07 September 2009. VOLUme 41. NUmber 7. 12 pAGeS
5
Field Notes: Mentoring undergraduate students “on” their thesis and “through” their thesis
University Fellow named Outstanding Psychologist
2 10
La Salle faculty, student win in national competitions
LasaLLians on the D.o.t. campaign launchedSee page 3
2401 (twen´te fôr´,o, wun) is a landmark number along Taft Avenue. It is the location ID of De La Salle University, home to outstanding faculty and students, and birthplace of luminaries in business, public service, education, the arts, and science. And 2401 is the name of the official newsletter of DLSU, featuring developments and stories of interest about the University.
University Fellow and Counseling and Educational Psychology Department (CEPD) Full Professor and Chair Dr. Allan Benedict Bernardo was honored as Outstanding Psychologist by the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) during its 46th Annual Convention.
The conferment, which served as the highlight of the three-day convention, was held at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental last August 13-15.
PAP cited Bernardo for his outstanding work as a researcher,
teacher, mentor, and leader of the discipline and
profession of Psychology. A multi-awarded researcher, he served as head or consultant of a number of organizations, including PAP and the ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies, where he is both president.
In 2007, he was elected Academician, the highest honor given by the National
Academy of Science and Technology. Also, he
is currently the secretary-general of the Asian Association of Social Psychology, the largest association of psychologists in the Asian region.
In PAP’s history, only 12 others have been given this recognition. The last time the title “Outstanding Psychologist” was conferred was in 2002 to a group of six psychologists, including University Fellow Dr. Rose Marie Salazar Clemeña and Professorial Lecturer Dr. Imelda V. G. Villar, both from CEPD.
The convention of PAP featured symposia and paper presentations given by psychologists from different universities and organizations in the country. The event carried the theme, “Character Strengths of the Filipino: A Positive Response to Current Challenges.”
Bernardo, as well as other CEPD faculty members Dr. Maria Guadalupe Salanga, Laramie Tolentino, Jerome Ouano, and Ryan Jim Sy San Diego presented their papers during the conference.
Faculty members of the Psychology Department, Ma. Angeles Lapeña, Maria Caridad Tarroja, Roseann Tan-Mansukhani, Ron Resurrección, Homer Yabut, Rajiv Amarnani, Jennifer Lajom, Madelene Sta. Maria, Jose Maria Diestro, Jr., Marshall Valencia and Adrianne John Galang, likewise presented their papers.
The other paper presenters from La Salle were Full Professor Dr. Maricar Prudente and Associate Professor Dr. Auxencia Limjap of the Science Education Department; Lemuel Toledano of the Educational Leadership and Management Department; Marianne Jennifer Gaerlan and Rosalind Espiritu of the Department of English and Applied Linguistics; and Raymond Gonzales of the Institutional Testing and Evaluation Office.
univerSity Fellow named outStanding pSychologiSt
Lasallians on the D.O.T. is being undertaken in response to the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum No.49 dubbed as Project WATCH (We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty) released on September 24 last year.
Project WATCH is being pushed by CHED and the JCI Senate Philippines “to undertake effective programs, projects, and other activities to enhance the importance of punctuality and honesty as elements of success in our daily lives.”
CHED, in its memo, said higher education institutions are encouraged to undertake Project WATCH through activities like competitions, symposia, and fora that would complement their existing curriculum.
The University conducted a soft launch of the Lasallians on the DOT campaign, with the allocation of a regular space on time management tips in 2401 during the first term of Academic Year 2009-2010.
MCO will also be tasked to monitor the punctuality of attendees in select meetings convened regularly by administrators for the whole period of the second term.
An attendance/time sheet will be distributed to the concerned offices for use in meetings, in time for the opening of the term on September 14. Offices will be requested to regularly submit to MCO the attendance/time sheet after every meeting. At the end of the term, MCO will make a summary of the reports
to determine the community members’ response to the campaign.
Free downloadable wallpapers on Lasallians on the DOT will also be made available for members of the Lasallian community, through the support of the ITC.
In a related development, the DLSU Student Council recently launched their project on DLSU time synchronization. The students placed posters under all the DLSU clocks to encourage students to synchronize their watch and cellphones to the official DLSU time to avoid any excuse for tardiness and promote responsibility and punctuality.
To inculcate among members of the Lasallian community the importance of time management and a culture of punctuality, De La Salle University, through the Marketing Communication Office (MCO), is launching “Lasallians on the DOT (Definitely on Time),” a series of time management activities, at the opening of the second term.
