relationships, encouraged greater interdependency that allowed cross-functional thinking and abilities to be drawn into a healthy exchange of knowledge and ideas, and enhanced the creation of a virtual learning environment that is conducive for personal and professional development.  It is from this well-directed and insightful aerobics in exercising and strengthening my grasp of each discussion topic that I gained a better understanding of each module topic, and in particular, the two of the most interesting course topics, systems thinking and the learning disciplines of Senge, akin to distance education deepened my grasp of the significance of interconnectedness of individuals, structures, and processes not only in directing and developing actions and thoughts but also in advancing learning, intensified through dynamic sharing and collaboration.

What could be considered in the future, perhaps, is the inclusion or integration of video conferencing for a session or two.  I personally regard such to offer profound impact on the quality of the education experience.  I am cognizant of the underlying constraints and limitations, but it would certainly fortify discussions and exchanges especially to topics of great interest.  One remarkable feature of this course is the activity after each module requiring learners a synthesis of module topic by relating the same to one’s context of current work and substantive field which is highly creditable because direct application of concepts learned is taking in action benefiting the learner and his or her organization.  Many times our EDB was swamped with nifty and edifying comments, observations, remarks, and explications; an obvious manifestation of how we take an active interest and rejoice in the richness of what we are learning.  I, myself, have learned a lot from my professor and classmates.  It enabled me to build a broad base of knowledge through forum discussion and assigned readings that widened my perspectives on other areas not limiting me to my substantive area.  This could be intensified via videoconferencing that supports far greater interaction than is otherwise possible from text-based engagement given the deluge of commentaries and exchanges evident in each module discussion.  Believing in the expertise of my professor that I personally look up to for his wit and qualities worthy of emulation, the utilization of videoconferencing will all the more enhance delivery of technology-based instruction and learner engagement.

The class as a learning community benefited everyone on the course because of the maximized participation and engagement in the learning process of both the professor and the students.  This continues to thrill and inspire me to pursue this advanced degree.  Indeed, the University of the Philippines – Open University is true to its commitment of providing quality higher and continuing education through its excellent faculty members who are breaking new grounds and rearing the standard of excellence utilizing distance education technologies and methodologies that give rise to innovative applications and instructional paradigms that promote and sustain lifelong learning and professional growth.

Thank you, Arnel, for the kind words.  I know this applies to all courses and professors of the UPOU.  As to Arnel’s suggestion to include videoconferencing among the tools employed in the delivery of the courses, especially under the DComm Program, we happen to be, at the moment, deep into conceptualizing a website for DComm that shall employ multiple techniques and approaches, including use of videos.  We hope to be able to construct a highly interactive website where DComm students can interact particularly within specific courses.  Needless to say, we are hoping to be able to strengthen the abilities and opportunities of DComm students to engage one another in dynamic exchange of ideas as they journey through their respective courses and other academic activities.

We hope to be able to construct soon the DComm Website, which shall be linked with the FICS website, and the UPOU website.  Like I said, we’re just in the conceptualization phase.  Still, we know it’s the right direction for the Program.

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Swinging Thru Tiaong

 

Tiaong, the first town in Quezon past San Pablo City in Laguna, is actually the town-host for Villa Escudero, that high-end week-end get away resort and hacienda.  Jegs and I got a chance to visit some of the potential tourist spots in the town.  Jegs is helping Tiaong develop its tourism program (some kind of advocacy as she’s doing this practically pro bono), while working to complete her PhD in environmental science at UPLB (she just passed her comprehensive exams last week, yehey!).

Just past the boundary arch shared by Tiaong and San Pablo City, is a new facility called “Tagpuan sa Villa Escudero.”  There’s a McDo fast food resto there.  It’s where we met Tiaong’s Tourism Officer, Ms. Sheila Abaña, and her staff who accompanied us on the tour.  We had a quick breakfast, then started our Tiaong tour.

First stop. Bgy. Lalit, to take a look at Mainit Spring.  It’s a hot spring, although the water spouting from inside the earth is not really steaming hot, unlike those hot springs in Los Baños.  This particular spring, small as it is, and located by the river bank, can be developed into a nice pool of hot water where visitors could take a quick dip.  Residents of the place claim that water from the hot spring has medicinal effects on bathers.  Well, don’t most hot springs do?  Other visitors could enjoy either kayaking or river tubing on the river itself.  The hot spring also spouts water directly to the river as evidenced by the many bubbles along the river bank and in the deeper parts of it. 

Getting there now is through a hanging steel bridge, which adventurous visitors would enjoy.  For the less adventurous, like seniors wanting just to take a dip in the hot spring, a concrete bridge running side by side with the steel bridge could be constructed.

From there we passed by the Municiapal Hall and on the way picked up Ms. Lanie Limbo, a DENR personnel, who says her group was temporarily housed in the DA building because their building was being renovated.  She was careful not to say that she’ll be the CENRO (Community Environmental Officer) but she probably will get the post.  She’s a graduate of UPLB (Forestry).

Second stop, Bgy. Ayusan, to have a look at a few areas that have potentials as places of interest.  We visited the Cow Farm there, owned by the Katigbak Family of Lipa City.  According to the Farm Manager of the Cow Farm, Mr. Ronnie Ernie (who used to be with the National Dairy Authority), they have 138 heads of Holstein breeds, which are good producers of milk.  The Cow Farm, we were informed provide milk and yogurt to Starbucks in Lipa City.  Thing is, when we visited the place we almost didn’t see any cow as they were grazing in bushes elsewhere.  Besides, the Cow Farm’s processing plant is in Lipa City, so there’s very little action in this farm.  Not quite exciting as tourist spot.  Jegs took note of the place because if the owner agrees, the Cow Farm could be developed as part of the agri-tourism program of Tiaong.

