Some updates and a lot of Thank yous! :)

It took me a while before really updating this blog. I was busy doing many things especially editing the papers of my students both for the Earth Day Research Competition and for the Rio+20 Conference which were showcased by Astrid and Dr. Solid in their trip to Brazil. It was really an exciting experience and I should say that MyCOE has been a great learning experience for me, my students and fellow teachers from the Philippines. Allow me to outline the highlights of our experiences with our involvement in MyCOE since April of this year up to now.

April:

We had a Skype session with Astrid, Ms. Kristi Fitch and some of our students. The skype session was mainly aimed to break the ice between the two sites and to talk about the projects that we are working on. 

May:

I edited and continued mentoring my students in their research. Although it is summer vacation for my students, most of them opted to really come to school during some days to edit their projects. 

June:

My students' project entitled "Talomo River over The Years: Davao City's Primary Water Source" won in the Earth Day Research Competition for the high School Category. My Students were very happy that their project won and that really made them and especially me more inspired to create relevant researches.

The Rio+20 Research Competition also began.

I also applied for Mini grants for more research projects with MyCOE.

July:
Two groups of my research Advisees won in the Rio+20 Research Competition.
1. Hazards Map of Davao City won in the Hazards Category for the High School Competition
2. Correlation between the Philippine Science Students Annual Family Income and Carbon Footprint won in the High School Category for the High School Competition

August:
MyCOE granted three out of four projects proposals that i submitted for funding and i am currently working on the implementation of these projects.

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Realizations:
I really had a lot of first times with MyCOE ever since Ma'am Rochelle Papasin asked me to join the team. I had my first international exchanges, international awards, international linkages, and international research grant all because of the initiatives and efforts of MyCOE to link different places all over the world to collaborate in doing sustainable projects to preserve our world. For that MyCOE deserves a biground of applause.

Thank yous:
These experiences would never be possible without the following individuals and institutions which are worthy to be recognized and be thanked:

1. MyCOE for all their support, love, and trust in my students and in me. Thank you very much! I will forever treasure this experience! This is truly an enriching, life giving and life changing experience for a teacher like me. Hopefully, our projects would truly make a difference in the lives of our target beneficiaries.

2. To Ma'am Rochelle Papasin for choosing me to become one of the MyCOE teachers in the Philippines. Thank you ma'am for the trust and for this opportunity.

3. To my students for their hardwork and enthusiasm to really make a difference. Continue to have the idealism. Believe that we can make a difference in our community and i hope that the things that i shared to you will be forever be with you (and hopefully you improve on it) so that you can create greater impact to our country and to the world!

4. To God for allowing all these wonderful experiences to happen to my life. All honor and glory be yours o God! :)
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At this point, I am focusing my attention in the implementation of the projects that were given funds by MyCOE. Hopefully, we can really make a difference!


-Michael A. Casas :)

The First Video Conference for the MyCOE Project

Last March 23, 7:00 AM (Philippine Time) my students and the students of Ms. Megan Webster from Texas had our first video conference, with Astrid as our bridge and facilitator. It was a fun experience because it was our first time, as far as me and my students are concerned, to engage in an intellectual exchange with students from another country through a video conference. What's more amazing is, the students involved are living in different time zones and we managed to meet and do the exchange.

The exchange started off with a brief introduction by the students and their projects. The projects of the students of Ms. Megan are very interesting, because they were geared towards food security and sustainability. Although we did not get all the details about the projects but they are very much related to the projects of my students (in some ways). We will be very glad to read about the details of the projects probably through a blog that the students of Ms. Megan will be coming up with.

The exchange continued with more questions that ranged from asking about our favorite food, tourist spots, dreams, past times, sports, and music! The students from Texas shared their wonderful musical instruments with us. Although we did not have any instruments ready, I tried to step up and sang a song (You by the Carpenters) on the spot just just to have a reply to the beautiful presentation of our friends from Texas. The students from Texas also showed a glimpse of their beautiful school, their outputs and a lot of insights about their place and some other information about their lifestyle. It broke the ice between our students and precisely it will make them comfortable to work with each other in the future.