LasaLLians on the D.o.t. campaign launched
The agreement, which was signed last July at the DLSU RVR-Graduate School of Business (GSB) campus at RCBC Plaza in Makati City, is for the creation of two certificate programs, the Supervisory Skills Program and the Certificate in BPO Management, which are meant to help BPO managers and supervisors in developing leadership and management skills particular to their industry.
BPA/P is the umbrella organization for the fastest-growing industry in the Philippines, and serves as the one-stop information and advocacy gateway for the country’s key off shoring and outsourcing (O&O) services sector.
Signing for DLSU were CBE Dean Dr. Myrna Austria and Raymund Habaradas, Director of the Professional Development and Training Services of the DLSU-Angelo King Institute for Business and Economic Research and Development (AKIBERD). Signing for BPA/P were BPA/P President Oscar Sanez, and BPA/P executive director for Talent Development Ma. Jamea Garcia. Also present during the signing were GSB faculty members Emilio Bruan Jr. and Reynaldo Lugtu Jr., who will serve as course director of the two certificate programs.
The Supervisory Skills Program, dubbed “Enhancing Your Supervisory Skills,” is a five-day course that gives an overview of the competencies that a supervisor in a BPO company must possess in order to succeed in his or her task of helping the people working under him or her achieve their full potentials. Participants will go through various participative learning approaches that will enable them to enhance their ability to enhance others, to communicate well, to assess performance, and to effectively handle work-related problems, among others.
Meanwhile, the Certificate in BPO Management, dubbed “The Effective BPO Manager,”
is a 15-day course designed to answer the BPO industry’s need for well-trained managers that are able to respond in a dynamic fashion to the rapid changes in the business environment. Participants who go through this course will learn the fundamentals of various management areas such as finance, operations, and human resource / talent management.
Individuals who are interested to attend the certificate courses may contact the following people: Course Director: Mr. Reynaldo “Rey” Lugtu, Jr., Email: [email protected]; Secretary: Ms. Aileen Negrillo, Telefax: 753-4617; Trunkline: 753-4611 local 105.
dlSu to oFFer courSeS in Bpo managementThe College of Business and Economics (CBE) of De La Salle University and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of certificate courses for supervisors and middle managers of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies.
FIELD NOTES. What is going on in the world? We ask our faculty members to make sense of what we need to know, understand, and reflect upon. They agree to share insights and observations about their respective fields or special interests. Field Notes serves as a window to different worlds where we all belong.
Mentoring undergraduate students
“on” their thesis and “through” their thesis
By dr. carlo magnocounseling and educational psychology department
I have been an undergraduate
thesis mentor since I sta
rted in De
La Salle University in 2003. Each
experience I had as a mentor is a
wonderful story to tell. In this article, I
shall describe thesis mentoring, some
guidelines about handling students,
and the important lessons I learned in
mentoring.
The s i s men to r i ng i s t h e
relationship between the thesis mentor
and mentees in the entire thesis making
process. The mentees open their trust
to their mentor’s expertise to fully
guide them in their journey from the
conception of the study until they finally
defend their thesis.
In the relationship, it is assumed
that the mentor is a research expert both
in terms of content and methodology.
The students, on the other hand, are
expected to learn and think in the
process. The expertise of the mentor
is not only in terms of content and
methodology in research, but also the
pedagogy of research, serving as a
good role model as a contributor of
knowledge.
The roles of the thesis mentor
and mentee should be made clear at
the start of the “research relationship.”
In this relationship, the mentor is an
expert and the mentee an emerging
scientist. The students as emerging
scientists are assumed to manifest
critical thinking, independent thinking,
logical reasoning, and show analytical
interest. I used the prepositions “on” (in
the direction) and “through” (entirely)
in the title between “Mentoring
undergraduate students” and “their
thesis” because these capture exactly
the process engaged in the mentor and
their mentees. First, mentoring provides
students the direction they should take,
especially in instances wherein they do not
foresee the consequences of their actions. For
example, the mentor tells the students what to
read and where to get the proper information,
and gives them a scholarly feedback about
the work. Second, the mentor goes through his or
her students’ work, deals with group dynamics
and work habits, and motivates them to pursue
success in the process. The mentor’s work is not
only limited to ensuring that the thesis is in good
shape, but that it also includes all factors that
may affect the desired formation of the thesis.
