Get to know Galvin, Wohoo Learning Lab and the first NCTED 2017. Read on!
Where did "IT" all begin - your interest, and passion in teaching and technology?
My
first "teaching experience" happened way back in 2004, when I worked as
a teacher and assistant coordinator for the Jesuit Communication
Foundation's The Garage: Center for Creative and Multimedia
Technologies. In The Garage, we conducted workshops for priests, nuns,
teachers and NGO workers in various multimedia and technology skills, so
that they can use it in their work and advocacies. Looking back, I
think that was the earliest contact I've had with being part of the
intersections of technology and education. However, what really ignited
my interest and passion was the opportunity to work in Xavier School,
close to 7 years ago. In Xavier, I was tasked to be part of the NExT
(New Experiences with Technology) Team, who took charge of advocating
and supporting the school's initiative to explore the potential of using
technology in teaching and learning. There, I was struck by how
technology, in the hands of passionate teachers, can really make a
difference in learning.
What is Woohoo Learning Lab?
Woohoo
Learning Lab is an education technology professional learning company.
Our advocacy is to help schools and teachers ignite meaningful
innovations in learning, through supporting them with resources,
opportunities to exchange ideas and best practices (conferences and
edcamps), coaching, training and consultancy. Usually conversations
about Education Technology are dominated by discussions on types of
technologies (Do you use tablets? apps? sites? etc.), and though these
are surely exciting things to talk about, what we've noticed is that,
sometimes the key ingredient for a successful initiative is not given
much attention. From our perspective, this key ingredient is the
teacher. Though we love learning about new technologies, we are strong
believers that it is still learning design and a teacher's educational
philosophy & pedagogical practice that will really help make a
difference.
What is your role in the National Conference on Technology in Education (NCTED)?
Woohoo
Learning Lab is currently the program partner for the conference. As
program partner, we are in charge of designing the overall participant
experience through conducting research on best practices, curating
topics and inviting facilitators based on school's needs and interests,
and ensuring alignment across all sessions to ensure a cohesive learning
experience.
What
would a teacher or educator get from this conference as they are
bombarded with professional development activities already?
The
national conference is really a celebration of research and
practice-based innovations from all over the nation. Participants will
have an opportunity to learn from and with educators from Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao, and from various educational settings: K-12, Inclusive Ed
and Higher Ed. It is also an opportunity to learn about other best
practices from outside the nation: featuring speakers from the United
States and Singapore. Finally, it is an opportunity to collaborate with
each other, not just with the facilitators but also among the
participants themselves. With many changes and challenges ahead, most
specially in education, I think the best way moving forward is to face
them together.
What is the future of education?
The
future of education will be shaped by educators who are creative-always
finding new ways and taking on different perspectives in the way he/she
teaches, who are collaborative - humble enough to break down his/her
classroom walls to take part in networks of educators, and who care
deeply about each learner - taking time to find ways for learning to
happen better for each student.
Wohoo Learning Lab is located in
2/F GEMPC Building, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
Visit their Facbook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/woohoolearninglab/
Website: http://www.woohoo.ph/
LinkedIn: https://ph.linkedin.com/company/woohoo-learning-lab
Go to the link for more information on the NCTED, program, registration and list of resource speakers.
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