These are things that we appreciated, because we learned a lot about the things that is happening on the other side of the world and we also shared our experiences to them. That was cool according to my students and they are looking forward to having more exchanges in the future. I believe that the whole point of the exchange is to have connections with other classrooms and be more comfortable when it comes to sharing insights and information that will be of help in making an international project possible. This will be very helpful in making bigger projects happen and I think we can capitalize on this if we are really serious in creating an impact in our societies.

Pictures taken after the processing that we had after the video conference

After the exchange, I did a processing of the experience of the students and all their responses were great. In fact, they are thrilled about having friends from Texas, having another exchange in the future and learning new things from them too. This is a very positive impact and this is something that MyCOE succeeded in achieving as far as their goal to connect classrooms from all over the world is concerned.

I wish to thank Astrid, Ms. Megan, MyCOE and everyone who participated in the exchange. It was really fun and a very meaningful experience that we would love to have again to enrich us more in creating meaningful exchanges and at the same time ensure that we are able to have a wider scope in the impacts that we are creating in our community, in our earth!

:D

Michael A. Casas
Chemistry and Research Teacher
Philippine Science High School- Southern Mindanao Campus

Updates and Resources for Students

Last Monday, i had a meeting with my students and they gave me updates regarding their projects. So far, they are busy now in data gathering and in editing their paper. Hopefully, we can turn in our projects by next week as the soonest time or next next week as the latest time.

I am also posting here some helpful links related to the MyCOE and the Rio + 20 event which can guide students in the conduct of their projects:

1. This is the link stating the partnership for engagement of MyCOE in the Rio + 20.
http://www.aag.org/cs/mycoe/activities_programs/mycoe_and_rio20

2. These is a map where you can click the "buttons" to read on some featured MyCOE projects done in the past:
http://www.aag.org/cs/mycoefeaturedprojects#top

3. This is the Rio + 20 website:
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/

4. The Rio+20 institutional framework for sustainable development
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=63

5. Green economy practices policies and initiatives all over the world:
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=137

6. Compilation of documents submitted for the Rio+20 summit:
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/compdocument.html

7. This is a link to the "Messages to the world" where you can put your message to the world on your views on sustainable development.
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=117#piccontent727.

Have fun exploring these links! :)

-Michael Casas-
:)

Vote for MyCOE!

Dr. Patricia Solis asks for our help to vote for MyCOE in the Rio + 20 conference. Here is her message, the links and the instructions on how to vote! :)


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DIRECT LINK TO VOTE: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&type=700&nr=35&menu=23
VINCULO DIRECTO PARA VOTAR: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&type=700&nr=35&menu=23

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Hi All,

We are working to have a My Community, Our Earth Learning Center at Rio+20 Earth Summit !  We want to show attendees at this important UN conference how we are using online geographic technologies and social networking tools for sustainable development, that means our Global Connections and Exchange Program , too!

Please vote for us! Here's how: Go to:

http://www.uncsd2012.org/ rio20/sdlearningproposals.html  

MyCOE is in the last group (scroll to bottom): at the top of that list:  Engaging Stakeholders and Youth with Online and Near Real-Time Geograp.

(Sorry title was too long and got cut off!)

You then enter your email address to vote! You can vote once per email address.

Thanks for your support! (And Thanks Jean for the alert to voting!)

Patricia

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Thanks for all your help! :)

The Participating Students from the Philippines and Their Projects

I am now presenting my students and the projects that they are pursuing:

1. Davao City’s Sustainability Map

This project seeks to create a map of the environment friendly practices that is being done in Davao city. The proponents of this research are Ernest Pineda, Lemuel Samson, Jameel Mamogkat,m Carlos Pimentel and Camille Casas.