Part of the work is refereeing conflicts among
thesis group members and making sure they
submit on time. The following are some points that need
to be considered in building a “research
relationship.”
1 There should be an alignment between the mentor and mentees in terms of content and methodology. The content would refer to the specific research interest of the mentor.
Mentors who work within a line of research interest are experienced with a set of variables and they know the mass of literature to justify the variables to work on. For example, students who are working on a thesis about motivation should seek the mentorship of an educational psychologist whose corpus work is on motivation. The alignment in terms of methodology refers to seeking the advice of an expert who is experienced in the same method as their thesis mentees. If a study is about a strictly controlled experiment employing a quantitative approach in data analysis, the researchers should consult with experts familiar with the method and approach.
2 A contract is established with the students for the
sake of a successful thesis. Upon the acceptance
of students to work with the mentor, the mentor
should communicate a set of expectations. For their
part, students should strive to reach the standards set
by the mentor. These include submitting the thesis on
time, working harmoniously with thesis mates, exhibiting
professional attitude on criticisms for the work, and
setting goals to attain a quality thesis.
4 Train students to be ready for the defense. When
the defense date is nearing, conduct a mock
defense. Ask students possible questions by the
panel. I usually ask my thesis mentees to present in the
graduate classes so that they will experience to answer
questions and clarify certain aspects of their study.
3 Immerse the thesis mentees to read. I always tell my
students how lucky they are that published articles from
top tier journals are very much accessible in DLSU.
Opening journal articles from different sources is just within
their fingertips. During my time, we had to spend the whole
day in the periodical section of the library and browse one by
one each volume of the APA articles where subscription lagged
behind by 5 to 10 years. There is no excuse for students today
not to immerse in reading.
Often, students could not put sufficient ideas in the
chapters of their thesis because they did not read. Reading
activates their schema and helps them in many ways to
organize important ideas shown in their thesis. It is easy to
detect if students have mastery of the literature reviews based
on the content they have shown in their thesis.
4 Train students to be ready for the defense. When
the defense date is nearing, conduct a mock
defense. Ask students possible questions by the
panel. I usually ask my thesis mentees to present in the
graduate classes so that they will experience to answer
questions and clarify certain aspects of their study.
3 Immerse the thesis mentees to read. I always tell my
students how lucky they are that published articles from
top tier journals are very much accessible in DLSU.
Opening journal articles from different sources is just within
their fingertips. During my time, we had to spend the whole
day in the periodical section of the library and browse one by
one each volume of the APA articles where subscription lagged
behind by 5 to 10 years. There is no excuse for students today
not to immerse in reading.
Often, students could not put sufficient ideas in the
chapters of their thesis because they did not read. Reading
activates their schema and helps them in many ways to
organize important ideas shown in their thesis. It is easy to
detect if students have mastery of the literature reviews based
on the content they have shown in their thesis.
My years of experience as a
thesis mentor have helped and shaped
me as a teacher and researcher. The
experience has not only helped me
develop competencies in research and
mentoring, but it has also made me
more mature to accept limitations and
aspects that I neglected to see in the
process. I learned that…Students believe that the thesis
process is a major requirement in the
course. I believe that students come
prepared when they enroll in their
thesis writing course. The programs
in DLSU are made in such a way that
when students enroll for their thesis
course, they have already been trained
on the writing, as well as the different
methods and designs in conducting a
study. I also observed their seriousness
in conducting the thesis because they
are aware that it is a culmination of
their work as undergraduates. Seeing my students’ progress
in their thesis is very fulfilling. Expert
learners start their thesis with immediate
success and maintain this status.
However, not all students are alike.
Students who seek my advice make my
work more fulfilling. It is very fulfilling to
monitor and see the improvements that
occur overtime among my mentees
because we learn together. The fruits of my labor are not
measured by the grades students
receive. Before, I am very particular
of the grades received by my thesis
mentees, especially in the final defense.
Now, I realize that the real prize of
the entire thesis process is not the
grades that the mentees receive but
the process they went through to finish
the thesis and the skills they have
learned. I am very proud as a mentor
to see my students enter a field that
requires research, present their work in
a conference, and eventually publish
their work. The real prize comes when
you see them as successful graduates
when they start working.
dr. carlo magno is an assistant professor from the counseling and educational psychology department. last year, he won an award from the national academy of Science and technology for a paper he co-authored titled “the Role of teacher efficacy and Characteristics on teaching effectiveness, Performance, and Use of Learner-Centered Practices.”
