First Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in Asia

First Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in Asia

by | November 25, 2019 | 2019

Teachers, education leaders, members of the government and industry, as well as STEM advocates from different parts of Asia, gathered together for the momentous First Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in Asia, happened in Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, Philippines last November 21-24, 2019.

This leadership summit is co-organized by US-based STEM Leadership Alliance (SLA) and UNILAB Foundation and is supported by The Teacher’s Gallery.

With 65 renowned speakers from the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia, this Summit provided a platform for the important stakeholders to synergize their skills with the needs of both local and global communities and, more importantly, build a community of STEM champions who will work together towards advancing STEM Education, promote STEM careers and sustainable solutions. The goal is to bridge the existing gap in the academe and industry by preparing today’s learners in the demands of the workforce. It is evident that the education system must be guided and supported by integrated STEM Leaders to help them connect K to 12 curriculum to real-world applications. Several breakout sessions were in place to encourage in-depth interactions and group discussions.

The theme for Day 1 is focused on Navigating and Understanding the Integrated STEM Education Landscape. Distinguished guest resource speakers have talked about how integrated STEM looks like in learning environments.

Arthur Eisenkraft, Ph.D, Distinguished professor of Science Education and Director of the Center of Science and Math in Context (COSMIC) in University of Massachusetts Boston, highlighted the importance of helping learners filter important information from the bad ones and make education meaningful for them. He emphasized the need for asking four essential questions — what does it mean, how do we know, why we do believe, and why we should care — to make an active STEM learning experience.

According to Victoria Levin, Senior Economist from The World Bank, the 21st Century well-educated person is someone that has these 3 essential skills: cognitive skills, technical skills, and socio-emotional skills. She highlighted the importance of teaching our students in nurturing their socio-emotional skills as they matter in their educational outcomes. 

The discussions in Day 2 focused on Strengthening the K-12 System Towards Innovative Solutions for Socio-Economic Development. The sessions highlighted the relevance of STEM Education to the real world concerns as well as the role of industries in integrated STEM. Members from the government, industry, and academe also shared their initiatives in STEM integration through a panel discussion.

Day 3 is geared on Articulating Future Pathways to Create Shared Initiatives to Advance Integrated STEM. Advancing Integrated STEM should be anchored on the importance of integrating soft skills to education.

Dr. Joyce Malyn-Smith, Director for Strategic Initiatives in Workforce and Human Development Education Development Center, mentioned that academic skills are not enough to succeed. Students need to be able to draw upon all their problem solving skills to save time and money for the company.

Raffle items and cool freebies were given away to educators who dropped by and signed up at The Teacher’s Gallery booth. Lucky winners of the raffle received exclusive TTG jackets and The Power of a Teacher books by Dr. Adam Saenz.

DepEd’s 1st National Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education

DepEd’s 1st National Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education

by | November 18, 2019 | 2019

This November 2019 marks a milestone as the world celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the most widely ratified international human rights treaty. The Department of Education celebrates the essential truth that ‘every child, no matter how small, is a whole person with dignity and rights’ during the National Children’s Month every November, as mandated by Republic Act No. 10661, otherwise known as the “National Children’s Month Act”. This is to commemorate the adoption of the CRC by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989 and “instill its significance in the Filipino conciousness.”

Officials and personnel from elementary and secondary public and private schools, DepEd officials and personnel from the Central, Regional, and Schools Divisions Offices, as well as partners and stakeholders from the national and local government agencies, international organizations, private organizations, businesses, media and various civil society organizations (CSOs), including The Teacher’s Gallery’s non-profit arm – Inclusion Initiative, gathered for the First National Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education last November 14-15 at The Heritage Hotel Manila, Roxas Boulevard corner EDSA, Pasay City. Children themselves and their parents are also participants of this momentous gathering.

This event is a maiden national gathering of the Department of Education through the Office of the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs with the support of UNICEF, Save the Children, Council for the Welfare of Children, Plan International, Child Protection Network, and Ateneo Human Rights Center.

The Summit aims to reaffirm the commitment of stakeholders to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of the child, as enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, other domestic laws and rules, and international law, primarily the CRC. It also aims to unpack the various rights of the child in the context of basic education and provide a venue to deepen appreciation of these rights by both the rights-holders and duty-bearers in a rights-based framework of basic education. It served as an occasion to celebrate successes in upholding these rights and identify challenges in their realization to help address them with a whole-of-society approach, which necessarily includes the participation of children themselves as rights-holders.

Leaders and stakeholders stated their commitments in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the rights of the child. Reaffirmation of commitment were heard from the following honorable guests, followed by a symbolic covenant signing:

  • Hon. Sherwin T. Gatchalian – Senator, Republic of the Philippines and Chairperson, Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture
  • Hon. Roman T. Romulo – Representative, Pasig City, Lone District and Chairperson, Committee on Basic Education and Culture
  • Undersecretary Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy – Undersecretary and Executive Director, Council for the Welfare of Children
  • H.E. Maria Teresa Almojuela – Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland
  • Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson – National President, League of Municipalities of the Philippines
  • Dr. Lourdes Sese –  President, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA)
  • Mr. Reynaldo Antonio Laguda – Executive Director, Philippine Business for Social Progress
  • Ms. Jing Castañeda – Anchor/Host, ABS-CBN and Program Director, Bantay Bata 163
  • Mr. Lars Jorgenssen – Executive Director, Stairway Foundation

In Day 1, the panel discussion focused on the role of duty-bearers in promoting child rights in basic education in a local context.