At Bgy. Ayusan, too, are a few more spots.  For example, we were informed that there was a cave in the place, known as Ayusan Cave.  We didn’t get to it, although we were to a place where we could see the rock formations on the slope of the mountain that was obviously part of the cave.  I inquired from the residents in the area if there were bats or perhaps snakes in the cave but they didn’t know.  They claim, though, that there were many monkeys in the place.  We didn’t visit the cave, and we didn’t see the monkeys.

From Bgy. Ayusan, one can see clearly a grassland patch near the peak of the mountain they call the Malarayat-Malipunyu Mountain.  The portion of the mountain facing Tiaong is called Malipunyu, while that facing Lipa City is called Malarayat.  

 At the Malarayat side, of course, is the Malarayat Golf Club in Lipa City.  I saw a great potential of the Tiaong side of the mountain (Malipunyu) as a mountain trekking area for those who enjoy trekking, or mountain bikers. Lanie says there are bikers who have been frequenting the mountain.

At Bgy. Ayusan, as well, we visited a Gawad Kalinga community where residents have organized themselves into the Kapit Bahayan Producers’ Cooperative.  

Their project is charcoal briquetting, using coconut husk as raw material.  Their charcoal making plant has a capacity of 300 kg/day but currently  producing only 60 Kg/day.  If one is interested to experience making charcoal briquettes, it would take no more than an hour to complete the cycle, from husk burning, grinding, mixing with water a flour, pressing in the briquette molder, and drying.   

 The entire process is fully manual.  Charcoal briquette may be the main product of the manufacturing process, but they do have a by-product that they call “liquid smoke.”  How is this produced?

In a burning cylinder (drum) they load coconut husks of about 20 coconuts.  On a short spout on top of the drum is fitted a bamboo pipe where the smoke escapes.  

As the smoke is hot it also produces steam, which condenses as the smoke is forced all the way to the tip of the bamboo pole.  In the process, the condensed steam flows back down and goes into a container, such as a plastic bottle.  For each loading of the burner (husks from some 20 pieces of coconuts), they’re able to harvest one liter of liquid from the smoke steam, which they call “liquid smoke.”  According to the cooperative members, the “liquid smoke” has interesting uses, like a deodorant that can neutralize the stink from piggeries, organic fertilizer, and the like.  The operators of the charcoal briquetting project claim, too, that dried husk of young coconut produce more “liquid smoke.”  The members of the Kapit Bahayan Cooperative are lucky because they get assistance from three sectors: the GK, the Department of Agriculture, and the Office of the Mayor of Tiaong.

From Bgy. Ayusan, we proceeded to Bgy. San Pedro to have a quick look at Lake Tikub, a small crater lake (about 49 has.).  The lake doesn’t have an outlet, and it doesn’t have  watershed area either.  From the rim of the lake, one could see a steep drop, from about 75-90 degrees.  There are only a few large trees but the steep slope is full of bushes.  The LGU of Tiaong is undertaking a project to develop this lake as a premier tourist attraction of the municipal government.  This place really has great potentials as tourist destination.  My personal bias is to construct a two-lane circumferential road on top of the ridge around the lake (the inner lane could be bikers’ lane, while the outer lane could be for four-wheel vehicles.  Buses, however, shouldn’t be allowed on this circumferential road.  Additionally, when bikers and joggers wish to take a quick deep in the lake, then they should be able to go down the lake, either through stairs, or a sloping road that  undulates through the slopes of Tikub Lake.  For each quarter distance around the lake should be an asphalt road winding down to the lake so that there would be four primary access to the lake itself.  These winding roads should be passable by four wheel vehicles, provided by the Tourism Council of Tiaong.  This means that all vehicles ferrying visitors shall have to park in parking places constructed around the perimeter road on the rim of Lake Tikub.  Big vehicles like buses should not be permitted to go down the lake.

We then proceeded to Bgy. Lumingon to see the facility on top of a hill and what residents call The White House.  It’s a private dwelling comprised of many buildings appropriately arranged and constructed on top of a hill overlooking some 50 hectares of private property, as well as the town of Tiaong.  I understand that the owner wants this property to be further developed as an agri-tourism destination.  For now, there are plans to develop the surrounding slopes for agroforestry purposes.  We had lunch in the White House.  Well, sort of because we had brought with us packed lunch.  However, meals could be served if arrangements are made ahead of time.  The place is windy and all rooms are filled with art pieces executed by the owner of the place.

From The White House, we proceeded to Ugu Bigyan’s pottery plant in Bgy. Lusacan.  That’s my first time to visit Ugu’s pottery plant, and it’s impressive in terms of it being sprawling, comprised, as well, of different buildings with sparse walls and with lots of trees.  I enjoyed interviewing one of the potters there about making clay pots, tempering those pots, drying them and finally glazing them so that they would be glossy.

The last place we visited was the RHB Resort in Bgy. Cabay.  This resort is along the highway leading to Laia Beech in San Juan, Batangas, quite remote but once inside one sees a beautiful garden resort.  It has five buildings each one with two double rooms.  There are also building quarters for families.  It has a decent sized pavilion, a couple of swimming pools for adults and kids.  The house of the owner is on a separate compound adjoining the resort.  This resort appears to be an excellent place for small-group workshops and meetings.

There were still many places to see, but we’ll visit those places another day.