The overarching goal of my doctoral work is to find out more about the challenges science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers in rural areas of developing countries face and consider ways to understand and use modern technologies that are critical for 21st century education.
Research Description
The overarching goal of my doctoral work is to find out more about the challenges science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers in rural areas of developing countries face and consider ways to understand and use modern technologies that are critical for 21st century education. Through PSI, my research will help clarify and build upon significant aspects of my dissertation which include: 1) What are the difficulties encountered by STEM teachers in rural areas in the Philippines as they integrate local knowledge into digital video productions? 2) What Canadian approaches and expertise may be relevant for STEM educators in rural areas in the Philippines? and 3) How can findings regarding rural STEM education in the Philippines help inform STEM educators in Canada?
What does being a Public Scholar mean to you?
I believe that all scholarships have always a social justice component that completely matters and PSI funding my research is just a perfect fit! A big thanks to all PSI benefactors! Becoming a public scholar allows me to focus my scholarship through a holistic concern about how knowledge can make a difference in the community. Being a public scholar is not only doing exemplary research but exemplary research that is relevant, and relevant to the needs of the immediate community, of which in the context of my research pertains to the rural and public high schools in the Philippines.
In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with the Public Scholars Initiative?
With PSI, my PhD experience becomes a journey of relevance. Relevance as it addresses the changing needs of communities that are often overlooked by traditional research.
How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?
By advancing innovative ways on how technology can help the way we learn and learn so we can introduce change, then my PhD can connect with several fields in research and education to improve approaches to teaching and learning from classroom to policy.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
I hope that my research will support the national government, non-government organizations and private stakeholders’ goal of closing technological gaps in information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance quality of education in the Philippines.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I wanted to create a big ‘ripple effect’ in education. Teaching 30 young students can create 30 different possibilities of impacting positive change in the community. But teaching 30 pre-service teachers who in return teach 30 young students each will create 30x30 possibilities and opportunities towards the creation of a better community. And to create such impact, I need newer perspectives and approaches, and starting a graduate degree was just a natural fit. Pursuing a PhD is a journey of discovery. It is like “playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me” (Isaac Newton). It is experiencing series of paradigm shifts. Being in the academia and the community allows me to change the way I look at things and in the process, the things I look at change (Max Planck).
Why did you choose to come to British Columbia and study at UBC?
UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Faculty of Education have generous funding offers for qualified students. On top of this, I was interested in working with Dr. Milner-Bolotin (my current supervisor), whose research provides exemplary approaches in harnessing the potentials of technology in STEM education. And I am looking forward to translating such approaches through my research in ways that are appropriate and suitable to the needs of public schools in developing countries with similar circumstances like the Philippines.
Becoming a public scholar allows me to focus my scholarship through a holistic concern about how knowledge can make a difference in the community. Being a public scholar is not only doing exemplary research but exemplary research that is relevant, and relevant to the needs of the immediate community.