2. Correlation Of The Water Quality, The Economic Activity, The Annual Food Consumption And The Human Population Along The Talomo River

 This research will look at the important factors that affect the condition of the Talomo river which is the main source of potable water in Davao city. The proponents of this research are Deme Rafael Abayon, Alden Gene Camahalan, Gabriel Narce, Frances Elaine Demata, and Riva Karyl Varela. 

3. Carbon Dioxide Emission Survey on the Household of PSHS-SMC Students
 This project seeks to monitor and create a profile of the carbon dioxide levels being contributed by students from PSHS-SMC in relation to their economic status. The proponents of the study are Geremy Fe A. Josol, Dorothy Ann Ong, Marian Isabel Yu, Trenah Batulan, Cathy Claire Langahid, Japhet Taula and Hannah Amoncio. 

4. Correlation between land use, population, wastes and deforestation and their effects to Davao City’s flood vulnerability Index
This research seeks to determine the impacts of land use, population, waste and deforestation on the flood vulnerability index in Davao City. The proponents of this research are Kyle Adrian Basan, April Clydel Velarde, Angel Lou Baladiang, Debbie Rose Cagas, and Sherrie Gaile Morales. 

5. Geohazard Map of Davao City
The study seeks to prepare an earthquake and landslide map of Davao city so as to make people aware of the risks associated with various establishments and areas in the city. The proponents of this research are Priete, Ivanka, Biaca, Reinna, Loquero, Cassandra, Caber, Christylene, and Cortez, Bethune. 

6. A CORRELATIVE STUDY ON THE LAND USE PROFILE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ECONOMIC AND POPULATION GROWTH ON DAVAO REGION
The proponents of this study are Jade Ruyeras, Milliem Reyes, Lance Deligero, Ella Bentulan, and Mia Labradores. 

As the research adviser of these students, it is both challenging and exciting to mentor students in doing projects related to geography. Being a science high school, we have been accustomed to doing researches that involve laboratory work. But these projects are different and these will be very exciting since our students will be exposed to a new approach to finding solutions to the pressing issues in our community. 


To the teachers from other sites, my students and I will be very glad to learn from you and conduct exchanges with your students. We welcome your comments and suggestions so that we can improve our projects and that we can broaden the scope of our researches. 


Mabuhay!


-Michael A. Casas

The MyCOE Experience so far (a repost)

So far, I was able to talk to my students and they gave their progress reports to me on their projects. I feel happy that they are making progress and that they appreciated the new knowledge that they are able to build through this MyCOE experience. Some were very driven to move their projects becuase they think they can "change the world" somehow. Others, however, were skeptical about the resources that they have and doubtful about how they will go about the project. Whatever the case, the whole experience makes me happy as a teacher because I was able to involve many of my students in the project and at the same time, I make sure that I am always available to guide them along the way. 





Me with my students who will participate in the MyCOE project

Although my interests are leaning towards chemistry, but this experience broadened my view that the knowledge in chemistry is actually very intertwined with the  themes of geography. That you can connect product development with green economy and food security. That, environmental monitoring is directly connected to the dynamics of population, climate change and human wastes. It is just so exciting so far because the possibilities  of doing research and collaboration has expanded in many ways. However, I must admit that it is somewhat difficult to do collaborations with participants from other countries maybe because of the differences in time zones or we just have very different interests when it comes to research. Still, I am hoping that I will be able to work with other nationalities and gain new friends. :). Nevertheless, this experience is just so rewarding, I am learning a lot and I am thankful for it. 

This is a repost of my blogpost in the AAG knowledge communities. 


-Michael :)

Welcome to the Blog site of the participants from the Philippines

Hi Colleagues!

I am very glad to start the blog for the participating teachers and students from the Philippines. This will be the avenue where we will place most of our updates, progress, thoughts and resources that we come across as we do the MyCOE project. We are very excited to exchange thoughts, ideas, activities and collaborate with other sites so that we can have greater impact as we implement our projects.

We will post pictures and excerpts of our projects in the coming days. So, hang on and we'll keep you posted!

Cheers!

-Michael A. Casas :)