Free computer literacy training for teachers
The Alternative Learning System (ALS) District V-Mandurriao, Department of Education, Division of Iloilo City in cooperation with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST), and Microsoft Philippines (Microsoft Partners in Learning) conducted the Microsoft Office XP Specialist (MOS) Computer Literacy Training last April 24-28, 2006 for the first batch and May 2-6, 2006 for the second batch.
With this activity, Microsoft Philippines launched "Partners in Learning" with the battle cry "No Teachers Left Behind". Teachers should be provided with the best tools and skills for them to fully exploit technology as a teaching tool and open their classrooms to a world of new discovery and learning.
A total of 55 participants took the competency-based training that includes Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point. The training was conducted at Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) Computer Department headed by Engr. Roly J. Gambol with the following Computer Instructors, namely: Mr. Vinni Fer E. Matias, Joerix D. Landero, Randy S. Tolentino, Jubert N. Balmes, and Maricel O. Balitanas.
The training aims to enhance the capabilities of ALS school coordinators and public elementary school teachers in handling computer interventions in the public elementary schools to promote computerization/advance technology used in the classroom and to increase awareness on their significant roles in computer literacy programs of the district, division, department and the country in general, thus, preparing the public elementary schools in the District V-Mandurriao to meet and address the challenges of the 21st century.
Specifically, this training aims to: a. train public elementary school teachers to effectively use computers for instructional purposes; b. encourage public elementary school teachers to maximize creativity in the preparation of support instructional materials with the use of computers; and aloow public elementary school teachers to use computerized grading system to be implemented effectively SY 2006-2007 and receive certificates of completion after completing the 40 contact hours.
District ALS Coordinator Raymond Peter T. Tolentino coordinated and facilitated this training, in which he recognized the importance of information technology as a valuable tool in education.
(Raymond Peter T. Tolentino)