Philippine Commons

Note Verbale: Open education empowers
by Jaime N. Soriano, CPA, MNSA

With the age of information technology at the center stage of human interaction, there is an emerging global consensus for collaboration in providing access to learning and knowledge and developing a wide range of educatinal resources in cyberspace that are free and open for everyone to use outside of the traditional models. It is referred to as “open education.”

The Cape Town Open Education Declaration in September 2007 and now signed by over 1,500 individuals and more than 150 organizations all over the world urges educators and learners participation in the open education movement, and the promotion of open education resources and open education policies (see www.capetowndeclaration.org).

Open education operates on different frameworks, such as Open University, e-learning, open content to wikis, e-books, legal commons or open coursewares. And these methods are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

Sir John Daniel, president and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), in a speech before the William Flora Hewlett Foundation Grantees Meeting in a symposium on Open Learning Interplay at the Carnegie Mellon University on March 12, 2008, said:

“Open education broke open the iron triangle of access, cost and quality that had constrained education throughout history and had created the insidious assumption, still prevalent today, that in education you cannot have quality without exclusivity.”

“Open as to people, open as to places, open as to methods, and open as to ideas. That is a good framework to think about open education.” quoting and paraphrasing a 1969 address of The Economist editor, Geoffrey Crowther, an early advocate of open education whose speech was still probably written in a typewriter.

In the first forum dubbed as “Open Education: Are we ready and where are we?” held on April 23, 2008, the Philippine Commons and the e-Law Center of the Arellano University School of Law advanced the idea that “open education” should refer to any scholarly, academic or guided initiative that promotes access to learning and knowledge in a free, open and collaborative environment using the tools and infrastructure of information technology.

Open education is an initiative whose time has come.

In the words of Kristine Mandigma, editor in chief of Vibal Foundation: “In leading economies, technology and knowledge are the critical factors of economic growth.” She emphasized though that innovation is the key.

Greg Moreno of Bayanihan Books believes that open education would eventually fill the gaps in the educational system as technology attempts to address the issue of content quality and commercial viability.

Lawyer Michael Vernon Guerrero of Philippine Commons submits that open education empowers people. He thinks that open content is the first step toward collaboration as international endeavors in this respect continue to grow, develop and mature.

Miriam Coprado of the Department of Education shares the view that while government continues to pursue the integration of information technology in the educational system, the contribution of the private sector remains a most important element.

But the societal significance of open education was best expressed by Siegfried Herzog, resident representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in the Philippines, during the forum when he said:

“Remember, knowledge is power. Whenever access to knowledge is restricted, there is an issue of power behind it—a ruling elite will control knowledge in order to maintain power. If we truly believe that power should be vested in people, not in elites, anything that increases access to knowledge and deepening of knowledge is welcome. Open education is thus not just a nifty tool to enhance skills. It is a way to build a freer society.”

Certainly, open education empowers because it is built upon a platform of collaboration, equal opportunities, and open access to knowledge that could shift the paradigm of conventional educational systems that are perceived to be discriminating.

• This article appeared on print at the Manila Times, and alternatively available at the website of the said newspaper. Atty. Jimmy N. Soriano’s website is available at www.soriano-ph.com
• An article, entitled Philippine Commons Holds Conference on Open Education, and the speech delivered by Herr Sigfried Herzog are available at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation website.

23 April 2008

830-900 :: Registration

900-915 :: Invocation

915-1000 :: Introduction to Open Education
Speaker/org: Creative Commons Philippines
Atty. Jaime “Jimmy” Soriano
1000-1015 Q&A

1015-1030 :: Break

1030-1115 :: Creative empowerment and liberal education
Speaker/org: Friedrich Naumann Stiftung fur die Freiheit
Mr. Sigfried Herzog
1115-1030 Q&A

1130-1215 :: The public direction of Philippine education (primary and secondary)
Speaker/org: Department of Education
Atty. Geronimo “Indy” Sy
1215-1230 Q&A

1230-130 :: Lunch Break

130-215 :: Private initiatives towards open education: International/Local
Speaker/org: Creative Commons Philippines
Atty. Michael Vernon “Berne” Guerrero
215-230 Q&A

230-315 :: Private initiatives towards free and open books
Speaker/org: Bayanihan Books
Mr. Greg Moreno
315-330 Q&A

330-345 :: Break

345-430 :: commercial/business reaction to open content
Speaker/org: Vibal Foundation
Ms. Kristine Mandigma
430-445 Q&A

445-500 :: Closing remarks

Event Info
Name: Philippine Open Education forum
Tagline: Are we ready and where are we?
Sponsor: Philippine Commons
Host: e-Law Center, Arellano University School of Law
Type: Meetings - Club/Group Meeting

Time and Place
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Location: Arellano University School of Law
Street: Taft Avenue corner Menlo street
City/Town: Pasay City, Philippines

Contact Info
Phone: 639215173631
Email: guerrero +AT mydestiny +DOT net

Description

The mini-conference aims to inquire upon the feasibility and development of private initiatives to contribute in the Philippine educational or learning system, as alternative else collaborating actors in this matter.

