11 October 2013 - The first batch of Filipino teachers who had undergone four weekends of training on “Experiential Learning: Instructors’ Training Enhancement (ELITE)” graduated on October 05, coinciding with the celebration of the National Teachers’ Day weekend in Laos.
The ELITE Training Course was conducted by Filipino education consultants led by Dr. Bernadette Gonzales, President and CEO of International Technology Management Corporation (INTEM), Mr. Joel Wayne Ganibe and Dr. Rolando Buendia also of INTEM. Dr. Gonzales, Mr. Ganibe and Dr. Buendia are currently serving as advisers to the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Grant for the Lao Secondary Education Sector Development Project (SESDP).
The course was comprised of six learning modules that included Mind Mapping for Accelerated Learning, Communications for Better Classroom Management; Basic Learning Theory and Learning Styles; Blooms Revised Taxonomy; Rubrics for Authentic Assessment; and Basics of Understanding by Design. Participants who completed all modules were conferred certificates of achievement by the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane and INTEM.
Prior to the commencement exercises, all participants were tasked to do teaching demonstrations that show their application of the tools that they had learned during the course. Each group simulated classroom settings in various levels – pre-primary, primary, secondary and higher education. Thereafter, constructive comments were offered by the facilitators.
In her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Laos Maria Lumen Isleta expressed the desire of the Embassy to
assist Filipinos in Laos, particularly teachers, in upgrading their teaching skills so as to better equip them in an increasingly competitive market and in order to be able to offer their students a better learning experience. She congratulated the graduates for the time and effort they had invested in the course. She also thanked Dr. Gonzales and her team for selflessly offering their knowledge and expertise to help their fellow Filipinos. She also thanked Pastor Valenzuela for making available his premises and home for the conduct of the course.
The graduation programme was emceed by Ms. Caridad Miranda and Ms. Jo Mita. Lunch comprised of a sumptuous spread of lechon, dinuguan, pancit, macaroni and biko was thereafter partaken by all, completing the half day program of learning and camaraderie. END