Filipino Faculty
participates in
Buwan ng wika a
ctivities
A faculty member of the Filipino Department participated in several activities in celebration of the National Language Month.
Associate Professor Dr. Teresita Fortunato was invited as guest lecturer at the regional seminar-workshop of elementary, secondary and tertiary teachers of Silliman University in Dumaguete City last August 15. She talked on “Pagpaplanong Pangwika at Implikasyon sa Wikang Panturo,” “Gabay sa Ortograpiyang Filipino ng KWF,” and “Mga Batayang Pedagohikal sa Transpormatibong Pagtuturo: Karanasang DLSU.”
Moreover, Fortunato was one of the judges in the national formal essay writing contest Gawad Surian with this year’s theme, “Wikang Filipino: Binhing sa Baler Nag-ugat, sa Buong Bansa’y Lumaganap” sponsored by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino. Winners were awarded on the closing program of the Buwan ng Wika.
Fortunato was also the Language Director of the recently concluded Advanced Filipino Abroad Program (AFAP) held at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, with sub-immersion activities at DLS-Lipa, Batangas, and at the Betania Retreat House in Tagaytay City. Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, noted Tagalog poet and former faculty member of the Filipino and Literature Departments, is the US Director. The program also invited Dr. Antonio Contreras, former College of Liberal Arts dean, as speaker, and judges in the research presentation of the scholars were DLSU faculty Dr. Dolores Taylan and Genaro Gojo Cruz.
A faculty from the Theology and Religious Education Department (TRED) was recently invited as guest speaker in a talk on spiritual development at the Caledonio Elementary School in Paco, Manila.
TRED Chair and Brother Andelino Manuel Castillo, FSC Religious Educational Foundation, Inc. (BAMCREF) Program Director Dr. Rito Baring discussed the topic, “Spirituality of Teachers in the Public Schools” and gave his insights on the teacher’s role in spreading Christian values and spirituality among public school students.
Baring cited studies in Western countries revealing how people have again been viewing spirituality as an essential part of life, that people have lost their grasp of spirituality due to factors such as alienation in work, loss of community, and materialism.
“This is the reason why countries like the United States, Germany, and Great Britain adopted a policy favoring religious instruction in public schools,” he said.
Moreover, Baring, in his talk, called on public school teachers to disengage themselves from a stance of religious neutrality because the great majority of their students are overwhelmingly Catholic who are consequently and unfairly deprived of religious indoctrination and Christian value formation.
He further pointed out that each individual must locate his spirituality within his own individual “context,” which is, in turn, defined by culture and history. He said some cultures prevent people from attaining a high level of awareness of their being, and force people to believe in things they hardly understand instead of giving them the free will to search for their own truth.
Baring concluded with a word of caution, that “all of us can be victims of our own context as we form our own spiritualities.”
tred Faculty SpeakS on puBlic School teacherS’
Spirituality
Two faculty members and a student of De La Salle University recently won in various national competitions for the arts.
Genaro Gojo-Cruz, part-time faculty of the Filipino Department, was judged as first prize winner in the Maikling Kuwentong Pambata category for his entry titled Mahabang-Mahabang-Mahaba in the 59th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature held last September 1 at The Peninsula Manila.
Also, Angelita Bombarda, second year Psychology student, was declared third prize winner for her entry titled “On Being Filipino: A Citizen to the World” in the Kabataan Essay category.
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was established in 1950 to help develop Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works, and to be a treasury of the Philippines’ literary gems from our gifted writers and to assist in its eventual dissemination to our people, particularly the
students.Meanwhile, Dexter Cayanes, also a part-time
faculty of the Filipino Department, was awarded as Best Director for the short film Musa in the 2009 Cinemalaya Awards Night held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July 26.
The Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival is a film competition and festival that aims to encourage the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers—works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with
fresh insight and artistic integrity. It also aims to invigorate the Philippine filmmaking
by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers.
la Salle Faculty, Student win in national competitionS
Living the Lasallian Mission
Lasallian Guiding Principles. To answer our questions and successfully pursue our quests, we must return to the beginning. In order to find real answers and to see our way clearly, we must go back to our real source. This means going back to our core Lasallian values: the spirit of faith, zeal for service, and communion in mission.