This is pursued especially in light of the developments on Open Education in the international stage (see http://www.capetowndeclaration.org/read-the-declaration ; among others).

Considerations on the development of such initiatives locally would necessarily include the reception (either reactions and plans) of the government and the corporate providers regarding the matter, and thus would necessitate their participation in the mix.

Guests are allowed to bring friends to this event. Please inform us whether you or your friends are coming so that we can make the necessary headcount. No registration fees, by the way. Thank you.

WikiPilipinas Pilot Tests Online Writing at NSPC 2008

WikiPilipinas.org, the Philippine online encyclopedia, in cooperation with the Department of Education, pilot tested an online writing contest at the 2008 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Koronadal, South Cotabato last Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Through this pilot activity, WikiPilipinas advocates the inclusion of online writing among the contest categories of the NSPC so that student writers can discover the power of the Internet as an effective platform for writing. Learning how to write online content means that they can also exploit the opportunities in writing for new media.

The WikiPilipinas Online Writing Contest was held at the Computer Laboratory of the Notre Dame Siena School of Marbel. The first half of the session was devoted to an online writing seminar and hands-on, followed by the actual writing contest.

WikiPilipinas selected the best encyclopedic articles in English and Filipino based on substance, adherence to format and grammar. Topics with fact sheets aligned to this year’s theme of the NSPC were picked by the contestants.

The best article in English Coco Technologies was written by Josielou-Rae Francesca Lucero, of Ateneo de Davao University. The entry on Bangus written by Maaroopha A. Abdulkalin of Parang National High School in Maguindanao was judged the best article in Filipino. Two runners up in both English and Filipino were also selected.

The judges were composed of WikiPilipinas’ editor in chief Kristine Mandigma and managing editor Alfred Ursua who also facilitated the proceedings at the NSPC venue while other members of the editorial board Roberto T. Añonuevo, Frederick N. Castillo and Kristina Joy Panogot evaluated the entries online at WikiPilipinas’ Quezon City office.

Concurrent to the special session for the online writing contest, WikiPilipinas also conducted an orientation for Internet research and online writing and editing for school paper advisers from various schools around the country.

Now on its 65th year, NSPC is the biggest and most prestigious competition for campus journalists and school paper advisers in the Philippines. It serves as a training ground for aspiring young writers from all parts of the country.

As a repository of popular knowledge, WikiPilipinas.org is primed as the biggest collaborative writing project in the country. It is a complementary website of Filipiniana.net, a digital library of primary sources. WikiPilipinas.org and Filipiniana.net are knowledge-sharing initiatives of Vibal Foundation. (By Kristina Joy Panogot)

Filipina Stories

In celebration of Women’s Month in March 2008, with its advocacy of promoting a more empowered and empowering image of the Filipina, WikiPilipinas partnered with Filipina Images as we launched Filipina Stories.

The writing contest was open to all Filipino bloggers of all ages. Interested participants were encouraged to contribute from all on three themes: The Iconography of the Modern Filipina; The Commercialization of the Filipina through the Internet; and The Role of Bloggers in Uplifting the Image of the Filipina. Cash prizes were awarded. Articles submitted were be original, previously unpublished, at least 500 words long, and in the English language. The requirements for submission were: there could only be one entry per person, the participant’s complete name and contact details, the essays were to be published in the participants’ respective blogs and were required to contain the following links: a. at least one link to WikiPilipinas.org or Filipiniana.net articles and/or images; b. a link to WikiPilipinas, using the code http://www.wikipilipinas.org”>Philippine Encyclopedia; c. a link to Filipina Images, with the code http://filipinaimages.com”>Filipina.

The three best essays were selected, and their winning authors were awarded cash prizes of:

• 1st placer - P5,000.00
• 2nd placer - P3,000.00
• 3rd placer - P2,000.00

An iPod Nano was also raffled during the launch

Other details about the writing contest are found at the WikiPilipinas:Filipina Stories page of WikiPilipinas.org or FilipinaImages.com.

The unveiling of the WikiPilipinas’ Encyclopedia of Philippine Women and Filipiniana.net’s Philippine Women’s Studies Microsite was held on March 29, 2008, 5:00-6:00pm, SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia.

For bloggers and non-bloggers alike, a wiki project can be the next best thing to publishing and showcasing the stories of Filipinos all over the world. Media organizations, researchers, industry leaders and experts, community activists, and people from all walks of life are given an equal opportunity to interactively collaborate in writing and editing the Filipina story as it happens.

