Promoting e-Learning is a daunting task considering that each coordinator has to cover a wide area in their respective regions. That's why every help we can get goes a long way.
Recently we have eleven new enrollees from our region, thanks to the help of Ms. Techie G. Pagunsan. She's an Agricultural Technician (AT) Information Service Specialist (ISS) of the Techno Gabay (TG) center of Calbayog City, Samar and a graduate of the Abaca Production e-course during its test run. Ms. Pagunsan's zest for e-Learning could be credited to Ms. Adela P. Ocenar the City Agriculturist of Calbayog, who encouraged her ATs to enrol in e-Learning courses.
Another good news for us is the idea of Dr. Lolito C. Bestil, Professor of the Department of Animal Science, Visayas State University. He wish to enrol his students to the Goat e-courses. We will be formalizing this scheme once the classes in the university start. We expect that through these students we can spread the information about the program to more people (their friends, relations, neighbors and so on). Dr. Bestil was reminded of the e-Extension program when he saw Engr. Sean O. Villagonzalo wearing his black e-extension shirt. He was once briefed by Ms. Anna Marie P. Alo on the program. Engr. Villagonzalo is the Regional Management Information System (RMIS) Coordinator of the Visayas Consortium for Agricultural Resources Program (ViCARP). He was present when we gave our briefing during the Joint Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Organizational Meeting and Regional TG Group 1st Quarter Meeting. When asked by Dr. Bestil he readily explained to him about the program. Engr. Villagonzalo is also responsible for the interconnectivity of all TG centers in the region. We will be utilizing these TG centers to pilot the implementation and administration of e-learning courses.
Meanwhile, we will be conducting our staff development activities on May 26-29, 2009. Part of these is the introduction to the ATI Interactive and briefing on e-Learning. To enable them to help in campaigning for more enrollees, we will encourage especially the technical staff to enrol in any course they want. So far so good. Little by little we hope to spread the word about e-learning to all the corners of the region and beyond. As long as there are people helping us along the way we are confident we can do it.