Lasallian learners are unique and gifted individuals who…• strivetointegrateGospelperspectivesandvaluesintheconductoftheirdailylives;• arecommittedtoexcellenceinordertobeofgreaterservicetoGodandcountry;• takeprogressiveresponsibilityfortheirownlearninganddevelopment;• expressconcernandcompassionfortheplightofthevulnerableandmarginalizedsectorsofsocietyandrespondtotheirneeds;and
• worktogethercreatively,constructively,andenthusiasticallytosupporttheLasallianMission.
Principles of Lasallian Education in the Philippines, from Guiding Principles of the Philippine Lasallian Family
When asked who among the recent alumni made a great impact on her, student Leadership involvement, Formation and empowerment (sLiFe) Director evelyn Lopez-esparrago could only name a few. one of them is Paolo Domondon.
as a student, Paolo was an academic achiever yet he also made time for his extra-curricular activities. he was the president of the samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng sikolohiya (sMs) and was the first Bs Psychology major who graduated Magna Cum Laude. in a homily that the late Br. Ceci hojilla FsC gave on the University of st. La salle Batch 57 Golden Jubilee Mass
Celebration which he later posted on his on-line journal, he recalled how he remembered Paolo whom he fondly called “PDo.”
“he (Paolo) decided to give the next two years of his life to Gawad Kalinga (GK). PDo finished as the first ever Magna Cum Laude graduate in Psychology from De La salle taft last year. he immediately received several scholarship offers from the most prestigious medical schools in the U.s. but he refused them all. When asked on national television how he could have given up his dream of being a doctor just like that, his reply was classic: ‘how can i dream for myself, when so many
Filipinos cannot even dream?’”Despite the great opportunities
that await him, Paolo opted to forego all of them to serve less fortunate Filipinos. Br. Ceci further shared in his homily a text message that Paolo sent him on april 29, 2006: “i’ll be starting my full time missionary work for the next two years. My parents got disappointed though. But working for the poor, for this country, and for God is all worth it. this is what i learned after studying in La salle all my life.”
Paolo is currently the coordinator of GK hoPe initiative, Gawad Kalinga’s representative office in singapore.
is published bi-weekly by the Marketing Communication Office (AH-21/F, intercom 144). Editorial deadline is 3 p.m. Tuesdays. Contributions should include the name, office and signature of the sender. Materials may be edited for clarity or space.
Johannes Leo Badillo ([email protected]), Operations Director; Anne Alina ([email protected]), Editor; Ma. Ruby Carlos, AARichela dela Cruz, Magsy Magbanua, Mark Pitoc, Writers; Peter Varona, Art Director; Ricky Binoya, Ave Gaile Peraz, Luis De Vera, Graphic Artists; Virginia Umacob-Gases, Secretary; Raymond Menor, Office Assistant. 2401 may be accessed online through the URL: http://www.dlsu.edu.ph
De La Salle University President and Chancellor Br. Armin Luistro FSC recently revealed his plans as elected president of the International Association of Lasallian Universities starting this year until 2012.
Br. armin BareS planS For ialu
As an initial step, Br. Armin said he would like to see a more detailed picture of the organization through the collection of the profiles of all member universities. He said the IALU profiling—targeted for completion by the end of the year—would provide an updated reference as to what qualities the members commonly share and what qualities are unique to each. His aim is to include in the collection the capabilities and resources that universities could share to fellow IALU members.
The profiling project is not just another opportunity for IALU members to articulate their Lasallian identity, but also a call for them to become more engaged in knowledge generation through research, he pointed out.
Noting the potential of the IALU network that is composed of more than 80 higher education institutions worldwide, he revealed his goal of promoting a multi-disciplinary culture of research by focusing on two major areas for future collaboration. One is on the traditional Lasallian advocacies like education, poverty alleviation, and youth-at-risk, while the other one is on Lasalliana.
Aside from research development, Br. Armin expressed plans to continue the training of Lasallian leaders, not only among the
Brothers but also among the lay, officially referred to as Lasallian Partners. He cited as an example the annual leadership program in Rome. He emphasized the need to further the training for the Lasallian Partners, as they continue to grow in number over the years and have become mainly responsible for the administration and operations of Lasallian universities.
To jumpstart his plans for IALU, Br. Armin would ask member universities to create committees or task forces that would be regularly tapped to coordinate programs or projects for IALU, thus also ensuring that the network’s line of communication remains open. These committees or task forces would be the units that would implement IALU’s recommendations. They would get support but would remain independent from IALU, Br. Armin said.
He also pointed out that all the association’s gatherings and projects should somehow contribute to a clearer articulation of the identity of the Lasallian University.
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