austraLasia #1877
'Carpe diem' and blaze trails, says new Master of Development Communication
MANILA: 14th June 2007 -- In all the essential discussion on ongoing formation, occasionally people tend to forget that we live in a wired world, that major institutions deliver online courses, and that one can complete higher studies, if that is one's bent, calling or command, with a keyboard and internet connection. But it helps to know of someone, one of us, who has actually done it, not just talked about the possibility of doing it.
Enter the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and Fr Gerard Ravasco, Filipino Salesian who has been working in Cambodia these recent years. Despite - and in his case because - working full-time in a demanding Salesian mission and ministry, the one and only chance 'Gigi', as he is better known, had of furthering his already keen skills in communication was to do it by online delivery. On the 9th June, he emerged with a Masters of Development Communication from UPOU and, what's more, was selected by the university authorities to deliver the valedictory speech at his graduation. 'It was', he adds wrily, 'the only graduation I had ever attended since completing high school when I was 16, and on this occasion it was the first and last time (probably) I met my fellow students'!
In an interview conducted on the day, Fr Gigi indicated that he pursued his graduate degree through distance education because, according to him, it is the most obvious cost-effective, time-productive, and research-intensive way to upgrade for full-time working people far from the place of study. When asked why he chose UP Open University among other universities, Fr. Gigi replied that UPOU offered the program of his choice (Development Communication) and outside the Philippines, there are many open universities offering this course too, but the cost of tuition is 5-10 times that of UPOU.
Fr. Gigi added that the courses he took at UPOU gave him a broader perspective of the work he does – this is essential for program planning.
One of the challenges he faced as a distance learner was that Cambodia doesn't have the most advanced technical infrastructure in Southeast Asia - in fact the technical school in Phnom Penh only got electricity in 1999. Looking for an internet connection was his greatest problem, especially when he began this course. But then, nor is any form of serious ongoing formation.
When asked what is the best lesson that he has learned from being a student of UPOU, he responded, " During the 3rd National Conference on Open and Distance Education last February, I noticed that Former Chancellor Felix Librero always gets furious whenever other educators would comment that Open and Distance Education is far easier than the brick and mortar type. From my experience studying at UPOU, I would agree with Dr Librero's reaction. Distance Education at UPOU is really for mature and independent learners who are willing to take responsibility for their learning. It takes a lot of discipline to do your readings, make your researches, and finish your assignments while you are on a full-time job far from your school ambience. I'm sure my other classmates have more interesting experiences that can prove this point. All I can say is: Distance Learning at UPOU is not for the faint of heart".
This may be a good opportunity to take a look at the website that Fr Gigi has much to do with - and his own blog, 'Journeying', to be found at the bottom of the homepage: http://www.donboscokhmer.org/
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org. To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia1
'Carpe diem' and blaze trails, says new Master of Development Communication
MANILA: 14th June 2007 -- In all the essential discussion on ongoing formation, occasionally people tend to forget that we live in a wired world, that major institutions deliver online courses, and that one can complete higher studies, if that is one's bent, calling or command, with a keyboard and internet connection. But it helps to know of someone, one of us, who has actually done it, not just talked about the possibility of doing it.
Enter the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and Fr Gerard Ravasco, Filipino Salesian who has been working in Cambodia these recent years. Despite - and in his case because - working full-time in a demanding Salesian mission and ministry, the one and only chance 'Gigi', as he is better known, had of furthering his already keen skills in communication was to do it by online delivery. On the 9th June, he emerged with a Masters of Development Communication from UPOU and, what's more, was selected by the university authorities to deliver the valedictory speech at his graduation. 'It was', he adds wrily, 'the only graduation I had ever attended since completing high school when I was 16, and on this occasion it was the first and last time (probably) I met my fellow students'!
In an interview conducted on the day, Fr Gigi indicated that he pursued his graduate degree through distance education because, according to him, it is the most obvious cost-effective, time-productive, and research-intensive way to upgrade for full-time working people far from the place of study. When asked why he chose UP Open University among other universities, Fr. Gigi replied that UPOU offered the program of his choice (Development Communication) and outside the Philippines, there are many open universities offering this course too, but the cost of tuition is 5-10 times that of UPOU.
Fr. Gigi added that the courses he took at UPOU gave him a broader perspective of the work he does – this is essential for program planning.
One of the challenges he faced as a distance learner was that Cambodia doesn't have the most advanced technical infrastructure in Southeast Asia - in fact the technical school in Phnom Penh only got electricity in 1999. Looking for an internet connection was his greatest problem, especially when he began this course. But then, nor is any form of serious ongoing formation.
When asked what is the best lesson that he has learned from being a student of UPOU, he responded, " During the 3rd National Conference on Open and Distance Education last February, I noticed that Former Chancellor Felix Librero always gets furious whenever other educators would comment that Open and Distance Education is far easier than the brick and mortar type. From my experience studying at UPOU, I would agree with Dr Librero's reaction. Distance Education at UPOU is really for mature and independent learners who are willing to take responsibility for their learning. It takes a lot of discipline to do your readings, make your researches, and finish your assignments while you are on a full-time job far from your school ambience. I'm sure my other classmates have more interesting experiences that can prove this point. All I can say is: Distance Learning at UPOU is not for the faint of heart".
This may be a good opportunity to take a look at the website that Fr Gigi has much to do with - and his own blog, 'Journeying', to be found at the bottom of the homepage: http://www.donboscokhmer.org/
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at at http://sdl.sdb.org. To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia1
