Staff News

5th East Asia regional conference on mathematics education

Dr. Aida I. Yap of the Elementary School Mathematics Group presented a paper titled Developing Mathematics Teaching Practice through Collaborative Lesson Research and Development at the 5th East Asia Regional Conference on Mathematics Education held at the National Olympic Youth Memorial Center in Tokyo, Japan on August 18 to 22, 2010. The theme of the conference was In Search for Excellence in Mathematics Education.

Dr. Yap presented the results of the processes and challenges in the development of a research lesson on Addition of Whole Numbers by a group of Grade 1 mathematics teachers in a public elementary school and NISMED’s Elementary School Mathematics Group. This research is one of the outputs of the Collaborative Lesson Research and Development Project of NISMED with its partner schools from 2006 to 2009.

From left: Prof. Baba, Mr. Ooneda, Ms. Nakamoto, and Dr. Yap

In the said conference, Dr. Yap also served as a panel discussant in the parallel session Exploring Spatial Figures. She was joined by Prof. Takuya Baba of Hiroshima University, Ms. Nobuko Nakamoto and Mr. Yutaka Ooneda of the University of Tsukuba Junior High School.

Admin staff attend POAP seminars

Eleven administrative staff attended different seminars organized by the Personnel Officers Association of the Philippines, Inc (POAP).

• Agustina C. Bautista and Rebecca C. Salayo attended Assertive Written Communication Skills on May 3 to 6, 2010 in Orchid Garden Suites, Malate, Manila. The main focus of the seminar was on asserting opinions, both in oral and written communication. Also highlighted were the basics on written communication, particularly on writing formal letters.

• Cherry A. Velasco and Renante M. Lunas attended Managing Work Place Attitude on May 18 to 21, 2010 at Hotel Veniz, Baguio City. The training offered strategies on how to solve office disagreements as well as the right approach in dealing with work problems.

• Rodolfo V. Sangel Jr. and Mario Gallardo joined the seminar on Developing Effective Workplace which was conducted at Hotel Fleuris, Puerto Princesa, Palawan on June 15 to 18, 2010. The topics tackled in the seminar included steps in reaching a consensus, dysfunctions of teams, and tips for building an effective team.

• Eden F. Untalan, Ma. Lourdes G. Espiritu, and Wilhelmina L. dela Paz participated in the seminar, Walking an Extra Mile for Excellent Delivery, on August 10 to 13, 2010 in Bacolod City. The seminar underscored working with a positive attitude, displaying readiness to put in extra work even with no compensation, assisting colleagues, and noticing problems and opportunities and bringing these to the attention of the management.

• Angelie S.D. Domingo and Cecile N. Sales attended the Fundamentals of HR Management on September 14 to 17, 2010 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City. The seminar focused on recent developments in human resource development, Civil Service rules, and concepts and approaches on human resource management.

The POAP organizes a yearly seminar series for government employees.

World Association of Lesson Studies international conference

Dr. Erlina R. Ronda of the High School Mathematics Group and Ms. May R. Chavez of the High School Physics Group presented papers at the World Association of Lesson Studies (WALS) International Conference 2010 held at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam on December 9 to 11, 2010.

Dr. Ronda (leftmost) and Ms. Chavez (second from left)
with co-participants from Indonesia and Hong Kong

Dr. Ronda presented a paper titled Scaffolding Pedagogical Content Knowledge through Lesson Study. Her paper described the scaffoldings provided to a group of High School Mathematics I teachers to enhance their pedagogical content knowledge for teaching subtraction of integers and the results of these interventions. From these she proposed a model for introducing and promoting lesson study to teachers.

Ms. Chavez’s paper was on Lesson Study and Inquiry-based Teaching. She described how the teachers were able to develop a lesson on ‘mass defect and binding energy’ with activities that allow students to ask questions and to construct the concepts themselves.

The theme of the 2010 conference was “From Lesson and Learning Study to the Design of Teaching.” WALS was established in November 2006 with the aims of promoting professional development among its members and developing the theory and practice of lesson and learning studies through the sharing of knowledge and resources.

We're 46 and counting...

NISMED marked its 46th anniversary on November 22, 2010. The celebration started with a thanksgiving mass officiated by Fr. Michael James I. Ty, Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. It was followed by a service award ceremony which honors academic and administrative staff who have served the Institute for 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years. Dr. Merle C. Tan and Deputy Director for Administration Dr. Marlene B. Ferido handed out the certificates of loyalty.

This year’s awardees were Soledad P. Sagun, 40 years; Evelyn L. Josue, 35 years; Soledad A. Ulep, Risa L. Reyes, Alejandra B. Patente, Ruben A. Borja, Santiago G. Silleza, Efren C. Galilea, Joel C. Tuboro, and Wilhelmina L. Dela Paz, 30 years; Ma. Dulcelina O. Sebastian, Nolito L. Llaguno, Cecile N. Sales, and Rosita R. Cruz, 25 years; Alice P. Gabuat, Reynaldo A. Caingat, and Carlo M. Montillana, 20 years; Erlina R. Ronda, Kathy A. Josue, and Alvin J. Encarnacion, 15 years.

The awardees were serenaded by Rolando M. Tan as members of the Socials Committee handed out orchid plants as tokens of appreciation. A dance number from some of the junior staff livened up the awarding ceremonies.

NISMED celebrates Christmas

The most awaited party of the year, the NISMED Christmas Party, was held in the afternoon of December 15, 2010. The celebration started with a prayer led by Rose Cruz and a Christmas message from Dr. Merle C. Tan, NISMED Director. Games and gifts followed. The staff, divided into four groups, competed heartily to outwin each other in the games prepared by the Socials Committee. So did the kids who enjoyed their own share of games and prizes. In between games, prizes were raffled off to the staff. Nobody went home empty-handed as giveaways were distributed to everyone. As in past years, the affair was graced by former NISMED staff. A heavy merienda capped the Christmas celebration.