Separate parallel sessions were in place for the adults and for the students. Adult parallel sessions are focused on the following themes:

  1. Right to survival in relation to basic education
  2. Right of access to basic education
  3. Right to quality education
  4. Right to protection in relation to basic education
  5. Right to participation in relation to basic education

Sessions for Children:

  1. Children’s rights in education
  2. E-Learning course on children’s rights: I Am a Child

Day 2 morning session was dedicated in the presentation of group outputs from Day 1 parallel sessions. Both adults and children showcased their reports and explained their takeaways from their discussions.

After witnessing the Summit outputs, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones started delivering her keynote speech by referring herself as “Lola Liling”. Addressing her speech to the young audience, she said “We are now moving towards quality education. This is your constitutional right. So if you feel that you are not getting quality education in whatever school you are in, it is your right, your priviledge and your duty to call our attention to it as learners and as parents because it is a constitutional right…”

The Summit was concluded with inspirational messages from partners and stakeholders and teachers.

TTG supports the First Integrated STEM Summit in Asia

TTG supports the First Integrated STEM Summit in Asia

by | August 30, 2019 | 2019

Government, industry, education leaders and STEM advocates are invited to join the First Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in Asia will take place on November 21-24, 2019 at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Cebu, Philippines.

Developing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) literate citizenry that can synergize their skills with the needs of both local and global communities is vital if we are to navigate through a rapidly changing world.

The First Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in Asia emphasizes the need for shared efforts among diverse sectors and provides a platform for cross-sectoral dialogue and collaboration among government, academe, industry, and community. The Summit is organized by the STEM Leadership Alliance Philippine Affiliate and is initiated by this year’s Secretariat, Unilab Foundation’s STEM+ PH and the Center for Integrated STEM Education in the Philippines (CISTEM).

Summit Goals

  • Create a platform for government, industry, academe, and the larger community to share current situations and existing initiatives focused on Integrated STEM, and to prepare today’s students to be part of the workforce of the future;
  • Develop a community of Integrated STEM Leaders that connects K-12 to real-world applications, shifting from an interdisciplinary to a multidisciplinary to a trans-disciplinary approach;
  • Create an evidence-based framework of the roles of each shareholders; and
  • Cultivate Integrated STEM Leaders who will become champions and advocates for Integrated STEM in their region.
Summit Goals
  • Create a platform for government, industry, academe, and the larger community to share current situations and existing initiatives focused on Integrated STEM, and to prepare today’s students to be part of the workforce of the future;
  • Develop a community of Integrated STEM Leaders that connects K-12 to real-world applications, shifting from an interdisciplinary to a multidisciplinary to a trans-disciplinary approach;
  • Create an evidence-based framework of the roles of each shareholders; and
  • Cultivate Integrated STEM Leaders who will become champions and advocates for Integrated STEM in their region.
Target Participants
  • Teacher Leaders
  • Principals
  • Teacher Associations
  • Post-Secondary Education Leaders
  • Business/Industry Leaders
  • Technical and Vocational Education Providers
  • Out-of-School Providers
  • Museum Curators
  • Government Officials and Policymakers
  • Non-profit Educational Organizations and Foundations
  • Superintendents and District Leaders
Thematic Areas

Day 1

Navigating and Understanding the Integrated STEM Education Landscape

 Topics:

  • Industry 4.0 Workforce for the Developing World
  • The Role of STEM in Achieving our SDGs
  • Socio-emotional Learning in STEM
  • Integrated STEM in the Classroom

Day 2

Strengthening the STEM pK-12 System Towards Innovative Solutions for Socio-Economic Development

Topics:

  • Leadership in STEM pK-12, Higher Education, and Workplace Learning
  • Engaging Women & Girls in STEM
  • STEM Integration
  • STEM Initiatives of Industries in the Philippines
  • Government-Industry-Education Alliance

Day 3

Articulating Future Pathways to Create Shared Initiatives to Advance Integrated STEM

Topics:

  • Integrated STEM Best Practices in Central Asia
  • Importance of GIE Collaboration
  • STEM Leadership Alliance Philippine Affiliate
  • The Role of Government and Industry in Promoting the STEM Agenda

Click here to visit the official website for registration and other details.

Gearing Up for 2nd Inclusive Schools Week PH Celebration

Gearing Up for 2nd Inclusive Schools Week PH Celebration

by | August 29, 2019 | 2019

Everyone is invited to join & Celebrate

#ISWPH2019

As described by the Department of Education (DepEd) in the recently released DepEd Order No. 21, s.2019 known as the Policy Guidelines on the K to 12 Basic Education Program, Inclusive Education is the core principle of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

Inclusive education promotes the right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based and complete basic education.

