Saturday, April 19, 2008

Online Writeshop: happy ending


Participants and CICT support staffs of the "Online Writeshop" held on April 16-18, 2008 at WVCST in Iloilo City, pose after the awarding of certificates given by the CICT assisted by Engr. Rolly Gambol (center), PM of WVCST iSchools Project. Also in the picture are Luz Rimban (left of Mr. Gambol) and Yvonne Chua (right), resouce persons of the seminar.

Friday, April 18, 2008

News: Twenty-one iSchools Computers deployed at WVSU

The West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo City is one of the recipient schools of the twenty-one personal computers (PCs) for the iSchools project in March 2008. “We are indeed thankful to receive the PCs and these will be deployed at the integrated laboratory school,” said Dr. Pablo E. Subong Jr., President of WVSU.

These computers are part of the iSchools project implemented under the leadership of the Commission on Information and Communications (CICT) together with the partner state universities and colleges (SUC).

The deployment of these PCs comes with operating systems, applications software, an LCD projector, three-in-One printer, two units of air-conditioning equipment and networking accessories. Of the twenty one PCs, one is used as a server and the other twenty PCs will be used as workstations.

A total of six (6) public high schools in Region VI including WVSU laboratory school, will receive the computers. These recipient schools are under the supervision of WVSU. Of the six, four high schools are located in Iloilo. They are:
· Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School
· Calinog National Comprehensive High School
· Pototan National Comprehensive High School, and
· WVSU Integrated Laboratory School

The other two schools are located in Negros Occidental, namely Manapla National Comprehensive High School and Doña Monserat Memorial High School.

The PCs deployed in these mentioned schools will be used for trainings of teachers and staff which will start this April 2008. In addition to this, the computers will be used for the iSchools projects such as the Internet for high school students and e-Eskwela.


Related Stories

Internet for Schools Project in the Philippines
Public School in Iloilo
WVSU as implementing arm of the iSchools project
WVSU will lead iSchool project in 5 public high schools

Feature story: WVSU will lead iSchools project in Region VI

The WVSU in Iloilo City is one of the recipient schools of the twenty-one personal computers (PCs) for the iSchools project in March 2008. “As primary teacher education in Region VI, we are honored to lead the iSchools project in six public high schools in the region,” said Dr. Pablo E. Subong Jr., President of West Visayas State University (WVSU). “We are indeed thankful to receive the PCs and these will be deployed at the integrated laboratory school,” he said.

These computers are part of the iSchools project implemented under the leadership of the Commission on Information and Communications (CICT) together with the partner state universities and colleges (SUC). WVSU is one of the partners of CICT in the region, which identified five other schools to receive the same set of PCs. As lead institution for this project, WVSU is tasked to cater the needs of these schools in terms of PC deployment, trainings and technical assistance.

There were some obstacles that can be taken into accounts during the earlier implementation of the project. It was late August of 2007 when the strategies for the implementation of iSchools were completed. On the same month a new WVSU President was appointed. Basically, he was not aware of the project, so he was hesitant to grant approval of the iSchools project at WVSU.

“Daw kabulay gid mag deal kay sir kay di siya fully oriented ka project,” (it is difficult to deal with the President since he is not fully aware of the project) said Dr. Francisca D. Osorio, Project Manager of iSchools at WVSU. The new President requires Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) approved by the school’s Board of Regents before he can issue travel orders and sign documents for iSchools.

In the first week of November 2007, iSchools projects have been settled at WVSU after several meetings with the president and submitting necessary documents as support papers for the approval of MOA.

Deployment of computers

Professor Ignacio Tibajares, Director of the Integrated Laboratory School welcomes the installation of iSchools computers in his department. “This is an opportunity for us to receive the computers and be trained for free,” he said.

The deployment of these PCs comes with the operating systems, applications software, an LCD projector, three-in-One printer, two units of air-conditioning equipment and networking accessories. Of the twenty one PCs, one is used as a server and the other twenty PCs will be used as workstations.

Regular routines had been made by Dr. Osorio prior to the deployment, to make sure the readiness of the site for the installation of PCs, stability of power supply and materials that will be provided by the counterpart school. Six (6) public high schools in Region VI including WVSU laboratory school, will receive the computers. These recipient schools are under the supervision of WVSU. Of the six, four high schools are located in Iloilo. They are:

· Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School
· Calinog National Comprehensive High School
· Pototan National Comprehensive High School, and
· WVSU Integrated Laboratory School

The other two schools are located in Negros Occidental, namely Manapla National Comprehensive High School and Doña Monserat Memorial High School.

Trainings and Monitoring

The PCs deployed in these mentioned schools will be used for trainings of teachers, staff and students that will start this April 2008. In addition to this, the computers will be used for the iSchools projects such as the Internet for high school students and e-Eskwela.

Three trainings are scheduled to be conducted this April and May 2008, namely Computer and Internet Literacy Course (CILC), Webpage Development and Laboratory Management seminars. Expected to attend are teachers, Principals and students of the recipient schools.

To ensure sustainability of the project, WVSU will the lead the monitoring and evaluation of both the trainings and implementation of the project. “With dedicated and responsible personnel tasked to implement the iSchools project, I am certain of the attainment of its success,” said President Subong.


For comments or suggestions, please send email to bobby_gerardo@engineer.com.


Related Stories

Twenty-one iSchools Computers deployed at WVSU
Internet for Schools Project in the Philippines
Public School in Iloilo
WVSU as implementing arm of the iSchools project
WVSU will lead iSchools project in 5 public high schools

More news: WVCST hosts Online Writeshop

West Visayas State University is sending Bobby D. Gerardo, Faculty of the Institute of ICT to attend the Online Writeshop organized by the Commision on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) on April 16-18, 2008. The seminar is located in Room 302 of the IT building of WVCST.
There are a total of 15 participants coming from the different SUCs all over the country, who will be attending this seminar-workshop.

The main objective of this workshop is to train participants in writing news , feature stories, commentaries, and online blogs.

Series of workshops are expected to be conducted to facilitate the development of skills in online writing by the participants. Two experts, namely Luz Rimban and Yvonne Chua will be the resource persons of the said 3-day training.
Related websites: