We have to understand that being a DE student requires certain qualities for our educational goals to be met, that of integrating the concepts learned and eventually finishing the degree.

The distant learner should be an independent or autonomous learner. Remember that a distant learner is away from the teacher. There is only periodic interaction with the teacher. Most of the time you will only be dealing with your learning materials (printed modules, journal articles, etc). Reading voluminous modules will take your time. As much as possible, make it a routine everyday to read your modules. Mapping your reading schedules will guide you. Remember you are on your own, so “self management” and self-discipline is a plus factor.

The modules are often thick to carry around. Here’s a tip for you: I tore my printed modules apart so that I can carry them whenever I am. You can also do the same. Really, one has to reinvent learning strategies to cope with the demands of the distance education course one is taking. Your office, home, any coffee shop or any corner for that matter can serve as your classroom.

Another activity to occupy your time is answering assignments, online forums and discussions. Having your own computer and an efficient Internet connection are resources that you cannot do without. Learn how to be tech savvy and make it a bit that once a day go online to check on news or reminders the teacher or your fellow learners might have posted.

Do not procrastinate. Don’t delay any of your scheduled readings or assignments. It is better if you read in advance. From the readings, I for one take down notes or sometimes do diagrams of the concepts I have encountered for easy recall.

Anyway, in case you don’t know yet, I started a new podcast show named EDUC Today. EDUC Today is a 30-minute weekly podcast that discusses and explains different educational issues affecting the teachers and students of today. From choosing your degree program to deciding whether to pursue a doctoral degree, this podcast is for everyone interested in becoming informed and educated on innovations and issues involving the academe. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN >>

In this week’s episode of EDUC Today, I talked about distance education and how it works. I also interviewed my mom, Anna Katharina G. Peña, RN, MD, MPH, about her experiences as a graduate student at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), the pioneer institution in open learning and distance education in the Philippines. She received her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of the Philippines Open University and is now taking up the Master in Distance Education (MDE) program still at the University of the Philippines Open University.

Listen to this week’s episode of EDUC Today

Check out EDUC Today and other Brink Notes Podcast Network shows today!

University of the Philippines Open University to offer Doctor of Communication program staring First Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011

The University of the Philippines Open University, fifth constituent university of the University of the Philippines System and the National Center for Excellence in Open Learning and Distance Education, would be offering an online Doctor of Communication program starting First Semester, Academic Year 2010-2011.

The said degree program has been approved by the University of the Philippines Board of Regents on its 1254th meeting held last February 25, 2010.

The Doctor of Communication (DComm) Program of the UP Open University, the first DComm program in the country, is designed to strengthen the capability of practitioners by bringing the academic rigors or research, intellectual growth, and professional skills into the profession of communication as it is practiced in industry and academe in particular and society in general.

For more information regarding the degree program, admission requirements/deadlines, and other program policies, interested parties should send an email to fics@upou.edu.ph or call telephone numbers (049) 536-6001 to 6006 local 841. You could also visit the Doctor of Communication page at the official website of the University of the Philippines Open University.

On the beginning of this semester, I have posted that this would be my last semester as an Associate in Arts student. True enough, last January, I have received a letter from the Office of the University Registrar informing me that I’m already a candidate for graduation. Of course, I jumped for joy upon learning about it although I already expected the said news. But still, I need to pass the courses I took this semester.

So now that graduation’s only a few weeks and the opening of the new academic year’s a few months away, I asked myself, “What’s life after AA?”

When I entered UP Open University, my goal was to pursue Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS). However, as I was exposed into the university life and the open learning and distance education learning, I realized that I wanted to do study something else. I’m not abandoning the fact that I still what the BAMS program. But, one thing is clear—I want a bachelor’s degree. So, after Associate in Arts, I would definitely study again and get a bachelor’s degree.

I’m considering every option I have and carefully thinking about them. I told myself that I need contingency plans in case my first plan fails. I know how competitive getting a slot at a UP unit is.

Being a UPOU student doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have a slot at, let’s say, UP Diliman if you want to transfer.

So, I need to have a PLAN A all the way up to PLAN Z. I don’t want to elaborate each of my plans. But, in a nutshell, I either transfer to other UP units and take up a bachelor’s degree or stay at UPOU to take up Bachelors of Arts in Multimedia Studies.

I’ve been to a couple of UP colleges to inquire about their undergraduate degree programs and admission policies. I’ve already submitted my papers for them to evaluate and here I am wishing, hoping and praying that they would admit me as a student.

I’m excited and I can’t wait for my graduation day and of course, the upcoming academic year.

05.08.10

For quite some time now, I’ve been thinking of this question because of the impending doom of climate change and whatnot. I’ve been on the look out for ways on how to reduce my carbon footprint—walking more instead of riding jeeps or tricycle, saving water, and electricity, using both sides of a paper and others.

I firmly believe that, yes, it is possible to go “paperless” in a distance education setting or a university setting, if people would want to. In fact, Bicol University have taken steps to go paperless. However, the decision of going “paperless” in a distance education setting doesn’t only lie to the student but also to the professors and university officials.

I’m not advocating for people to go entirely paperless. As what Karen Unger wrote in her TechNewsWorld article, “It’s unlikely that we will ever fully rid ourselves of dependence on paper.“ Instead, what I want is to reduce my dependence on paper.

Students do use a lot of papers throughout their academic life and will even use more paper once they join the workforce.

5 Simple Ways to Reduce Paper Use in a distance education setting

1. Use your phone’s organizer / calendar function instead of desktop calendars or planners – For the past three semesters, I’ve been using printout calendars to keep track of deadlines for assignments or other school activities. Since my cellphone is open 24 hours and 7 days a week, I decided to fully maximize its organizer / calendar function.
2. Submit assignments / projects electronically as much as possible – The sad truth is that in this age of technology not all professors / instructors would allow you to submit your assignments and projects electronically. I’ve encountered a lot of professors at UPOU who would only accept “hard copy” submissions. Well, maybe they’re not always in front of their computers to check submissions sent via e-mail or Moodle. However, I’m fortunate that there is still quite a small number of professors who prefer submission via e-mail or Moodle. Sending via e-mail and the Internet means saving even more money because you don’t have to pay for the printing and the sending of the document.
3. Communicate via E-mail - The great thing about UP Open University is that everyone is an e-mail away—from the university officials, to the professors/instructors, and to the students! So, the fastest way to communicate with each other in a distance education setting is via e-mail unless if you need to send hard copy documents like True Copy of Grades, Transcript of Records, etc. For example, if you want to have a personal copy your grades on the course you’ve taken last semester, you could just ask for your Student’s Checklist from the Office of the University Registrar via e-mail and they’ll furnish you a PDF file of your records.
4. Writing an essay? Type it on your computer right away – Typing your assignments or projects on your computer right away won’t only save time; it would also reduce your use of paper. I’m not a fan of writing essays or assignments using pen and paper and then encoding them on my laptop later on. I prefer encoding them on my laptop right away because it’s easier to edit and correct mistakes.
5. Have a pile of readings and handouts? Make them into scratch papers – Every semester, professors would give handouts or readings. After reading them (usually at the end of the semester), I cut them into small pieces (size: approximately 1/4 of a bond paper) and use them as scratch paper.

Any more ideas on how to go paperless in a distance education setting? Share them below.