Inclusive Schools Week (ISW) is an annual event in the United States sponsored by Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) and Stetson & Associates, Inc. and is now being adapted across the globe to celebrate the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to ALL learners especially to those who are marginalized due to their disability, gender, socio-economic status, ethnicity, religion and other factors. ISW is also an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that their schools continue to improve their ability to successfully educate all children.

Last year, the Philippines celebrated the first ever Inclusive Schools Week PH spearheaded by The Teacher’s Gallery along with Inclusion Initiative and local partner schools and communities across the country. Read here for more details.

2019 Theme:

“Charting the Course for Inclusive PH Schools”

The celebration of the ISWPH provides educators, students, parents, schools, agencies and communities with the opportunity to think about our current philosophies and practices regarding inclusion and to plan for the “next steps” in the process.

What are the goals of iswph2019?

Goal # 1

Celebrate the progress of schools in educating an increasingly diverse learner population.

Goal # 2

Acknowledge the hardwork and commitment of schools, families, and communities in creating inclusive opportunities for all children regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other factors.

Goal # 3

Encourage reflection on how culture, policies and practices in schools can promote inclusive education.

Goal # 4

Promote action plans to increase the capacity of schools and communities to meet all the needs of learners.

How can you get involved?

We are encouraging everyone to be part of this global celebration to make a lot of noise about the advocacy for inclusive education.

Sign up here!

What activities can be done?

ISWPH celebration is completely flexible. You can decide whatever activities you can do as part of the celebration depending on the level of implementation you wish to pursue. Download the celebration guide to serve as practical suggestions for facilitating the inclusion of all students in a general education setting.

DOWNLOAD - #ISWPH2019 Celebration Guide

Please don’t forget to use #ISWPH2019 when sharing your celebration posts in social media. smile

Inclusive Education Framework Workshop

Inclusive Education Framework Workshop

by | August 19, 2019 | 2019

Various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including The Teacher’s Gallery’s non-profit arm – Inclusion Initiative, gathered for the 2-day Inclusive Education Framework Workshop hosted by Save the Children, The Asia Foundation, E-Net, Philippine Network for Inclusive Education, and UNICEF last August 14-15 at B Hotel Quezon City.

These CSOs are working from different sectors involving children such as children in conflict areas, children with disabilities, children that out of school or in conflict with the law, indigenous children, and children excluded/discriminated due to gender.

This Inclusive Education Framework Workshop aims to identify existing practices of CSOs that serve the sectors identified to promote inclusive education and unify these CSOs to come up with an integrated and comprehensive inclusive education framework that can serve as a basis for engagement with government both at the executive and legislative branches.

At the end of the 2-day workshop, clear and unified action plans were created which revolves around working for the policy, system and campaign programs. Apart from the continuous conduct of current initiatives per organization, the whole group decided to work collectively towards the same goal of increasing the awareness of the general public of the benefits of inclusive education for ALL learners through research forums, social media campaigns and collective celebration of the Inclusive Schools Week spearheaded by Inclusion Initiative and The Teacher’s Gallery.

Santa Clara Unified School District Partner Visits PH Schools

Santa Clara Unified School District Partner Visits PH Schools

by | July 11, 2019 | 2019

The Teacher’s Gallery partners from Santa Clara Schools District in California, USA went to the Philippines and visited the schools of some school leaders who participated in TTG’s Global Learning Initiative or EdTour Program. The visiting group was headed by Ms. Rose DuMond, Special Education Coordinator of Santa Clara Unified Schools District.

Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School – Taguig City

Last July 3, The Teacher’s Gallery together with Ms. Rose DuMond and Ms. Joycelyn Flores, visited Dr. JR Bisco, principal of Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School in Taguig. Dr. Bisco was one of the delegates of the TTG Global Learning Initiative in California last October 2018.

Several cultural perfomances were showcased by the talented students of Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School to entertain the visitors from Santa Clara Unified Schools District, USA.

During the visit, Dr. Bisco proudly shared the accomplishments of the school as well as the programs he adopted from the learning experience he had from the EdTour program.

Precious Gem Academy – Quezon City

The group also visited Precious Gem Academy, a school in Quezon City which offers inclusion programs and transition programs for learners with disabilities. The highlight of the visit is the PGA Learning Resource Center which provides a pre-vocational and transition program to independent living for young adults with disabilities.

Center for Excellence (CENTEX) Elementary School – Manila City

Last July 10, Ms. Rose DuMond together with Ms. Edna See-Pornel, teacher from Briarwood Elementary School in Santa Clara Unified School District, visited Center for Excellence (CENTEX) Elementary School headed by Dr. Rey Malano, delegate of TTG Global Learning Initiative last April 2019.

Our partners from Santa Clara Unified Schools District (SCUSD) in California, USA were so impressed how these school leaders were able to apply what they have learned and experienced during their benchmarking activities as part of TTG Global EdTour Program.