Launching of the Encyclopedia of Philippine Women and Philippine Women’s Studies Microsite

In celebration of Women’s Month in March 2008, Wikipilipinas.org opened a special portal called the Encyclopedia of Philippine Women which compiles and details the achievements and triumphs of Filipinas everywhere. Filipiniana.net also hosted a Philippine Women’s Studies Microsite containing selected scholarly texts, research documents and abstracts, as well as selected literary works from Filipina writers.

The Women’s Encyclopedia compiles and details the multifarious achievements, struggles and triumphs of Filipinas everywhere. WikiPilipinas’s sister site Filipiniana.net also launched the Philippine Women Microsite containing key scholarly feminist texts, research documents and abstracts, as well as an anthology of the most important literary works from Filipina writers and Philippine laws on and for Women.

Spread across the Philippines’ historical landscape are hundreds of markers of Filipina pride. There is this group of young women from Malolos who asked the Governor General that they be educated. Now that’s boldness. And who hasn’t heard about the fearless exploits of Gabriela Silang and Teresa Magbanua? Other than the Filipina being the first in Asia to be granted the right to vote, a Filipina was also the first female president in Asia. The women of this country have proven time and again that they have a say, and, more glaringly, that they should be heard. As a tribute, Filipiniana.net, WikiPilipinas’ tandem website, has created the Philippine Women’s Studies Microsite. This project puts online full texts of Philippine laws and scholarly studies for and/or by women; snippets of literary works by women writers like Lualhati Bautista, Genoveva Matute, and Paz Marquez-Benitez; and images of the Filipino women from earliest times up to the present. The Philippine Women’s Studies Microsite can be accessed for free by logging on to Filipinina.net.

Helena Benitez Global Forum

The WikiPilipinas Team took part in the Helena Benitez Global Forum on Women, Power and Sustainable Development last March 3, held at the Manila Hotel. The forum was named after pioneer Helena Z. Benitez in recognition of her staunch advocacy of sustainable development and women’s advancement. The NGO-initiated event was organized by the Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa Pilipinas and was sponsored by the Philippine Women’s University, Asian Women’s Network on Gender and Development, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations. The team launched the Encyclopedia of Philippine Women and Philippine Women’s Studies microsite in front of an audience of local government officials, while partner FilipinaImages.com forwarded their advocacy of uplifting the image of the Filipina through the Internet.

National Women’s Day Celebration (PUP)

On March 8 (Saturday), WikiPilipinas.org and Filipiniana.net were at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Sta. Mesa for the 2008 National Women’s Day Celebration spearheaded by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW). There was an overview of the Encylopedia of Philippine Women, the Philippine Women’s Studies Microsite and the deadline for the Wikipilipinas Filipina Writing Contest to was then extended to March 15. Program started at 8:30am to 12:00nn.

UP Centennial Lecture of Dr. Carol Sobritchea (UP)

In connection with the UP 100 project, with an aim to build a database of all UP-related information, WikiPilipinas.org and Filipiniana.net joined the UP Centennial Lecture by Dr. Carol Sobritchea on March 11 (Tuesday).

An overview of WikiPilipinas.org & Filipiniana.net and a call for more entries to the Filipina Writing Contest were executed.

Announcement of women-centered projects (Lipa, Batangas)

On March 13 (Thursday), Vibal Foundation announced its women-centered projects, in partnership with NCRFW and local women leaders and government officials. It was held at the Batangas Provincial Capitol, Batangas City.

Women’s Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP) 2nd Asian Regional Conference and 7th National Conference - (Miriam College)

The Women’s Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP) held its 2nd Asian Regional Conference and 7th National Conference on March 24-26 (Monday to Wednesday) which was held at Miriam College. WikiPilipinas.org and Filipiniana.net team were there to attend the three-day event. Editor in chief Kristine Mandigma presented the Encyclopedia of Philippine Women and Philippine Womens’ Studies Microsite including the the role of women in ICT.

Women Can’t Wait! Job and Trade Fair (SMX, Mall of Asia)

In celebration of the World Women’s Month this March, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, John Clements Consultants, Inc. and Primetrade Asia, Inc. organized an event entitled, Women Can’t Wait! An all-women transformation workshop and job fair, held at Hall 3, SMX Convention Center, Bay Area in Pasay City from March 28 to 29, 2008.

Wikipilipinas.org and Filipiniana.net gave a presentation on Celebrating the Power of the Filipina Online and announced the winners of the Filipina Writing Stories on Saturday, March 29, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm.

WikiZine April issue

WikiZine launched its April 2008 issue featuring the summer month of April.

You can download all issues in this address: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=WikiPilipinas:WikiZine