Four special sessions pertaining to different concepts evolving in Open and Distance eLearning were conducted during the 5th National Conference in Open and Distance eLearning held at Crowne Plaza Manila last 22-23 November 2017.
Dr. Melinda F. Lumanta, University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor at the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), led one of the special sessions during the second day of the conference entitled, "Towards Understanding, Conceptualizing and Measuring Openness in Education".
"This special session looks at openness through a systems perspective where the educational institution seen as the focal system interacting with its internal and external environment… the more permeable the greater the tendencies to openness which are often reflected in openness dimensions and concretize through organizational practices." In her presentation, she further discussed about the concepts of a learning organization highlighting the importance of systems thinking as a way of looking at an organization.
"It is through systems thinking that one will understand the system which involves the shift of mind; from seeing parts to looking at the whole; from seeing its members as reactors to active participants shaping their own future; from adaptive or survival learning to generative learning". After presiding, she then introduced her seven other colleagues by providing an overview of each presentation.
Dr. Ricardo T. Bagarinao, Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Education (FEd), followed by presenting ODeL from a biological analogy focusing on the permeability of its membrane on organizational boundaries. Pointing to the main idea that open education should be "flexible and welcoming", however, "it must also maintain certain level of selectivity."
To further understand what has been referred to as openness dimensions, Ms. Jennifer S. Belen, the UPOU College Librarian, and Ms. Luisa A. Gelisan, University Researcher II of the Multimedia Center of UPOU presented their research entitled, "How Open is Open" which gives better view and certain measures of educational openness.
Accessibility as one of the dimensions of openness, Ms. Eleanor P. Manipol, University Extension Specialist in the Information Office of UPOU, shared her initial findings on making higher education accessible to students with disabilities such as color blindness. She determined the issues and difficulties experience by learners in ODeL environment.
In line with this, Ms. Victoria Canape-Belegal, Administrative Officer V and Section Head of Student Records and Appraisal Section, and Ms. Marie Karen O. Enrile, Office of the Registrar's University Extension Associate, addressed the accessibility issues in the area of admissions through accreditation of prior learning and through admission practices in UPOU. (CBundalian)
