Kape at Dyaryo ng OU

(Presented at the Third National Open and Distance Learning Conference held at the Traders Hotel in Manila February 2007)

During the past decades open and distance education has always been considered and described as (permit me to use the words of Cherie Gil in the 1985 movie Bituing Walang Ningning) “nothing but a second rate, trying hard, copycat” in comparison to the traditional brick and mortar schools.  But with the onslaught of new technologies at its disposal, open and distance learning has come of age and could now compete with the quality of traditional classroom education…   

My first encounter with Distance Learning was way back in 2002.  That’s when I started my Microsoft Certification path for Systems Engineer.  This kind of distance learning is characterized by CBT… computer based training and computer based testing.  The former (computer-based training) consists of instructional courses and lessons delivered online or offline (synchronous or asynchronous).  Courses could be self-studied by books and internet forum discussions, or by taking them in a knowledge provider near you since the curriculum is standardized globally. As to the latter (computer-based testing), I had to do the first two of the required seven examinations in the Philippines during my vacation period. Then I did my other two tests in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  But for some reason, the Prometric Testing Center in Phnom Penh closed down. Luckily, I had to go for my annual retreat in Bangkok, and there I found other venues where I managed to pass the last three exams to earn my Microsoft Certified System’s Engineer credential. This brings me to the first competitive edge of Open and Distance Education. It transcends national borders. It’s called the “Saan ka man naroroon” advantage courtesy of Resty Umali/Levi Celerio. Computer based testing contents and processes are standardized and therefore can be taken in any part of the world where there are authorized testing centers…

In 2003, I embarked upon my Master’s in Theology degree. But would you believe, be in its civil or religious mode, this degree program was not offered anywhere in Cambodia. So I had to go to South Africa virtually via cyberspace. I ended up enrolling at the South African Theological Seminary where they offered an MTH via research. Incidentally, commonwealth countries like the UK, Australia, South Africa offer PhD programs purely based on research along with majority of their Masteral ones. A degree by research would then enable me to write my thesis, have my supervisor correct it, discuss the changes, and come up with a well written piece of research worth publishing all via e-mail, phone calls, chat or skype. Besides the correction of the internal supervisor, the completed work was later presented to and jointly graded by an external evaluator.   What really impressed me about my ODL studies at the South African Theological Seminary was that it was an evangelical institution. I am a Roman Catholic. The principal was a very kind and very accommodating Baptist. And the school gave me a scholarly wonderful Anglican professor for my supervisor – one who has published more than 80 peer-reviewed theological articles. And for all of us, what mattered was the quality of my academic output rather than the religious dogmatic differences we had. This brings me to the second competitive edge of open and distance education. It transcends social status. In the words of Valera and Cuneta, it’s a “Maging sino ka man” advantage. In ODL, you can have classmates and professors from all walks of life, and with even diverse religious beliefs. Yet what joins you together is your common search for the excellence of your academic output. They will give you equal access in their educational supervision as any other advisee- be you Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu. “Mamahalin ka nila… maging sino ka man.”

Later on in 2004, I got attracted to the Development Communication program of UPOU. This time, I had to undergo 30 credits of coursework. The UPOU program required texts and readings for each subject taken. To test these there were corresponding tutor marked assignments given to ensure the student’s comprehension of the lesson. There were discussion boards and chat forums to help the students interact with each other. Some professors required reflections and critiques to be put on the electronic forum where the other classmates actively gave their analysis and comments to them.  For those who lived near the learning centers, there were occasional “eyeballs” or face-to-face sessions which also became opportunities for class reunions. Later on, the final exams of each subject were proctored to ensure its integrity (I had to take mine at the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh). From interacting with the UPOU professors and students via cyberspace, I discovered another competitive edge of ODL.  It transcends age and physical attributes, it’s the “Kahit na” advantage, like DJ Alvaro’s “kahit na di gwapo” and “kahit maputi na ang buhok ko” .  Some of my classmates were just fresh graduates and at the dawn of their working days, while others like me were at the dusk of our professional careers. And because discussions took place in cyber mode, physical looks and deportment only played second fiddle to one’s intellectual contribution.  Rene Descartes’s “I think therefore I am” became more important for us than Bill Gates’s “what-you-see is what-you-get.”

Thomas Friedman’s thesis: “the world is flat” talks about how globalization has leveled the playing field for businesses, organizations, and human resources because of technology.  This also holds true for ODL. It has leveled the playing field in Education.
ODL be in its formal or informal learning mode has become more affordable and more available. Thus open and distance learning transcends time as a limit to the experience of learning.  This competitive edge in Gary Valenciano’s words is the “Sana maulit muli” advantage.  There is nothing now that can hinder someone to continue learning for the rest of one’s life. With open and distance education, learning never stops.”