Filipino Teachers in Cambodia Mark 1st MOOC Alumni Summit, 3rd Celebration of Learning
The plenary speakers receive certificates of recognition from Teachers’ Learning Action Guild. From left are Jay Ian L. Capungan, Romyr A. Libo-on, Dr. Rebecca C. Sagot, Brian Maher, Harold Samuels and Lovee Mae D. Campbell. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
PHNOM PENH 25 July 2019 — Concurrent to the 1st Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) Alumni Summit, Filipino teachers in Cambodia held the 3rd Celebration of Learning last 6 July 2019 at the Himawari Hotel.
The said dual events were highlighted by the MOOC graduation ceremony of 275 teachers who completed the spring course “Content-Based Instruction” by World Learning, and 243 participants who completed the winter course “Teaching English to Young Learners” by the George Mason University.
Department of Education-Region XI Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Rebecca C. Sagot served as the keynote speaker for the said graduation, which was also graced by United States Embassy in Manila Regional English Language Officer Harold Samuels and Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh Charge d’Affaires (CDA), a.i. Myca Magnolia Fischer.
In her congratulatory message, CDA Fischer commended the graduates for “not being satisfied with the status quo” and for being dedicated to self-improvement toward becoming the “forces of good and facilitators of success.” She also shared with the audience the positive feedback received from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to the Embassy’s request for CHED to bring its adult education program to Filipino teachers in Cambodia.
“I would not have wanted to become a teacher if I did not join the MOOC and the MOOC Camp. People in the MOOC inspired me a lot. They inspired me to believe in myself and my abilities, to stand for myself and be proud of my goals, to love and respect, to be kind, and most importantly, to give back,” Sokun El, one of the Cambodian participants, said in his speech.
With the theme “Who dares to teach must never cease to learn,” the event also carried a plenary session earlier that day with Christian missionary Brian Maher speaking about “A Teacher's Gift to the World,” National Director of Miss Universe Colombia Romyr A. Libo-on on “Personal Development for Teachers,” as well as Mr. Samuels on sharing information about the U.S. Department of State's Professional Development Programs, and Dr. Sagot presenting a talk on “Re-framing- The Power of Positive Language”.
MOOC is a platform by the Teachers’ Learning Action Guild here that upgrades the professional capabilities of educators. The number of participants has steadily increased and now counts the teachers from Cambodia, Fiji, and India.
The Teachers’ Learning Action Guild in Cambodia was founded a year ago by Jay Ian Capungan who also serves as the main facilitator of the MOOC Camps. END
The Phnom Penh Chorale Ensemble (PPCE), consisting of Filipino singers, sings the Philippine National Anthem. They also sang the national anthems of the United States of America and Cambodia, and a prayer song “Our Father”. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
The Sinaglahi Filipinas Dance Troupe (SFDT) entertains the MOOCers and guests with the “Binasuan” dance. (Phnom Penh PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.phnompenhpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinCambodia/ or https://twitter.com/PhilippineIn